France centre-back William Saliba was emphatic that Iraq will not be an easy opponent: the squad has reviewed their footage, noting the Iraqis held Spain and travelled to Bolivia to secure World Cup qualification — proof no team in this tournament can be underestimated. Saliba acknowledged he has been managing back pain for several months but is determined to play through it, insisting he will not use it as an excuse at a tournament that comes around only every four years.

He spoke positively about his partnership with Dayot Upamecano, a combination that has been building since Euro 2024, and expressed confidence it can continue to improve. Dismissing suggestions of nonchalance in his style, Saliba said results are all that matter to him, not labels attached to how he looks on the ball.

He defended goalkeeper Mike Maignan against post-Senegal criticism, calling him one of the best in the world and stressing that conceding is a collective defensive failure, not a goalkeeper error. The group atmosphere, he said, is excellent — Dembélé, Thuram and Mbappé among the biggest entertainers — and that lightness helps release pressure in a major competition.

On Mbappé the captain, Saliba noted no dramatic shift in his approach and politely declined to place him alongside Platini or Zidane just yet, though he called him world-class in every technical dimension. France's later start in the group stage, Saliba added, is an advantage: more recovery time for minor injuries and additional preparation days to study the opposition.