Arsenal supporters have long known what France possessed in William Saliba. It took Didier Deschamps some time.

The wary French boss said in March: “He is having a good season, but he also does things that I do not like.” Deschamps never did, though, abandon the Arsenal star.

Saliba started an underwhelming group game in France’s 2022 World Cup and had a great second season for Arsenal; his participation in the 26-man Euro 2024 team appeared natural. Although Raphael Varane’s retirement and Ibrahima Konate’s slip in form down the stretch in 2023/24 improved Saliba’s hopes, Les Bleus are not short with elite centre-backs, thus Saliba’s pursuit for starts becomes more challenging.

The 23-year-old was decided to start alongside Dayot Upamecano before France’s opening game against Austria. Keeping three clean sheets, the two-time European champions are now ready for a quarter-final in Euro 2024.

Saliba has definitely shown, verifying Deschamps’s delayed faith and maintaining his best effort of the tournament thus far for the beginning of France’s knockout stage campaign, when Deschamps’s team usually gets going.

Romelu Lukaku might no longer be the toned beast terrorising Italian defences under Antonio Conte at Inter. That Belgian striker was a really nasty one. Lukaku has reverted to a rather more beefier and stationary forward since leaving Conte, but his strength is indisputable. He is still a handful; few forwards are better at pinning and rolling a centre back.

Saliba bit hardly at all.

This may have been a frightening match for the young Arsenal defender, but Saliba has embraced the big moments in his Arsenal career thus far. Last season, the 23-year-old put together three of his greatest performances at Anfield, Old Trafford, and the Etihad. He does not mind where he is or who he is up against. He just performs.

France’s round of 16 match against Belgium was very dull, with the Belgians looking to beat the French at their own game. As the contest’s dynamics became obvious in the early rounds, a decisive moment was inevitable, and Saliba had a role in delivering France’s vital blow.

Lukaku began to drift across to Upamecano midway through the second half in an attempt to get into the game after receiving no alteration from Saliba. However, with six minutes remaining, the two were tussling on the edge of the French box. Saliba was once again touch-tight, physically matching Lukaku, resisting a roll, and pinching the ball away from behind. Deschamps’ team surged forward, and a deflected Randal Kolo Muani shot sent the French through.

Saliba’s subjection of Lukaku was stunning, but performances like the one the 23-year-old delivered in Dusseldorf are not unusual.

The Arsenal player delivered a masterclass in duel-winning and touch-tight defending, but his performance was not flawless. There could have been things Deschamps did not “like so much”. The narratives around his performance might have been different if he had not been rescued by a brilliant Theo Hernandez recovery challenge after Lois Openda pick-pocketed Saliba in possession midway through the second half.

However, that mishap will not be remembered for long. Instead, Saliba’s Euro 2024 campaign appears to be just the beginning of a successful international career. He may already be the world’s best.