Konate earns first France call-up replacing injured Varane

Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate earns first France call-up after replacing Man United’s injured Raphael Varane as World Cup winners look to bounce back from Nations League defeat

  • Ibrahima Konate has earned his first call-up to the France’s senior squad
  • The Liverpool defender has replaced Man United’s injured Raphael Varane 
  • French football federation say Varane has suffered muscular pain in his thigh

Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate has earned his first call-up to the France senior squad after replacing the injured Raphael Varane.

The Frenchman has enjoyed a stellar first season at Anfield, settling in at the heart of Liverpool’s defence and helping to keep a clean sheet in both domestic cup finals that that the Reds won.

The 23-year-old has now been rewarded for his performances with a call-up to the France squad ahead of their upcoming Nations League clashes.

Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate has earned his first call-up to the France senior squad

The French football federation announced that Man United’s Varane has suffered a muscular pain in his left thigh which rules him out for the next three games.

Konate has been called up to the senior squad for their upcoming Nations League Group A1 clashes against Croatia and Austria. 

The World Cup holders lost 2-1 to Denmark on Friday as Andreas Cornelius scored twice to cancel out Karim Benzema’s opening goal.

The French football federation announced Raphael Varane has suffered a thigh injury

France boss Didier Deschamps had previously explained that Ibrahima Konate’s exclusion from their Nations League games was because the Liverpool defender plays in a ‘four-man defence’.

Speaking at a press conference, Deschamps said: ‘Yes, I’m following [Konate], he’s in a team which is competing in the Champions League final and for the title in England.’

‘But since he’s been at Liverpool, he’s mostly played in a four-man defence. And there is competition [in the France team].’

Despite playing in a four-man system, Konate has still impressed with his performances at Liverpool after playing in both their FA Cup and Carabao Cup finals this year. 

Konate played the entire FA Cup final and came on a sub in the Carabao Cup final this year




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