Harsh Reason Behind Liverpool Star's France National Team Snub Revealed

Harsh Reason Behind Liverpool Star's France National Team Snub Revealed

Lukman Mumuni
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:02 PM
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  • Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has not been included in France manager Didier Deschamps team ahead of the Nations League
  • The France coach has revealed his reason for not including the red-hot defender despite his run of form in England
  • Didier Deschamps released his squad for the games against Croatia and Austria on Thursday without the Liverpool star

France manager Didier Deschamps opted for William Saliba over Ibrahima Konate ahead of the Nations League games against Croatia and Austria.

Deschamps announced his squad for the games on Thursday leaving the red-hot Liverpool defender out of his team.

Explaining his team selection, Deschamps revealed Konate does not fit in his system and believes William Saliba will do a better in a three-back formation.

Ibrahima Konate, Didier Deschamps, France, Liverpool
Didier Deschamps reveals reason for dropping Ibrahima Konate. Credit: @LFC Getty Images
Source: Twitter
"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]," he said as quoted by Liverpool Echo.
"I brought William [Saliba] last time and he always plays in a back three. It’s either one or the other, it’s very competitive, and that’s very good. It allows for the veterans to not get too comfortable," he said.

Konate has been in fine form since joining Liverpool from RB Liepzig and he is yet to lose a game he played for the Reds this season.

France manager Didier Deschamps' squad for the Nations League

The World Cup winning player and coach left out AC Milan star Olivier Giroud while Karim Benzema returns to the team.

Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan (Milan), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Alphonse Areola (West Ham)

Defenders: Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Théo Hernandez (Milan), Presnel Kimpembe (PSG), Jules Koundé (Sevilla), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), Raphaël Varane (Manchester United), Jonathan Clauss (Lens), William Saliba (Marseille).

Midfielder: N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea), Mattéo Guendouzi (Marseille), Boubacar Kamara (Marseille), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Aurélien Tchouaméni (Monaco)

Attackers: Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Kylian Mbappé (PSG), Moussa Diaby (Bayer Leverkusen), Christopher Nkunku (Leipzig), Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich).

Ronaldinho tips France forward Kylian Mbappe to become the best in the world

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that former World Footballer of the Year, Ronaldinho believes Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappé will have the world at his feet in the coming years.

The Brazilian great who disclosed his admiration for the French youngster is certain Mbappé will become the best player in the world.

Ronaldinho, who is regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all-time, made a similar prediction about Argentine and current PSG superstar Lionel Messi before the latter went on to win an unprecedented seven Ballon d'Or awards.

Authors
Lukman Mumuni photo
Lukman Mumuni
Lukman Abdul Mumin is a Sports Journalist based in Accra, Ghana. He has been writing for the past five years. Lukman joined Sports Brief as an Editor for the Local Desk in 2022.