MY ACCOUNT
Didier Deschamps has handed Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate his first call-up to the France senior squad as a replacement for Raphael Varane.
Manchester United defender Varane sustained a hamstring injury during Les Bleus’ 2-1 Nations League defeat to Denmark on Friday, and has had to withdraw from the squad ahead of the next three games.
Kylian Mbappe was also forced off with a knee problem at half-time in the game at the Stade de France, with assistant coach Guy Stephan saying the Paris Saint-Germain star would be assessed.
Konate has had an impressive first season at Liverpool after joining the Premier League side from RB Leipzig last year.
The 23-year-old made 29 appearances in all competitions for Jurgen Klopp’s side in 2021-22, scoring three goals and helping to keep 10 clean sheets.
Konate also started the Champions League final against Real Madrid, which Liverpool lost 1-0, and that was the first game in which Konate had played that the Reds were defeated.
France play away to Croatia on Monday, before further games away to Austria and then the return game against Croatia.
