France lost 3-1 to Italy in the Nations League, with Ibrahima Konate starting. Ibrahima Konate faced a terrible evening as France lost to Italy in the Nations League.
After missing Euro 2024, the Liverpool defender returned to the starting lineup for Les Bleus. Konate did not make a single appearance when France advanced to the semi-finals of the competition in Germany earlier this summer.
However, after starting the 2024-25 Premier League season in impressive form, helping the Reds win all three games without conceding a goal, the 25-year-old was given a chance from the start when France faced Italy in the Nations League at the Parc des Princes.
Despite Bradley Barcola’s goal giving the home team the lead within 60 seconds, Didier Deschamps’ side gave up. Federico Dimarco equalised for Italy on the half-hour mark, before Davide Frattesi and Giacomo Raspadori scored in the second half. It marked Italy’s first triumph in France in 70 years.
Les Bleus are left biting their wounds and must regroup when they meet Belgium on Monday. It would be intriguing to see if Konate retains his position against Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano. The French press has released their player evaluations for the Italy defeat, and Konate, like the bulk of his teammates, including centre-back partner William Saliba, failed to impress.
Le Parisien awarded Konate the same score and stated: “Back as a starter after going through the Euro without playing, the Liverpool defender gave a really insufficient performance.” investments. He gives Tonali too much time to equalize, leaving the field wide open for Frattesi’s second goal. Overall, he undermined the structure by using very approximate placements.
Eurosport France was a little kinder, rating Konate a 4/10 and explaining why: “We have known him to be much more thorough in his interventions and more concentrated in his investments.” He gives Tonali too much time to equalize, leaving the field wide open for Frattesi’s second goal. Overall, he undermined the structure by using very approximate placements.
Maxifoot gave Konate a 3.5 and noted that, while he was preferred over Dayot Upamecano for this match, the France team’s central defense delivered a dismal performance. When Frattesi had a chance in the first half, the Liverpool player was occasionally late in his area. On his occasional interventions, he was more present and precise in his restarts, despite long balls being returned to the opponent. However, the Tricolore were behind on Frattesi’s goal after halftime.
But Homme du Match was less enthused, awarding only a 3. It read, “Failed return to selection for the Liverpool player. He made multiple blunders, particularly on the opening two goals. He was also unable to communicate with Clauss, resulting in Italian dominance over this axis of the field.”
