Ian Wright has praised Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate for making some ‘very good challenges’ and ‘some very good decisions’ as France beat Morocco 2-0 in the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday.
The current World Cup holders booked their final ticket – for the second time in a row – and Wright added how Konate, who was brought into the XI against Morocco for Dayot Upamecano, will be ‘very disappointed’ if the Liverpool star is now left out against Argentina on Sunday, as he told ITV Sport.
The call by Didier Deschamps to bring in Konate wasn’t a forced one, but a tactical one after Upamecano’s performance against England.
From that non-given foul on Bukayo Saka in the build-up to France’s opener to the non-given foul on Harry Kane on the edge/inside the penalty area before the first spot-kick was awarded.
It was a disastrous game for the Bayern Munich man, so it was no surprise Konate replaced him and now Wright thinks it will remain that way against Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina in the final.
“I think he will be very disappointed if he got left out (of the World Cup final),” said Wright. “I thought Harry (Kane) really gave Upamecano a torrid time.
“We saw tonight Konate making some very good challenges. Some very good decision, so I can’t see them leaving him out. I would be very surprised if he is left out.”
KONATE SHOWCASES HIS WORTH
It was a monstrous, intelligent and led-by-example-like display from Konate at the back against one of THE stars of the tournament in Morocco.
Against England, Upamecano was rash, a foul away from costing his team and putting himself under unnecessary pressure.
But Konate was the opposite, including a number of moments where he sensed danger and prevented Morocco from scoring, in truth, the African side would have probably found the back of the net if Upamecano was on the field instead of Konate, such was the performance.
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