Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has not been named in France's latest international squad because he plays in a four-man defence.
The 22-year-old is yet to lose a single match for the Reds since joining from RB Leipzig last summer. The imposing centre-back already has two medals to his name at Afield and could yet finish the season as a Champions League or Premier League winner. But despite his impressive achievements, French national team manager Didier Deschamps prefers to deploy a three-man rear-guard and that has seen Konate miss out this time, with William Saliba preferred.
World Cup-winner 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]. 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."
