Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate put in what has been described as a ‘monstrous’ performance in last night’s World Cup semi-final.
The Reds centre-back was drafted in for one of the biggest games of his career following illness to Dayot Upamecano. And Konate showed how good he is, refusing to give Morocco a sniff as France coasted to a 2-0 win.
Ibou was so good in fact, that the France official Twitter page simply had to post about him during the game.
“IBOU EST MONSTRUEUX,” they wrote, with the capitals for good effect. No translation needed, but we’ll do it anyway: Ibou is monstrous.
Konate gives Deschamps a decision to make
What a performance by our No.5 last night. It just goes to show exactly how good this France side is that they can usually afford to leave him on the bench.
After yesterday’s masterclass, that may now become a little more difficult for coach Didier Deschamps.
Upamecano is a quality player, we shouldn’t forget that. When he and Konate burst onto the scene at RB Leipzig, it was the now Bayern Munich man who was the more celebrated.
But for those who really watched that team, Konate perhaps looked like the player with the higher ceiling.
It must have been tempting for Deschamps to reunite the two during this World Cup in Qatar. Raphael Varane has hardly been a roaring success at Manchester United and also came into the tournament injured.
Deschamps is a coach who tends to stick with a cast of regular favourites, though. As a result, the debate in France ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final will be who joins Varane in the backline, not whether Konate and Upamecano can handle things together.
After yesterday, you’d have to think that would be pretty much a 50/50 call. If Upamecano hasn’t yet fully recovered, then there should be no question that Ibou has to step in. If the Bayern man is ready, Deschamps will probably pick him.
But having been Liverpool’s star performer in last season’s Champions League final, Konate is getting used to the big occasion. Should he be selected to face Lionel Messi and co on Sunday, we can expect another ‘monstrous’ statement.
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