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Topics: Ibrahima Konate, Lionel Messi, Liverpool, Cristiano Ronaldo, France, Argentina, Football World Cup, Football
Rory O'Callaghan
Topics: Ibrahima Konate, Lionel Messi, Liverpool, Cristiano Ronaldo, France, Argentina, Football World Cup, Football
World Cup holders France will take on Argentina in the final of Qatar 2022 on Sunday.
The defending champions booked their place in the showpiece event with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Morocco in their semi-final on Wednesday night.
Theo Hernandez gave France the lead with an improvised finish just five minutes into the match.
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Morocco put France under huge pressure in the second half but failed to find an equaliser – with Didier Deschamps' side sealing the win through a goal from substitute Randal Kolo Muani.
Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate received praise for his performance during the semi-final after starting at centre-back alongside Raphael Varane.
Konate came back into the starting line-up after Dayot Upamecano was ruled out through illness along with midfielder Adrien Rabiot.
Konate looked a solid presence at the back for the reigning champions and there are now calls for him to keep his place in the side for Sunday's final.
It is a remarkable rise for Konate, who has struggled for minutes this season at Liverpool and was an unexpected inclusion in France’s World Cup squad.
Should he start against Argentina, Konate will be tasked with stopping Lionel Messi, who is seeking to win his first World Cup at potentially his last opportunity to do so.
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Messi is also in the hunt for the Golden Boot and is joint-top scorer in tournament with France striker Kylian Mbappe on five goals.
Konate is unlikely to be overawed by facing the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner, particularly if his past comments about Messi’s great rival Cristiano Ronaldo are anything to go by.
After coming up against Ronaldo in a 5-0 win for Liverpool over Manchester United in 2021, Konate bluntly said: "I was surprised because he's one of the best players in the world, but he's only human like me.
"He has two arms and two legs. I had to be focused on my game with the team and it was good, it was ok."
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Those comments suggest Konate is not intimidated by facing players regarded as the greatest of their generation.
And the Liverpool defender will want to prove that Messi is also "only human" on Sunday.