Euro 2024

France 'suffer fresh injury blow' ahead of Euro 2024 last-16 clash with Belgium

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 30 June 2024

Another one? Injury-plagued France man 'suffers knee problem' before last 16

France and Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate reportedly suffers a knee injury ahead of Les Bleus' Euro 2024 last-16 tie with Belgium on Monday.

France manager Didier Deschamps has reportedly been dealt a fresh injury concern ahead of Monday's Euro 2024 last-16 showdown against Belgium.

Les Bleus scrap it out with the Red Devils at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf on the back of a disappointing second-placed finish in Group D, having only won one of their first three contests.

After edging out Austria by a goal to nil, the 2018 World Cup winners settled for a goalless draw with the Netherlands in the absence of Kylian Mbappe before also being restricted to a point in a 1-1 stalemate with Poland.

The latter result allowed Austria to leapfrog Deschamps's side and top the section, forcing Les Bleus to navigate the trickier knockout path, although Belgium have flattered to deceive at the Euros so far as well.

France would have enjoyed five full days of rest and recuperation before their last-16 battle with Domenico Tedesco's side, where Deschamps is facing a number of critical selection dilemmas in all areas of the field.

France manager Didier Deschamps reacts in June 2024 © Reuters

Ibrahima Konate 'hurts knee' in training before Belgium

However, one man who will almost certainly not be involved from the first whistle is Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate, who suffered a knee injury in training last week, according to FutbolFantasy.

The 25-year-old has had a rotten time fitness-wide over the past couple of years, and he also lost his place in the Liverpool lineup towards the end of the 2023-24 season, when Jarell Quansah was preferred by Jurgen Klopp.

As a result, Konate - who was expected to partner Dayot Upamecano at Euro 2024 - was unexpectedly ousted from the XI by Arsenal's William Saliba, who has linked arms with his Bayern Munich colleague throughout the tournament so far.

Konate has therefore been forced to watch every group-stage game from the bench and will surely be restricted to the dugout again on Monday, although it is not clear how severe the centre-back's issue is.

The report adds that Konate was able to take part in light exercises on the bike, suggesting that he is not nursing anything too severe, although there is virtually no chance of him forcing his way into the XI in Dusseldorf.

Deschamps to drop key attacker for Belgium clash?

Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele reacts in August 2023 © Reuters

While Konate's concern makes little difference to Deschamps's starting lineup, the Bleus boss is reportedly giving consideration to axing Ousmane Dembele from the XI after a few uninspiring displays.

The Paris Saint-Germain winger started all three of his nation's group games and won the penalty for Mbappe to convert against Poland, but he failed to last the full 90 minutes in any of them.

Following criticism of his displays, Deschamps has apparently been trialling an XI without the erstwhile Barcelona man, who could instead be replaced by Marcus Thuram in a change of formation.

The Inter Milan striker would operate alongside Mbappe at the tip of a 4-3-1-2 system, with Antoine Griezmann operating just behind the duo after being benched for the draw with Poland.

Adrien Rabiot, N'Golo Kante and Aurelien Tchouameni would then comprise the midfield trident just behind the returning Griezmann, who should take the place of Bradley Barcola.