France coach Didier Deschamps has explained overlooking Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate for his latest squad.
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."
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