Liverpool star Ibrahima Konate reveals he 'almost passed out' multiple times ahead of Euro 2024, as he insists he would be starting for France if he was '100 per cent fit'
- Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate has not yet got on the pitch for France at Euro 2024
- He also failed to feature in Liverpool's final four games of the 2023-24 season
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Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has not yet received a minute of game time for France at Euro 2024.
The 25-year-old was an unused substitute in all three of France's group matches, which began with a 1-0 win over Austria, followed by a goalless draw with the Netherlands and then a 1-1 stalemate with Poland.
However, Konate is adamant that he would have started in those games had he been fully fit.
Konate also did not feature in his club's final four fixtures of last season, having missed multiple matches earlier in the campaign due to a thigh injury.
That lack of game time made it tough for Konate to get into top shape for the Euros, although he claims that he worked so hard in a bid to improve his physical condition that he 'almost passed out' multiple times.
Ibrahima Konate is a member of France's Euros squad but he has not yet got on the pitch
Konate's last appearance for Liverpool came on April 24 in a shock 2-0 defeat by Everton
Speaking to reporters in Germany this week ahead of France's clash with Belgium in the Euros' round of 16, Konate said: 'I came with a lot of expectations, that's part of football.
'I knew what my place was before the first match. It's frustrating but I know my role on and off the field. A 100 percent Ibou would never have sat on the bench.
'I didn't play for a month and a half. But I prepared, I almost passed out more than once. The preparation was very short. It's part of football. It was a good lesson for me.'
Konate mate his senior international debut for France in 2022 and he has since won 16 caps for his country.
The former RB Leipzig centre back - who joined Liverpool for a fee in the region of £36 million in 2021 - previously represented his country at five different youth levels.
Konate spoke at a press conference on Saturday and discussed his efforts to get fully fit
Konate pictured with a masked Kylian Mbappe before France's game against the Netherlands
The winner of France's game with Belgium on Monday will take on either Portugal or Slovenia in the quarter-finals.
Possible semi-final opponents then include Spain, Germany and Denmark.
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