France head coach Didier Deschamps has played down injury concerns over Ibrahima Konate after the Liverpool defender was forced off at half-time in Thursday's first-leg Nations League quarter-final against Croatia.
Ibrahima Konate was subbed off at half-time after starting the match with Arsenal's William Saliba. Speculations regarding a potential injury sparked after the France national team's social media account posted that the 25-year-old had suffered a "knock".
Nevertheless, France head coach Didier Deschamps cleared up the situation, insisting that the decision to replace him with Bayern Munich's Dayot Upamecano was purely tactical as he spoke following his side's 2-0 defeat to Croatia in the first leg of the Nations League quarter-finals.
"I know it's tough, but I saw him struggling, not at his best, so I preferred to substitute him," Deschamps explained. The Liverpool centre-back gave away an early penalty for handball, thought saved Andrej Kramaric's spot kick goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
Arne Slot's side will be relieved to know that Konate has escaped an injury, especially after seeing Ryan Gravenberch leave the Netherlands camp due to a fitness concern. The Dutch midfielder has returned to Merseyside for further assessment.