Konate would not handle Mbappe's pressure

On Tuesday, France and Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate defended Kylian Mbappe, who has been criticised in his homeland for an alleged lack of commitment to France and praised the Real Madrid player's psychological resilience.

"I think it's not easy what he (Mbappe) is going through. He is still young. If there was such expectation around me, I try to put myself in his shoes and I don't know if I could, he has no life. He has made it and he will continue to make it. He could have blocked himself psychologically. I'd really like to talk to him about that," the defender told a press conference two days before the match against Israel.

Mbappe, the 25-year-old France captain, has been heavily criticised in his homeland for citing an injury for not being called up to the national team, which did not prevent him from playing for his club Real Madrid.

"I didn't know he was whistled at Lille (2 October in a Champions League game), but I don't know why they did it (...) It's strange to experience that in your own country," he said. Konate praised Antoine Griezmann, who announced his retirement with Les Bleus, and considered him "a true leader" of the national team.

For the upcoming matches against Israel (10 October) and Belgium (14) in the Nations League group stage, Didier Deschamps will have to choose a new captain in the absence of Mbappe and the retirement of Griezmann, and the defender is seen as a candidate. "There are a few names that come to mind: Mike (Maignan), me, Jules (Kounde), Aurel‘ (Tchouameni) maybe," he said.