Konate: We Will Fight Against England Despite Final Disappointment

France defender Ibrahima Konaté has confirmed that the Blues will approach the third-place match against England with full seriousness, despite acknowledging that every player's dream was to reach the World Cup final. This comes after England manager Thomas Tuchel stated that any player who does not want to play in this match should not participate.

Konate stated: "Thomas Tuchel said that no one wants to play in the third-place match, and he is right in that we wanted to play in the final, not a match to determine third place." He added that the disappointment after exiting the semi-finals does not mean abandoning responsibility towards the national team.

The Liverpool defender stressed the importance of representing France in the best light, saying: "But we are proud to wear this shirt, and that’s why we will approach this match with all our strength. We have a duty as players of the French national team, and there are many players who would have wished to be here."

France and England are set to meet in the third-place playoff after the French team lost to Spain in the semifinals, while England exited the tournament following their defeat to Argentina. Both teams will be looking to end their 2026 World Cup journey with a bronze medal.