The international match between the Netherlands and France is also a reunion for Ibrahima Konaté with Virgil van Dijk. The two center-backs are going to face off, and, of course, there were questions asked about the Liverpool duo.
Konaté and Van Dijk have already shared the field 42 times at Liverpool; this coming Friday will be the second time the defenders face each other. Konaté also played earlier this year when France won convincingly with a 4-0 score against the Netherlands in this European Championship qualification period.
However, there is no underestimation. "This is an important match for us," Konaté confirmed during the France press conference.
"Even though the Netherlands lost by a significant margin, they do have real quality," the French defender believes. "They are playing for qualification and revenge, and I've talked about that with Van Dijk as well." Konaté is happy to have the Dutchman as a teammate. "There are very few defenders as successful as he is. I'm learning a lot from him. My goal, and he knows it too, is to have a better career."
France is undefeated after five games in the European Championship qualification period and, with a win against the Netherlands, will secure their place in the final tournament since the Netherlands and Greece, their pursuers, will still face each other in Group B.
