"Konate showed his quality again", says Joel Matip ahead of World Cup final

The 23-year-old

has started three games in the World Cup for France including the semi-final clash against Morocco.

 defender is set to play in Sunday's World Cup final between

and Argentina.

Ahead of the final, Joel Matip said Konate showed his quality in the World Cup.

"He's so young and [he has] so much quality already,"

Matip said

. "He's showed that now again with the national team – with an amazing team.

"He's shown the class he's got. He's self-confident, nice, and a really kind person.

"Especially [at] this age, it's amazing what he can do. He's strong in challenges, in the air, on the ground, the pace, [he's] comfortable with the ball – it's everything you need [as a defender]."

The French center-back joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig in 2021 and won two trophies in his first season.

Konate missed the training after the game against Morocco due to illness but he returned to training on Saturday and is available for the final.

The young French player is the only Liverpool representative in the final and Matip said Liverpool players are supporting him in this game.

"Of course, he is the only team-mate left, so there is no hard choice for us to make when he is the only one,

" he said.

"I hope he comes back with a big smile – this will be a win then!"

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