French newspaper L'Équipe reports that Konaté is now ranked fourth among France's centre-backs, leaving the player shocked and frustrated by the situation.

For Konaté, it feels like an endless cycle repeating itself, though he never expected to find himself in this position. Two years ago at the European Championship, the French defender, hampered by inadequate preparation, did not play a single minute throughout the tournament and has since been replaced by the Upamecano-Saliba pairing. To understand his mindset at the time, one need only revisit his comments made in a small room in Paderborn.

"I knew my place before the first match. There was frustration, but I knew my role. I would stay focused, stay committed. My job is not to show frustration." He explained in that remarkably honest statement, "He (Saliba) deserved those minutes. I spoke with him, I told him this was his moment. When I return at 100%, everything will be intense. (laughs)"

Two years later, despite a turbulent season, Konaté's situation remains unchanged. Given the outstanding seasons of Upamecano and Saliba, and Konaté's more inconsistent campaign—the latter having also suffered personal tragedy, losing his father and close friend and teammate Diogo Jota—Deschamps unhesitatingly maintained the Bayern and Arsenal centre-back pairing. It was a logical football decision, one Deschamps explained internally, and Konaté accepted it. The surprise came later. Last Friday evening, Lacroix started as left centre-back against Norway (France won 4-1). Though he only played 15 minutes, he performed well and earned internal recognition.

Was this merely a temporary choice? Far from it. The coaching staff highly values Lacroix's dynamism. Konaté's performance in the June 4 friendly against Ivory Coast was also viewed as inconsistent. In recent days, the future Real Madrid centre-back—who has decided to finalize his club future before the tournament to fully eliminate any concerns—has also realized that his former teammate from Schalke has gained the upper hand. Privately, he has not hidden his surprise and disappointment. This is natural for a player accustomed to major tournaments and Champions League football, and who has long competed for playing time. Moreover, this decision comes at a moment when Konaté feels he is performing at his peak.

However, this player from Paris's 11th arrondissement is not one to dwell on setbacks. Within the French camp, Konaté has shown no negativity, nor has he directly expressed his dissatisfaction to the coaching staff. He maintains his daily routine: waking early to go to the gym for strength training, followed by high-intensity sessions. This attitude is viewed positively internally. On Saturday, he also took the opportunity to get fresh air when his mother, sister, several brothers, and nephews visited Boston.

After three weeks of competition, Konaté shows no signs of resignation. A close associate explained, "He is determined. He has participated in major tournaments and knows he must always be ready at a moment's notice." The question now is whether, whether playing left or right centre-back, Konaté can once again become the first-choice option behind the Upamecano-Saliba pairing in the Round of 16, quarter-finals, and beyond. Lacroix's solid performance last Friday may not have entirely settled the debate.

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