Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate did his best to avoid a fight with teammate Darwin Nunez after relenting to his demands.
The pair - alongside youngster Calvin Ramsay - appeared in a promotional video for FIFA 23 ahead of the World Cup in Qatar and were tasked with making their predictions for the forthcoming tournament. Intended to be quickfire predictions, the trio’s selections happened to match Brazil with Nunez’s Uruguay in the first knockout round.
Reds’ centre-back Konate then seemed somewhat hesitant on taking the lead with Nunez standing next to him. Speaking initially, he said: “Brazil, Uru… Okay, I don’t decide. I don’t decide. Uruguay? Okay. No, no, no, no. Brazil. For me, Brazil.”
That claim initially seemed to upset Nunez who gave his teammate a stern look before raising his finger. Konate then immediately backtracked very quickly by relenting to Nunez’s backing.
The Frenchman continued: “Uruguay? Okay. Pardon me, sorry. Okay, okay. Put Uruguay because if we put Brazil, I will have to fight with him and we need him for the season.”
The teasing towards Nunez then continued shortly after with young Scotsman Ramsay also getting in on the act. The former Aberdeen starlet took the lead for the quarter-final predictions as Uruguay were matched up with Belgium.
What country are your predicting to win the World Cup? Share your predictions in the comments below
He then had a simple message for the Uruguayan as the Belgians progressed. “Belgium. Sorry, Darwin,” Ramsay said.
In the end, the trio decided on Konate’s France on winning the title - becoming the first nation since Brazil in 1962 in which to retain the World Cup. It remains to be seen how Les Bleus will fare in the upcoming tournament having been successful in Russia last time out.
Konate was named in Didier Deschamps ’ squad for the tournament despite having endured an injury-hit campaign for Liverpool so far this season. He has only ever earned two caps for the French national team in the past so will be hoping to add to that in Qatar.
In the meantime, Uruguayan forward Nunez will certainly be hoping to assist Uruguay ending their long wait for their third World Cup title. The 23-year-old has joined the likes of former Liverpool star Luis Suarez and ex- Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani in his nation’s squad.
He heads to Qatar in excellent form having netted nine goals in 18 appearances in all competitions for the Reds’ since a big money move from Portuguese giants Benfica in the summer.
Uruguay kick-off their group campaign against South Korea on Thursday before taking on Portugal and Ghana. Elsewhere, Konate’s France get their Group D campaign underway against Australia before clashes with Denmark and Tunisia.
