Liverpool International Round Up: Konate Edition

If you, like me, enjoy watching exhausted players limp onto the pitch a week after their club season ends to play out meaningless friendlies, then this was the long weekend for you. The postponed summer tournaments will finally take place this year, and so teams are getting some playing time together before that.

First, on Sunday Xherdan Shaqiri played the first half of Switzerland’s 2-1 friendly victory over the United States. Additionally, it was a big day for baby Liverpool defender Conor Bradley. The 17-year-old Academy player made his first team debut late in the game when Northern Ireland beat Malta 3-0.

“The gaffer came over to me and said, ‘You’re getting on’. I just had goosebumps and it was an unbelievable moment. I’m proud of me and my family. Just unreal,” Bradley said.

On Monday, Ozan Kabak played in Turkey’s 0-0 draw against Guinea. And finally, Liverpool fans have lived through their first international game for new recruit Ibrahima Konate. The French player captained France’s U21s in the UEFA U21 European Championship quarterfinals.

Les Bleus were knocked out of the competition by the Netherlands 2-1, after a brace by Dutch forward Myron Boadu.