Ezri Konsa: I am proud of every teammate and happy to end this World Cup with a victory.

Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa said he was very proud to score in the World Cup third-place match and help England defeat France 6-4 to secure third place in the tournament. Konsa opened the scoring in the 19th minute from a corner kick, giving England a quick 2-0 lead. Ultimately, England won the high-scoring game, clinching third place in the World Cup and achieving their best result in the tournament since 1966.  

Ezri Konsa, making his World Cup debut, said that fulfilling his childhood dream and scoring a goal in the World Cup was an unforgettable experience that made this tournament particularly special.  

Ezri Konsa said: "Participating in the World Cup has always been my biggest childhood dream. In this tournament, except for one game where I didn't get to play, I participated in every other game and even scored a goal. It all feels unbelievable, like a dream come true."  

“I know my family has been watching every game I play from home, and they must be very proud of me. Therefore, this World Cup has a very special meaning for me, and I will always remember this experience.”  

Despite England's disappointing semi-final defeat to Argentina, missing out on the championship and with third place not being their pre-tournament ultimate goal, 28-year-old Ezri Konsa believes the team still has every reason to be proud of their overall performance in this World Cup.  

He added, "Of course we hope to achieve better results and go further in this tournament, but football is always full of unknowns, and not everything will go as planned. So, we hope to end this World Cup journey with a victory."  

"This is England's best result in the World Cup in nearly 60 years. In the end, we finished the tournament with a medal, which is better than nothing. I am incredibly proud of all my teammates and proud of the achievements the team has made together."  

“Being away from family for seven consecutive weeks is not an easy thing, but the whole team has always remained united. We have a very good and very special team, and I am proud of every teammate. I am also very happy to end this World Cup with a victory, bringing this journey to a perfect close.”  

Image source: Internet/Aston Villa official website