The players said it sounded like a gunshot, a crack that could be heard audibly in the upper deck at B.C. Place. On the field, Ismaël Koné sat strangely canted on the ground, down after what Canada teammate Alistair Johnston thought was just a “silly tackle” from his viewpoint across the pitch. Then a Qatari player standing over Koné urgently waved at the Canadian bench. And then Stephen Eustáquio did too, looking down, then quickly looking away.
He saw Koné’s leg was clearly broken, both tibia and fibula, angled unnaturally in the middle of his shin. Trainers dashed from the sidelines and players made a protective ring around him, shielding him from view.
“I knew right away,” said head coach Jesse Marsch. “It was right in front of us, and everyone could hear the bone snap. Your heart goes out to him. Everybody’s a little shaken by the whole experience, because of the nature of the injury, and also because Ismaël is a big part of the heart of our team.”
Historic Victory Marred by Injury
The Canada team had come into Thursday’s World Cup game against Qatar saddled with questions. Would they wilt under the pressure of the home lights in Vancouver, against a lesser-regarded team? Could they score? And who would score, anyway? Would Alphonso Davies play? Would the pressure of Switzerland’s win just minutes before they kicked off add pressure, or motivation?
Through the game’s first 50 minutes, those questions were answered, definitively, in what would be a historic 6-0 win. But now, there are more questions. One of which already has a likely answer.
How Will They React?
When Tajon Buchanan suffered a similar injury during training for the Copa America in 2025, it galvanized the team, brought them closer together, playing a significant part in their charge into the semi-finals where they ultimately lost to Lionel Messi and Argentina.
“It was really something that brought the group even closer together, and that never hurts,” said right back Alistair Johnston. “We’re missing a huge player, so let’s not get that twisted. He’s one of those talents that we can’t really replace.
“You saw that when Nathan (Saliba) came on, scored, and the first thing he was thinking about is Isma, and that’s what this team is all about, really — a brotherhood. It’s really difficult to see one of your brothers go down. If we needed any extra motivation for this tournament, we got it now.”
Who Can Replace Koné in Midfield?
With that answered, the biggest question remaining is: Who can replace Koné in midfield? He’s the tallest midfielder in the squad at 6-foot-2, and moves with a grace and power that none of his teammates in the middle can match, especially with the ball at his feet. Saliba was brought on in his spot on Thursday, with both Mathieu Choinière and veteran Jonathan Osorio as options.
It only took the 22-year-old Saliba, who was a teammate with Koné in Montreal before they both made moves to Europe, six minutes to move into pole position for the role. The Quebec-born star set up over a 23-yard free kick in the 64th minute, curled it around the Qatari wall and past goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada for Canada’s fourth goal of the night. He immediately ran to the sideline and grabbed a Koné jersey, holding it up for the 52,000 fans at B.C. Place to see.
“It was very challenging. It’s not easy when … when your friend goes out like this,” he said, “a moment where everybody is saddened by what had just happened, that you need to come in and be ready for your team.
“To be honest, I don’t think I was able to (level my emotions), but I just had to do it. It’s like throwing a baby in the ocean and he figures out how to swim, that’s kind of how it was. It’s never easy to do something like this.”
“(The celebration) speaks for itself. I was just trying to do something for him, and show that it’s not just a game where we move on and people just keep doing our lives. … That’s all I was thinking about. I didn’t feel like celebrating. I just … I was just thinking about my friend.”
Marsch and Players on Koné’s Uniqueness
Marsch and players this week have all referred to Koné as an “X-Factor,” a player who holds abilities unique to the rest of the team, and accord him in the same singular status as Davies.
“I don’t think we have another player like Ismaël,” said Marsch. “I think we have good players that can replace him … we can use different guys in different ways.”
Eustáquio noted Koné’s ability to quickly step forward with the ball at his feet with timing that catches teams off-guard, while Choinière is an “engine” and Osorio has veteran presence and creativity, and they have no issue with depth or strength in the middle of the park.
“Obviously, Saliba, with the breakaway he’s been having in Belgium (with Anderlecht), for me, he’s a top player,” said Eustáquio. “He’s ready to help us, no matter what. And you guys saw it today. He can give us a lot of things, midfield presence, quality of passing. He scored a free kick goal, that’s something that we really need — as well as a right-footer, because as a left-footer we have Derek Cornelius.”
“I think every guy in the midfield has something different to bring. We’re all different players, we fit in the style in a different way,” said Saliba. “(Koné) has his things that he does well. I have my things also that I do well, and I think we both help the team in a different way.”
Stakes High for Switzerland Match
No matter who ends up taking Koné’s position in the XI, the stakes are clear for Wednesday’s game against Switzerland: first place in the group. A draw will see Canada through as the No. 1, as they lead on goal differential (+6 to +3), while the Swiss have to win to take the group stage crown.
A win, however, means Canada will keep playing in Vancouver in the first knockout round game — and maybe two, should they win the round of 32 match. It also means time to get players like Moïse Bombito and Davies closer to 100 per cent health.
“It’s a massive carrot for us. Just getting the knockout stage was the main goal, but now you see where we’re at in this group, it becomes a possibility,” said Johnston. “You go and get a result in that final match day that you’re going to stay in Vancouver. That’s something that was the dream scenario.
“We put ourselves in a great position. We have to go out and play a really good Swiss team. They’re going to be obviously very motivated because they want to top the group too. It’s going to be an exciting match, and again, we have that crowd behind us, I think anything’s going to be possible.”
