The sound of a bone snapping is something you don’t forget. Canada coach Jesse Marsch heard it clearly on Tuesday, standing just feet from the sideline as midfielder Ismael Kone went down under a horrific tackle from Qatar’s Assim Madibo.
Kone was taken to a local hospital with a suspected broken leg after Canada’s 6-0 World Cup victory, their first ever in a tournament finals. The game featured a Jonathan David hat-trick, but the win felt hollow for a team that watched one of its own carried off on a stretcher.
Marsch fights back tears, calls injury ‘shaking’ for whole squad
Marsch was visibly emotional during the post-match press conference. He admitted the entire team was rattled.
“I haven’t spoken to Ismael yet. He’s at the hospital, getting ready for surgery. I’m going to see him after this,” Marsch said. “It happened right in front of the bench. Everybody could hear the bone snap.”
Kone, somehow, managed to wave to the crowd as he was carried off. Marsch called that moment an incredible statement about the midfielder’s character.
“Your heart goes out to him. Everybody’s a little shaken. But you saw him waving, almost making everybody else feel at ease. That’s who he is,” Marsch said. “I’ve been telling people for two years about the special character of this group. Today highlighted all of that.”
Madibo, who was visibly upset himself, was sent off after a VAR review. That reduced Qatar to nine men — Homam Ahmed had already been shown a red card in the first half.
Marsch and Lopetegui exchange words, but no hard feelings toward Madibo
Marsch confirmed that Madibo apologized to Kone in the dressing room. Kone himself told the team about the apology.
“I don’t think he meant such a gruesome tackle,” Marsch said. “But I don’t understand their bench trying to start a fight about it being a red card when a clear foul just broke a player’s leg.”
Marsch and Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui had a testy exchange after the match. Neither man wanted to get into specifics. Marsch said it wasn’t worth anyone’s time to discuss. Lopetegui insisted there was no intention to injure Kone, adding, “I wish him all the best, to recover as soon as possible.”
Beyond the injury drama, the win itself was historic. Cyle Larin and Nathan Saliba — who replaced Kone — also scored. Canada’s fifth goal was an own goal by Mohamed Manai.
“No Canadian will forget this day,” Marsch said. “Forty million people will say they were here. It’s a seminal moment. There’s talent in this country. There’s mentality. There’s desire.”
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