How will Canada replace Ismael Koné? Midfield questions loom in World Cup run

Forty-eight hours after the win, the team enjoyed an off day with a family barbecue after some took in the sights around Vancouver.

Goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau played keep-ups with unsuspecting fans on the pedestrianized streets around BC Place, while Cyle Larin checked out the FIFA Fan Festival. Days earlier, Koné himself had walked those streets, taking in the scene undisturbed by the crowds.

The World Cup in Canada is a funny beast. There are expectations like never before for a team that proved itself capable with a semifinal run at the 2024 Copa América, but to many casual sports fans, the players remain relatively unknown, even as they take the spotlight in front of millions on matchday.

Saturday allowed the team to reset. While many brought family and friends to Vancouver for this part of the World Cup, there are few moments when personal and soccer lives overlap.

When Canada returned to the training pitch on Sunday, without Koné and with Eustáquio absent for undisclosed reasons during the 15 minutes the media were allowed to watch, it was a sunny, breezy morning. For many players, it marked a happy Father's Day after seeing their children and fathers the night before.

It was also the first time the public outpouring of support for Koné came face to face with the squad.

Near BC Place, someone hung letters from an apartment balcony spelling the midfielder's name against the Vancouver skyline, and at training, children from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation had painted Koné's No. 8 on the backs of their shirts.

The emotional support from across the country has been immense. The team, still dealing with the loss of their musical leader and commander of good vibes, remained upbeat.

Captain Alphonso Davies took on a more humorous tone than he often does during media-access training sessions, laughing and chatting alongside Saliba, the 22-year-old favored to step into Koné's role. Marsch, too, spent several minutes speaking one-on-one with Saliba, as well as Niko Sigur, Mathieu Choinière and Jonathan Osorio, the other midfielders who could fill in for Koné.

"Ismaël set an amazing example for everyone on how to deal with tough situations, and I think he took it like an absolute champ, clapping everyone off, shaking everyone's hand, giving everyone a hug and letting us know that he was OK," Millar said, having dealt with a major ACL injury that kept him out for most of the 2024-25 season.

"I know how difficult it is to do that. He set an amazing example of how to be, and I think we couldn't be more proud of how he handled it."

For Millar and nine others, having recent injury experience is an unexpected advantage. They know the road ahead for Koné and how to support a player from such a close-knit locker room.

Crépeau, center back Moïse Bombito and winger Tajon Buchanan have all missed significant portions of their careers with broken legs, and the upbeat Davies, often more reserved in public, hasn't played for Canada since March 2025.

Perseverance is nothing new. It's simply how this team works, and the fruits of Marsch's efforts to build depth are on display, allowing the squad to believe in itself even without key players.

"People who followed the team for many years know that we've been through injuries like this, and good wins and tough losses that tied the group together," Crépeau said, having missed the 2022 World Cup after breaking his leg in the 2022 MLS Cup final with LAFC.

"Ismaël's injury is another example of that and how tight the group is and how connected we are."

That unifying factor will be vital, as it was after Buchanan broke his leg at the 2024 Copa América. The core of the team has a bond dating to the pre-Marsch era through the "brotherhood" focus of former head coach John Herdman and will use the injury as motivation.

As much as emotional unity matters, personnel choices are critical as well, and the absence of Koné is a massive blow. Saliba, a talented attacker, doesn't offer the same defensive instincts as Koné and can lose focus in matches, as he did in a 2-2 draw against Iceland during the March window.

Choinière hasn't found much success with LAFC and has rarely played alongside Eustáquio this season. Osorio, the oldest player on the team, is likely outside serious consideration.

While Saliba, because of his attacking skill set, is the likely replacement for Koné, Marsch will be quick to adjust if the move does not work. Other options include Sigur, who played centrally in a March friendly against Tunisia, or even Davies, who may face fewer sprinting demands if he plays in midfield.

Canada Soccer declined to provide an update on Eustáquio's status, but if he misses the match, it would likely mean a midfield pairing of Choinière and Saliba, an untested duo against Switzerland's high-powered attack.

While the midfield will represent a step down from what Canada had in the first two matches, the positivity from Marsch, complemented by the camaraderie within the group, should give Canada a chance to make a deep run, starting Wednesday.

The win over Qatar was a landmark moment and a confidence builder. Even if the night wasn't as celebratory as it could have been, that momentum, lighthearted approach and Marsch's positive swagger should work in the co-hosts' favor.

"He's very animated, he's very emotional, and this is who he is every day," Millar said. "It's good to see a coach with emotions. When my coach is a real person and has real emotions, it can always help the group."