Kone fractures tibia and fibula as Canada rout Qatar 6-0 in World Cup opener

Canada midfielder Ismael Kone is set for surgery after fracturing both his tibia and fibula during Canada’s 6-0 World Cup victory over Qatar. The 24-year-old was stretchered from the field following a challenge by Qatar’s Assim Madibo, who was shown a red card for the foul.

Madibo put his head in his hands immediately after the tackle as Kone lay on the ground in visible pain. Despite the severity of the injury, Kone was able to wave to the crowd as he was carried off, drawing a warm response from the stadium.

Canada head coach Jesse Marsch confirmed after the match that Kone had gone straight to hospital, accompanied by his mother Suzanne, and was preparing for surgery. Marsch also revealed that Madibo had come to the dressing room to personally apologise for the challenge.

“Ismael is such a great kid,” Marsch said. “He’s so imperfect but that’s why you love him. He can do great things and the next moment he loses concentration. He embodies a lot of what the team is. It’s a huge loss for us. He’ll be fine, we’ll get him good doctors. He’s got a big future and he’s a big part of everything we’ll do.”

Canada captain Stephen Eustaquio, one of the first players to reach Kone after the challenge, did not hide his concern. “I saw his leg. I saw that something wasn’t right,” he said. “We’re going to miss him. He has that X factor that our team really needs.”

Hat-trick hero Jonathan David, who scored three of Canada’s six goals, was blunt in his assessment of the challenge. “If there’s a play where you cannot win the ball, there’s no point,” David said. “It’s just to hurt people.”

The victory was a commanding start to Canada’s World Cup campaign, though the celebrations were heavily tempered by the sight of Kone being stretchered away. The extent of the double fracture means the Watford midfielder faces a significant spell on the sidelines.