Canada eye first World Cup knockout-round berth as Ismael Kone injury clouds Swiss showdown

VANCOUVER – A Canada side rallying around the loss of injured midfielder Ismael Kone face Switzerland on June 24 needing a win or draw to secure top spot in Group B – and their first World Cup knockout-phase appearance.

The Canadians will be without the services of Kone when they line up against three-time quarter-finalists Switzerland, as the linchpin midfielder suffered a broken leg following a tackle by Qatar’s Assim Madibo during the co-hosts’ 6-0 thrashing of the Middle Eastern side last week that gave them their first World Cup win.

It was a devastating blow given Kone is considered the heartbeat of Canada’s midfield, and without his energy, Jesse Marsch’s men could be a less threatening pressing side going into their group-stage finale at Vancouver’s BC Place.

“He means everything to this team,” Jonathan David, Canada’s all-time leading scorer, said of his injured teammate. “It was a difficult moment. But we have to stay strong for him, and do it for him.”

Replacing the midfielder will be no easy feat for Marsch, who acknowledged the absence of Kone “weakens us in the tournament”, but he will have no choice but to rely on someone from his bench to step up in the high-stakes clash against Switzerland.

“Everybody’s a little shaken by the whole experience. Ismael is a big part of the heart of our team,” said Marsch. “He’s a bit of an X factor for us, we’ll miss him. But I think we have good players who can step in.”

There will also be questions about the fitness of Canada captain Alphonso Davies, who has yet to play in this World Cup as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury. He was available for Canada’s win over Qatar but did not enter the match.

Canada and Switzerland have four points from two games, though the World Cup co-hosts are top of the Group B standings on superior goal difference.

Switzerland, who started the World Cup as Group B favourites, opened with a draw against Qatar followed by a 4-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. They now need one point against Canada to secure a round-of-32 place in the expanded tournament.

The Swiss have negotiated their way out of the group stage in five of their last six World Cup campaigns but have tasted defeat in the round of 16 on each of those occasions.

In the other match, Bosnia and Qatar go into their final game knowing they realistically must win to progress, with a possible last-32 clash against co-hosts the United States the prize on offer.

The two sides began their tournaments well enough, as Bosnia held Canada to a creditable draw while Qatar snatched a late equaliser against Switzerland.

Their disastrous second matches, however, leave them targeting third place in the group – but only if one of them can grab all three points in Seattle. REUTERS