Canada has just won their first World Cup match, and also produced one of the thrashings of the competition, beating Qatar 6-0 with a hat-trick by Juventus player Jonathan David, Southampton's Cyle Larin, Anderlecht's Nathan Saliba, and an own goal by Mohammed Manai. The match, one of the first from round 2 of the group stage, featured two red cards, which tipped the scales for the Canadian national team, who despite all, paid a big price.
Midfielder Ismaël Koné, from Italian club Sassuolo, broke his leg early in the second half, with Canada already leading 3-0. A late and clumsy challenge by Assim Madibo caused him to fall to the ground in tears. "Everyone could hear the bone snap", said Canada coach Jesse Marsch.
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As players from both teams run to assist Koné, seeing how his badly was his leg, a scuffle erupted between the players. Madibo, initially unaware of what happened, put his hand over his head realising the consequences of his challenge, in visible distraught, and was shown a red card, leaving Qatar with nine.
Eventually, Koné was taken in a stretchered and despite the pain, still waved fans in his way out and lifted his thumb up. Later, when Saliba scored the fourth, held up Koné's shirt.
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"Everybody's a little shaken by the whole experience because of the nature of the injury, and also because Ismael is a big part of the heart of our team. It will be a big loss for us", said Marsch. Koné is now ruled out for the rest of the tournament and will be side-lined for months, after fracturing his tibia and fibula.