Canada boss Jesse Marsch appeared to aim a dig at Julen Lopetegui after a fractious World Cup clash with Qatar descended into chaos following Ismael Kone’s horrific leg injury.
The tournament co-hosts cruised to a historic 6-0 victory in Vancouver on Thursday night, securing their first-ever World Cup win, but celebrations were overshadowed by a sickening injury to the former Watford midfielder.
Kone, 24, suffered a broken leg after a reckless challenge from Qatar midfielder Assim Madibo and underwent surgery later that evening.
The incident was so distressing that ITV chose not to show replays, while players from both teams looked visibly shaken as medical staff rushed onto the pitch.
Tempers quickly boiled over both during and after the match.
Canada’s players confronted their opponents, while Marsch and members of his coaching staff became involved in heated exchanges with Lopetegui and the Qatar bench after Madibo was shown a straight red card.
The tension had not subsided by full-time.
Television cameras appeared to show Lopetegui approaching Marsch after the final whistle, prompting the former Leeds manager to throw his arms into the air before walking away.
Canada boss Jesse Marsch appeared to aim a dig at Julen Lopetegui after a fractious World Cup clash with Qatar descended into chaos following Ismael Kone’s horrific leg injury
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REUTERS
Ismael Kone suffered a broken leg in Canada’s 6-0 triumph over Qatar at the World Cup
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REUTERS
Asked afterwards about his confrontation with the Spaniard, Marsch made it clear he had little interest in revisiting the matter.
“I’m not spending one second discussing it, it’s not worth any of our time to discuss,” he said.
Lopetegui was equally guarded when quizzed on the disagreement.
“It’s between him and me,” he replied.
Every team to have won the World Cup | GETTY/GB NEWS
Marsch was, however, keen to praise Madibo for apologising directly to Kone after the match.
“Let me be clear, the player apologized to Ismael, came into the dressing room and apologised to him and Ismael told the team that had happened,” he said. “So I don’t think that he meant such a gruesome tackle or gruesome situation.
“But I don’t understand a reaction from their entire bench to try to start a fight about it being a red card when a clear foul just happened that broke a player’s leg.”
The Canada manager admitted the severity of the injury had deeply affected his squad.
“His family is with him at the hospital. It happened right in front of the bench – everyone could hear the bone snap,” he said.
“Your heart goes out to him, and everybody’s a little shaken by the experience, because of the nature of the injury and also because Ismael is a big part of the team.
“You saw also that he was waving to the crowd and almost making everybody else feel at ease with the fact that he’s injured, and that’s an incredible statement about Ismael as a person, but this is also our team.”
Despite the emotional evening, Canada still made history.
Ismael Kone gestures to fans while leaving the pitch in Canada’s win over Qatar | GETTY
Jonathan David struck a hat-trick, while Cyle Larin and Nathan Saliba also found the net.
Mohammed Manai compounded Qatar’s misery with an own goal.
“No one will forget this, and no Canadian will forget this day,” Marsch said.
“It’s an incredibly seminal moment for everyone to understand that there’s talent in this country, that there’s mentality, that there’s desire, that there’s a lot of things that make this country special.”
Canada face Switzerland in their final group-stage match next week knowing a place in the last 32 is within touching distance.
Qatar, meanwhile, must beat Bosnia and Herzegovina heavily to retain any hope of progressing to the knockout rounds.
