Canada not allowing injury trouble to derail momentum

VANCOUVER – When he appeared for the start of Canada’s practice Monday at the World Cup, Stephen Eustaquio was wearing a training belt to monitor fitness. Had he emerged in full bubble wrap, no one except him would have complained.

As Canada prepares for its final group-stage game here against Switzerland on Wednesday, when a win or draw will guarantee first-place and continued home-field advantage at B.C. Place Stadium for the World Cup co-hosts, Eustaquio’s health and durability have become critically important to the national team.

Last week’s historic 6-0 demolition of Qatar was instantly a defining moment for men’s soccer in Canada.

But the defining moments of Thursday’s game included central midfielder Ismael Kone’s tournament-ending injury in the 53rd minute when his left leg was sickeningly broken by Assim Madibo’s late tackle from behind.

Canada has no one who can fully replace Kone’s combination of size, dribbling skill and dynamic box-to-box drive in the middle of the park.

So when Eustaquio, the 29-year-old central midfielder who has played 58 times for Canada and ran for 90 minutes against Qatar, was not on the University of B.C. practice field Sunday with teammates during the media’s 15-minute viewing window, the challenge of replacing Kone threatened to become a crisis.

But Eustaquio appeared to be a full participant on Monday based on the team’s warmup during the media window.

So, too, were injured captain Alphonso Davies and centre-back Moise Bombito, who came on as a substitute against Qatar and played the second half just 17 days after limping off the field during a pre-tournament friendly against Uzbekistan.

Having suffered a fractured tibia of his own with club team Nice in France last October, Bombito’s aborted return to action on June 1 appeared to imperil his World Cup chances.

Now he is a candidate to start against Switzerland.

It is impossible to overlook the timing: one player returning to the central “spine” of the Canadian team just as another departs with the same, serious injury.

“It’s been a journey,” Bombito, 26, said of his return to health. “It’s been a great journey. Throughout that journey, I learned resilience is key. Faith is key, also. If you put bad thoughts in your head, it can have an impact as well... so I tried my best to stay positive in all circumstances, to be thankful in all circumstances and just go at it one day at a time.”

Bombito replaced central defender Derek Cornelius at halftime against Qatar after his teammate was assessed a yellow card. Cornelius started Canada’s first two World Cup games alongside 20-year-old newcomer Luc de Fougerolles.

Kone’s replacement on Thursday – and likely against Switzerland – was 22-year-old Nathan Saliba, who scored against Qatar on a 64th-minute free kick and then honoured his injured teammate by displaying Kone’s jersey to the euphoric sellout crowd at B.C. Place.

“It’s tough in the moment, tough after the game,” veteran striker Cyle Larin said Monday of Kone’s injury. “I think we just use that emotion and use what has happened to bring it into the next game and use it as fire. I guess, do it for him. We’ll be there for him.

“I think it’s important to be there for Ismael. I think the team will be there, the players will be there, like we have for all of our players. We’re a close group. And for the fans to be behind him too, I think it's important.”

Davies, Canada’s best player, appears ready to return from a troublesome hamstring injury, although a Canadian win or draw on Wednesday would provide even more time for the Bayern Munich wingback to get stronger.

Saliba’s time could be now. He plays club football for Anderlecht in Belgium but is a product of the Montreal Impact after growing up in Longueuil, Que. Bombito is from Montreal.

“I think he's a great professional,” Bombito, one of two players who spoke to the media on Monday, said of Saliba. “He (shows) his responsibility when everyone demands it from him, and he delivers. That was also his debut on the World Cup stage, and he stayed ready the whole time, you know? As soon as his number was called, he was really responsible to go out there and do the job and also to score this beautiful goal.”

A breakthrough performance at the Copa America tournament two years ago established Bombito as one of Canada’s top defenders, but his substitute appearance against Qatar was also his World Cup debut.

“You dream about that day,” he said. “And you recognize that all your work, all your hard work, paid off. And then you go out there, you see your family in the stands, you see all the people that were supporting you in the stands, and you're just really grateful. So it was a great moment, for sure.”

Bombito praised de Fougerolles’ play and said he isn’t trying to dislodge anyone from the Canadian lineup.

“I have to take into consideration that Derek and Luc have been doing a really tremendous job,” Bombito said. “I won’t say I don’t want to take their spot; but what I say is you don’t want to kill great momentum, you just want to help whenever your number is called.”

If Canada loses to group-favourites Switzerland, it will lose home-field advantage and play in Los Angeles for the Round of 32.

“Last game, the stadium was amazing,” Larin said. “Even after the game, the whole stadium was still full. That was an amazing feeling just to see them still cheering. I think we’ve come a long way since I’ve been here (with the national team). But I think the more you do well, it gets bigger and bigger, and you have to perform.

“I think we showed the world what we can do (against Qatar). I don’t think we did anything different; we just scored a lot of goals, and we played one of our best games. I think we just have to keep doing the same.”

No matter who is in the lineup.

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