One by one, Canada’s players slowly filtered out of a morning meeting ahead of their training session, some still rubbing the sleep from their eyes. But one player remained with new head coach Jesse Marsch for an unprompted but imperative conversation.
Days earlier, Ismael Kone started against Argentina in the Copa America opener, the biggest game of his career. The 22-year-old midfielder was coming off an all-world performance in a friendly draw against France. His composure and playmaking made him look capable of hanging with Europe’s best.
Yet against Argentina, Kone received a rude awakening. The margins for error against the world’s best are slim. For every slick pass through traffic — Kone being the only Canadian who could pull off those kind of line-breaking plays — the Watford midfielder made just as many small but critical errors that turned the tide against Canada.
Kone went from the penthouse in his game against France to the basement, punching the ground in anger when he was unable to turn off approaching Argentines the way he wanted to.
That’s why Marsch kept him behind.
To Kone’s surprise, Marsch showed him clips from Roger Federer’s Dartmouth commencement speech.
“When you’re playing a point, it has to be the most important thing in the world and it is,” Federer said in the address. “But when it’s behind you, it’s behind you. This mindset is really crucial, because it frees you to fully commit to the next point and the next point after that with intensity, clarity, and focus.”
“Have a short memory,” Marsch stressed to Kone. “We’ll have time to learn from your mistakes.”
“Negative energy is wasted energy,” Federer’s address continued. “You want to become a master at overcoming hard moments. That is, to me, the sign of a champion, the best in the world and not the best, because they win every point. It’s because they know they’ll lose again and again, and have learned how to deal with it.”
Marsch reminded Kone why he was showing him this video: if Kone learned to adapt to the games in front of him and move on, his potential and ceiling would be high enough that he could one day be considered among the types of athletes Federer was referencing.
Marsch believes Kone has all the makings of the next Canadian talent who could conquer the sport.
“What I always see is a star in the making. But I think (Kone) is a star now, to be honest,” Canada midfielder Jonathan Osorio said as he shook his head in amazement. “He is a kid with an abundance of confidence and a maturity to him that you don’t get much in guys at his age.”
During Copa America, the transfer rumours surrounding Kone and clubs in Europe’s best leagues have been rampant. If Kone can manage the extreme highs and lows that come in a short span over tournament play, and show his electric, game-changing talent, Copa America could be where he cements his star status.
Flash back to 2022 when Kone played his first professional games with CF Montreal in MLS. Kone was full of promise and well-versed in the school of rollicking park and street soccer, far away from polished academies. He struggled early on with the demands that come with being a professional, whether that was arriving on time for training sessions or treating his body correctly with his nutrition.
But since Kone arrived at Watford after a December 2022 transfer, his game and professionalism have quickly evolved. Once a lanky 6ft2in (188cm) dribbler, Kone has grown into his frame. His added muscle has allowed him noticeable improvements when turning off defenders with the ball.
Perhaps what’s most notable about Kone’s past 18 months is how reliable he’s become for Watford. Since he joined the Championship club in January 2023, they have gone through four managers. And yet after making his debut in an FA Cup match against Reading, Kone has appeared in 63 of 71 matches for Watford.
From manager to manager, Kone quickly earned trust, avoided injury and made an impact. That type of reliability can go a long way not just to getting in a manager’s good books, but can be a boon to his development.
In a physical league, Kone has learned to balance the increased defensive demands of his position with his flair for the dramatic.
“(Kone) scored against (Preston North End) and did that stupid dance that really pissed me off,” Canada teammate and Preston North End winger Liam Millar joked. “But honestly, you can see his quality every day in training, you see his quality playing against him in the Championship. He’s very valuable to the team. I think he can go wherever he wants, if he puts his head right into it.”
Kone celebrates after scoring against Preston North End. (Photo: Tim Markland/PA Images via Getty Images)
Yet as important as the Championship has been for Kone’s development, he has never been as relied upon as heavily as in Copa America.
At the 2022 World Cup, Kone looked like a player on the verge of something special. He would only enter games as a substitute with the midfield still the responsibility of then-Canada captain Atiba Hutchinson. Kone was still raw, but in hindsight, it’s worth wondering if his pace and fearlessness on the ball could have helped a Canadian midfield that sometimes look trapped in mud against Croatia’s midfield in their second World Cup game.
Nevertheless, with only 33 games total for CF Montreal under his belt entering the World Cup, his role for Canada was more of a wild card who could provide a team with a spark. Pressure to perform seemed far from the front of Kone’s mind.
Now, after the necessary turnover in Canada’s squad and a focus on preparing players who will be starters in the 2026 World Cup, Kone has found his place to shine.
Stephen Eustaquio is still the general deep in the midfield, but more than ever, any dynamism Canada offers in its build-up flows through Kone. He pulls the strings and can change the tempo of the game on a dime. For a team that relies on their speed to punish opponents, Canada needs Kone to put his forwards into the right spots.
“As a midfielder, seeing the play, reading the play, reading the picture of the game is very key,” Kone said.
Ahead of speaking to The Athletic, Kone stressed to Canada Soccer’s media relations staff that he would only be available at halftime of a Euros match between Portugal and Czech Republic. Missing a chance to study the world’s best was out of the question.
“Watching the competition and watching for different playing styles, different players, I’m all about that,” Kone said.
His skills honed at Watford make him indispensable for Canada. At his best, he can cut through lines with the ball, muscle off defenders, play an exquisite final pass and even fool goalkeepers by ripping powerful shots from distance.
But Kone is further from the finished product as any Canadian game-breaker. That continued climb is his focus right now. When he watches the Euros, he wants to see the difference between where he is now and what he could become.
“I think they’re the best players in the world because the level of detail they show is almost perfect: their first touch, their way to see the game, the tempo of the game, I just think it’s amazing. There’s a lot of stuff I could work on to get better,” Kone said.
The crucial question Kone will have to answer at Copa America is whether he can rise to the challenges that international tournaments present.
“From the first time we spoke, the challenges made a lot of sense,” Kone said of him and Marsch. “I’m someone who challenges myself a lot.”
Heightened pressure means staying more focused in the game, watching the ball less and getting involved whenever possible. It’s more defensive thinking to help manage games and not get caught in transition. And finally, it’s remaining as connected with teammates as possible on the pitch to try to make the best decisions.
Kone goes against Lionel Messi in the Copa America opener. (Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“Sometimes I rely on my physical attributes a lot,” Kone said. “Balancing that will help me get to the next level.”
Kone’s play against Peru and Chile in Group A will have to evolve. He will need to showcase more physicality and more composure as those teams try to manipulate the game in a way Argentina did not need to.
With those tools at his disposal, Kone could propel Canada to their first win in a major tournament in a generation. The next stage of his development will be managing the expectations and pressure that come with responsibility at a young age. If he does so, Kone could find himself eventually playing alongside the types of players he is still watching on television very, very soon.
Throughout, Kone has not lost any of the jovial off-pitch demeanour that has made him a likable Canada teammate. He strides calmly and – only seemingly – without a care in the world from meeting to meeting and is always quick to crack a joke with teammates. Kone’s attitude has helped him stay composed as life has come at him fast. It’s the same approach that manifests on the pitch with what appears like an effortless glide. Where that glide takes him remains a source of great optimism in Canadian soccer.
As Kone walked out of the door, away from Marsch and towards the training pitch, he asked his coach to send him a link to Federer’s speech. Kone wanted another chance to review, in its entirety, what it means to be great.
“I have no doubt that Ismael has an incredible future, and I’m just trying to add to who he is, both from a mental perspective and from a tactical perspective,” Marsch said.
Kone will undoubtedly have many more chances to prove what he’s capable of for Canada and perhaps eventually one of the biggest clubs in the world. And if he continues developing the way he has while also accepting every punch thrown at him with a tranquil demeanour all his own, he’ll likely prove his own greatness along the way.
(Top photo: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports)
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