Canada's home World Cup dream suffered a cruel twist in the Vancouver sauna on Wednesday as Switzerland won 2-1 to snatch top spot in Group B, condemning Jesse Marsch's side to a last-32 trip to Los Angeles on a four-day turnaround. The defeat, in front of a fervent BC Place crowd, meant Canada lost the right to stay in Vancouver for the knockout stages — a blow compounded by the revelation that their captain, Alphonso Davies, had been used as a mere decoy.
Marsch had guaranteed the Bayern Munich star would make his first appearance of the tournament, but Davies never left the bench. "Alphonso wasn't ready yet so I was using him a little bit as a decoy," Marsch admitted. "I wanted Switzerland to have to think about it." They did not. Murat Yakin's side, with Ruben Vargas and Johan Manzambi scoring both goals in a 12-minute burst early in the second half, were never fooled. "Right now we only react on what is happening on the pitch," Yakin said.
“Switzerland beat Canada 2-1 to top Group B, forcing Canada to travel to LA for last 32 after Marsch used Davies as a decoy.”
The result leaves Marsch's injury-hit Canada scrambling. Ismaël Koné's absence was already deeply felt; the midfielder fractured his tibia and fibula in a 6-0 win over Qatar after a red-card challenge by Assim Madibo. Despite successful surgery, he will miss the rest of the tournament. Yet in an emotional pre-match moment, Koné was wheeled back onto the pitch in a wheelchair, receiving a hero's ovation. World Cup icon Thomas Müller, working as a pundit, shook his hand and later wrote: "What a warm welcome of the fans for the injured player Ismael Kone. Get well soon!"
Marsch, who visited Koné in hospital before surgery, said: "He was in really good spirits, and he was adamant that he's going to be fine." The Canadian boss also had to deploy both Nathan Saliba and Mathieu Choinière in midfield, with vice-captain Stephen Eustáquio not fit to start against Granit Xhaka and a richly experienced Swiss midfield.
Despite a late intervention from supersub Promise David, Canada could not find an equaliser. Switzerland, now unbeaten in Group B, will stay in Vancouver for the first week of the knockout stages — a reward for Yakin's four changes, including starts for Manzambi and Vargas. "We delivered as a team and deserve to be where we are right now," Yakin said, his side aiming to end a run of seven-straight World Cup knockout defeats when they return on 2 July.
For Canada, the road now leads to Los Angeles. Marsch insisted Davies will be ready for that tie. Whether anyone can trust that promise after the decoy tactic remains an open question.