The Copa América third-place playoff was contested between one of the pre-tournament favourites, Uruguay, and the over-performing Canada.
Uruguay were evidently recovering from their heartbreaking loss to Colombia, where their dreams of winning the competition were shattered.
Meanwhile, Canada came into the game in high spirits, knowing they had exceeded expectations to have reached the semi-finals, providing much hope for their highly anticipated appearance in the 2026 World Cup.
However, in a match that Canada dominated, it was Uruguay who came out victorious.
Having been able to create very little throughout the game, the talismanic figure of Luis Suárez took the game to penalties by scoring a late equaliser.
Uruguay held their nerve and secured third sport with a win in the penalty shootout.
Ismaël Koné disappointingly missed a penalty during the shootout, which gave Uruguay a vital advantage.
However, Koné put in an outstanding performance, that will have certainly caught the eye of many.
The 22-year-old scored an audacious bicycle kick, which was an integral part of the second goal.
Kone’s performances this season have earned him a move to Ligue 1 giants Marseille, who will have been pleased to see Kone thriving against such strong opposition.
In this tactical analysis and Ismaël Koné scout report, we will analyse Kone’s performance and provide an analysis of his role in Canadas tactics, considering what made him so impressive.
The analysis will also highlight areas where Koné could have performed better and where he must improve if he wants to cement himself in Marseilles lineup next season.
Ismaël Koné Position
Jesse Marsch has predominantly used a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 throughout this tournament.
Koné has operated as one of the midfielders in both formations.
As seen
