'You're going to bring us victory': How Jonathan David persuaded Ismaël Koné to take game-winning penalty
Newly-minted Marseille midfielder Ismaël Koné's confidence and calm was on full display during the Canadian men's national team's nervy penalty shootout against Venezuela in the 2024 Copa America quarter-finals, but where did that steely resolve come from?
Offering a rare insight into the lead-up to those decisive spot kicks, Koné revealed some of his and his teammate's thoughts as they prepared to climb even higher heights in CONMEBOL's fiercest test.
How was Kone chosen as a penalty taker?
Some were surprised to see Ismaël Koné as the sixth man up in the penalty shootout before a striker in Tani Oluwaseyi, or even a veteran presence in Alistair Johnston.
"We had a [penalty] where I scored mine in... a pretty good way, I’ll say," Kone explained, of a training session before the Venezuela match.
"In the session [afterwards], Jesse asked me to shoot, but I didn’t feel like shooting," he shrugged.
"You're going to bring us victory" ✨
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How Jonathan David persuaded Ismaël Koné to take game-winning penalty for #CanMNT vs. Venezuela 😎
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"Just 'cause I knew I was gonna score,” he added, with a wry smile.
"[Jesse] felt like I didn’t want to take it, cause I was scared of last training – that’s why they didn’t put me in the first five. But Jonathan [David] knew I was able to take it and score, so he was like 'Coach, he should take it.'
"When it was time to take the sixth, I wanted to shoot. Jonathan told me, 'You're gonna bring us the victory.' I shot the penalty and I scored. Jonathan David had the vision before anybody. Just remember that."
How did Koné keep his cool?
The only thing better than Kone’s match winner was, perhaps, his hilariously nonchalant reaction after the fact.
"I've been lucky in my life, I don't stress. I don't overthink stuff - I've been waiting for moments like this since I was a kid. I just wanted to be on stages like this." Kone said. "I knew my team would have my back no matter what happened... I went there, I shot it and I knew I was gonna score. I was just waiting for my guys to come.”
A reporter asked him whether he would have the same attitude against Argentina. A thoughtful stroke of the chin preceded his response.
"We have everything to gain really," he finally said. "We're the outsiders in this competition and they're the champions so the pressure's more on them... this is [an] opportunity for us - this is a chance to show ourselves. These types of games, we've been dreaming about since we were kids - now we're professionals and we get to do it. There's no time to be scared."
He was asked again if he really, truly wasn’t feeling any pressure.
"There's no pressure. Like I said, it's gonna be a fun game"
What does Koné make of his teammates?
Koné has become a remarkable storyteller in his relatively brief time with the CanMNT. Ask for an anecdote, and an anecdote you’ll receive, whether his teammates like it or not. First up was Derek Cornelius.
"Derek is the biggest cheater in football games, oh my God. We played this game two-touch, he cheats every time and he acts like he doesn't argue... but he's the biggest cheater, I promise – him and Jonathan David.”
"Derek is a funny guy... a lovable guy. He's all about his family. He's a player that wants to progress and who wants everything to be the best and he wants to help this team so bad,” Koné added. "He worked hard to get to the level he’s at today."
What about Richie Laryea?
"No... this has to stay in the locker room!” Koné said, probably pretty wisely. "I think Richie's the funniest on the team... but also he's a leader in his way. I think he brings a lot to the team. He has this way of playing and being fearless that we can all look up to and try to do the same… I think he’s two different people."
It’s the kind of playful ribbing that comes from being cooped up with your teammates for something like a month.
"All my brothers are nice, man. My brothers are the best. Since I’ve joined the program, I’ve just been so happy to play with them."
