VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) 鈥� Although he saw little action in Canada’s victory over Qatar, there was a moment when goalkeeper Maxime Cr茅peau was almost persuaded to get more involved in the offense.
Cr茅peau, speaking to reporters on Friday after Canada’s dominant 6-0 win the day before, addressed the final moments of the match, when he delivered the ball up the field and red-clad fans in the crowd at BC Place bellowed, 鈥淪hoot!鈥�
鈥淚 swear I had the little devil here saying do it and the little angel said just pass the ball and go back,鈥� he laughed. 鈥淚 heard the crowd and I was like, ‘Oh no, I’m not doing it.’鈥�
Cr茅peau didn’t see a shot on goal from Qatar during Canada’s Canada all but sealed its spot in the knockout round with one final group match remaining, on Wednesday against Switzerland.
鈥淢ax鈥檚 presence was really important yesterday. But let鈥檚 be honest, he hardly had anything to do,鈥� coach Jesse Marsch said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think in World Cup history, there鈥檚 been such a dominant performance. That鈥檚 the truth. I think our team will take a lot of confidence from that, and Max will as well.鈥�
The match was chaotic, with a pair of red cards taking Qatar down to nine players and a devastating injury to Canada midfielder who broke the tibia and fibula in his left leg on a tackle from behind by Assim Madibo.
Cr茅peau was among the teammates who rushed to Kon茅’s side. He could certainly relate to both the physical and emotional pain that Kon茅 was going through.
In 2022, Cr茅peau of Los Angeles FC’s MLS Cup victory over the Philadelphia Union. Cr茅peau was taken from the field by ambulance and later underwent surgery.
The injury knocked the goalkeeper out of the 2022 World Cup, where he was expected to back up Milan Borjan.
After leaving LAFC, Crepeau remained in Major League Soccer with the Portland Timbers. The 32-year-old currently plays for Orlando City.
In the aftermath of Kon茅鈥檚 injury, Cr茅peau also consoled 20-year-old defender Luc de Fougerolles.
鈥淓very guy lives the emotions a certain way, and we went through the emotions in that time,鈥� Cr茅peau said. 鈥淢an, it鈥檚 so difficult to put into words, but it鈥檚 just a moment to say, 鈥楬ey, you鈥檙e not alone. I鈥檓 feeling the same thing as you, but we have a job to finish for him.鈥欌��
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