Head coach Jesse Marsch remains tight-lipped about the starting lineup for Canada as they continue their pursuit in the FIFA World Cup, with their next match scheduled against Qatar on Thursday in Vancouver. However, he confirmed that team captain Alphonso Davies will be available for the game.
Marsch stated, “He’s been in training this week and he’ll be available tomorrow,” indicating that the coaching staff is yet to decide how best to utilize Davies during the match. The player has not participated in a game since early May due to a hamstring injury sustained while playing for Bayern Munich in a Champions League semifinal.
Since joining the national squad in Edmonton at the end of May, Davies has been adhering to return-to-play protocols. This includes participating in Tuesday’s training session, where he warmed up with teammates, engaged in running drills, and passed the ball. According to Marsch, Davies has been working closely with both his personal physiotherapist and the Canadian coaching staff and is looking “really good.”
The crucial task for the coaching staff is to assess Davies’ contribution against Qatar, with Marsch explaining, “It’s just a matter of what kind of game it is, what kind of moment it is, and how we feel Alphonso can contribute right now.” The coach emphasized that Davies is ready for action, saying, “He’ll be available.”
In the lead-up to the World Cup, Canada has faced significant injury issues within their talent pool, raising concerns about the inclusion of key players like Davies and central defender Moïse Bombito in the 26-man roster. As these athletes regain health, it’s essential for the coaching team to carefully evaluate their capacity for game action, with Marsch noting, “We took some risks on how we put this squad together, hoping that we could manage all these situations.” Yet, he reiterated the importance of not putting players at risk, stressing the consequences on individual health and team performance.
Canada’s national team currently holds a FIFA ranking of 30th and began their World Cup journey with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto, marking the nation’s first-ever point in the tournament. On Thursday, they have the opportunity to make history by securing their first World Cup victory.
Midfielder Ismaël Koné expressed optimism about the team’s performance, stating, “I think we did beautiful things during this first match. We need to stay positive. We wrote history. And we’re so close.” He highlighted the necessity of focus on details, emphasizing that victories in football are often achieved through such attentiveness.
Koné further mentioned the need for the team to maintain the tempo and urgency that characterized their second-half performance against Bosnia, stating, “I think we have a high-speed team, a high-paced team, we’re very athletic. We’re able to do stuff that sometimes teams cannot prepare for.”
Conversely, Qatar, ranked 56th, surprised many with a 1-1 draw against favored Switzerland, leaving each team in Group B with a single point as well. Marsch observed Qatar’s commitment and discipline during their match, remarking, “(Qatar) has talent. They have talent and they have discipline and focus and confidence. This sets up to be a very tough match for us.”
Canada and Qatar previously met in September 2022, where Canada secured a 2-0 victory during a friendly match held in Austria. However, Qatar’s head coach Julen Lopetegui acknowledged Canada's strengths, describing them as “a very good team” that is well-coached, physically strong, and technically sound, presenting a “big challenge” for his side.
Both teams made history last week by earning their first World Cup points. Lopetegui highlighted Qatar’s passion for football, emphasizing, “When you follow one dream, you are never under pressure. We achieved something that never happened in the history of Qatar.”
On Thursday, the highly-anticipated match between Canada and Qatar will take place in Vancouver, while the 19th-ranked Switzerland is set to face No. 64 Bosnia in Los Angeles. Numerous analytics models have improved Canada’s prospects since the first round of matches, with The Athletic projecting an 87% chance of advancing to the round of 32 and a 43% chance of winning the group. Soccer analyst Michael Caley gives Canada a 53% chance of finishing first.
As right back Alistair Johnston commented earlier in the week, “We can lose to anybody, but we also know if we’re at our best, that we can beat anybody. That’s something that we understand as a group.” Johnston underscored the necessity of starting the match strong, unlike their slower start against Bosnia, noting, “It’s going to be really important right from the first whistle that we don’t waste that first half.”
