Canada head coach Jesse Marsh believes captain Alphonso Davies will play in the World Cup, but he is unlikely to be fit for the team’s opening game due to injury.
Davies injured his hamstring while playing for Bayern Munich earlier this month. Coach Marsh added Davis to the team’s latest 32-man training camp roster on Monday, but he will not join the team until the end of the month as he continues his rehabilitation at a club in Germany.
“Bayern put him through certain procedures that he can’t do in North America but can do in Germany. That’s one of the reasons he stayed in Germany. We think Bayern has a high level of technology in terms of the treatment he can receive, so I think that was good,” Marsh said. “They are also very supportive and want to see us play in the World Cup. I think they understand that supporting players is important for both club and country.”
Canada is training in Charlotte, North Carolina, this week ahead of two final tune-up games against Uzbekistan in Edmonton on June 1 and Ireland on June 5 in Montreal.
“Alfonso is scheduled to be here in Edmonton on the 31st, so we talked with Bayern and we thought the best thing for him to do is continue his initial recovery until the 28th. Then we’ll give him a few days off and then he’ll join us on the 31st and we’ll resume his rehabilitation from there and try to get him physically successful and in a position to be part of our team,” Marsh said.
Canada is scheduled to announce its 26-man World Cup squad on Friday. The tournament, co-hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico, will begin on June 11th, with Canada’s opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12th in Toronto.
Davies, 25, was injured during Bayern Munich’s loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-final. He has played in 58 games and scored 15 goals for Canada.
“Yes, I think Alfonso will play in the World Cup,” Marsh said. “No, I don’t think he’ll be completely ready by June 12th. But we’ll see.”
Canadian training camp roster by position at your club:
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau (Orlando City), Owen Goodman (Barnsley), Dane St. Clair (Inter Miami).
Defenders: Zohan Basson (Sporting Kansas City), Moises Bonbito (Nice), Derek Cornelius (Rangers), Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich), Luc de Fougerolles (Dender EH), Alistair Johnston (Celtic). ), Alfie Jones (Middlesbrough), Jamie Knight-Revel (Swindon Town), Richie Larriea (Toronto), Ralph Puriso (Vancouver Whitecaps), Nico Sigur (Hayduk Split), Joel Waterman (Chicago Fire).
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed (Norwich City), Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal), Mathieu Choiniere (LAFC), Steven Eustaquio (LAFC), Marcelo Flores (Tigres UANL), Is Mael Kone (Sassuolo), Liam Miller (Hull City), Jayden Nelson (Austin), Jonathan Osorio (Toronto), Nathan Dylan Saliba (Anderlecht), Jakob Schaffelburg (LAFC).
Forwards: Jonathan David (Juventus), Promise David (Royal Union Saint-Giroise), Daniel Jevison (Preston North End), Cyle Larin (Southampton), Tani Oluwaseyi (Villarreal), Jacen Russell Rowe (Toulouse).
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