The Canadian men’s national team practised in Vancouver on Monday, and TSN’s Matthew Scianitti reports that while captain Alphonso Davies is still in return-to-play protocol, every other member of the team is in full training.
Davies is still recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered with his club side Bayern Munich in May. There has been no indication from Canadian head coach Jesse Marsch as to a potential timeline for a return to action.
Defender Moise Bombito is in full training, according to Scianitti, which indicates he may be closer to a return that Davies is. Bombito did not see the pitch in Canada’s opener against Bosnia & Herzegovina on Friday as he continues to recover from a fractured tibia suffered in October with his club side in Nice.
Joel Waterman, Niko Sigur and Ali Ahmed all spoke with reporters after training Monday. They all were asked about what it means to be playing in front of fans at BC Place on the biggest stage in the sport.
“It means the world,” Waterman said. “I’m only an hour from my hometown and this is obviously the province that I’m from and I have immense pride in representing those people that are from here and in those communities. And representing my old clubs that I used to play for so it’s a true honour.”
“It’s amazing. This is my home, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for this building, if it wasn’t for the Whitecaps, if it wasn’t for this city. So many things I can go on about how grateful I am to this city and this club, you know, that gave me this opportunity,” Ahmed said.
Head coach Jesse Marsch will speak with media on Wednesday, one day before Canada’s crucial Group B clash against Qatar which could go a long way toward deciding who advances to the knockout stage.
All four teams in Canada’s group are tied at one point after one game, as Canada drew 1-1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Qatar shockingly drew 1-1 with Switzerland on a stoppage-time goal on Saturday.
