Canada's Joel Waterman, centre, and his teammates understand the importance of Thursday's match against Qatar.Abbie Parr/The Associated Press
Ahead of Canada’s World Cup game against Qatar on Thursday – not precisely a must-win but a crucial opportunity – the team’s first practice in Vancouver on Monday verged on lockdown protocols.
Team officials sheltered most key players, as well as the coach, from questions.
On the field before the start of the main practice, closed to media and other prying eyes, coach Jesse Marsch and his usual practice-hard-play-hard philosophy urged his squad to amp up the early effort.
“We’ve got to get a lot out of it,” Marsch shouted to the players of the day’s mission at training at the National Soccer Development Centre at the University of British Columbia.
Canada, in its third World Cup, has its best-ever shot at success. Facing a near disastrous loss in its opener in Toronto last Friday against Bosnia-Herzegovina, striker Cyle Larin wrested a draw from the jaws of defeat and saved the team’s prospects of success with a late goal. It was the first time in seven World Cup games Canada didn’t lose.
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On Saturday, Group B favourite Switzerland gifted Canada an opening. Switzerland conceded a late goal to Qatar, among the worst teams in this gargantuan 48-country World Cup, and ended up in a surprise 1-1 draw.
That result left every team in the group with one draw, each with a goal for and a goal against.
“We want to top the group and give ourselves the best chance to keep going as far as we can, so the mentality stays the same,” said defender Joel Waterman, one of three players who spoke with reporters, each with a history in Vancouver.
Ali Ahmed, a key defender who strained his hamstring in early May and came on in the 61st minute against Bosnia, was the most prominent player who spoke on Monday. He watched Switzerland get chances against Qatar but fail to win.
Canada's Ali Ahmed emphasized the unpredictable nature of the World Cup, pointing to Cape Verde's 0-0 draw on Monday with tournament favourite Spain.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press
“It’s the World Cup, and you can’t play this game on paper,” Ahmed said. “Any past results don’t matter.”
He then mentioned Spain, a potential tournament winner, had been tied at zero against Cape Verde, 64th in FIFA’s latest rankings, earlier Monday.
“Did it end 0-0?” Ahmed asked reporters. Indeed it did. “See what I mean?” Ahmed said. “You just never know.”
As the Canadians take the field at BC Place on Thursday at 6 p.m. ET they will have a clearer eye on where they stand. Switzerland plays Bosnia in Los Angeles several hours earlier. Canada has for many months struggled to score. Marsch has repeatedly predicted goals will come and this month said: “We have firepower.” Qatar is a prime chance to deliver.
What the starting lineup on Thursday looks like is a work in progress. Larin probably won his way back into the list of starters after being benched last Friday before his heroics as a late substitute. Jonathan David, Canada’s all-time top scorer, is mired in a terrible slump and botched a big chance against Bosnia.
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Then there’s the many injury/recovery-from-injury question marks. Every player on Monday was a full participant in practice, except for star Alphonso Davies. Top defender Moïse Bombito, whose status even last week was uncertain, was part of the full practice.
Ahmed’s potential playing time is not certain. “I think I’m good to play now,” he said.
Davies remains the mystery. He injured his hamstring in early May. Last year it was his ACL. In glimpses on Monday, he looked reasonably spry – ahead of practice in light drills, a few passes, and then after practice, on his own, solidly striking a shot into an empty net.
In an interview with TSN last week, he seemed dour. “I don’t want to say no, I don’t want to say yes,” he said of playing in this World Cup.
Canada's Alphonso Davies continues to rehab his injured hamstring, which kept him out of the team's 1-1 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina last week.Abbie Parr/The Associated Press
But this past weekend in Vancouver, back where his professional career began as a teenage wunderkind with the Whitecaps in MLS, his vibes felt buoyant. In a Snapchat post, walking on West Georgia Street near BC Place, the video started with him smiling and then zooming in on a fan ahead wearing a Davies Canada jersey. “Wow,” Davies narrated, “that’s a great jersey.” The second clip featured another Canada fan in a Davies jersey. “I just want to say,” he said to the fan, “I love your jersey. Let me see who’s on the back. Yeesss.”
The stakes against Qatar, and the value of a win worth three points, puts it near or at the top of the most important games Canada’s men’s soccer team has ever played. It’s not a long list. FIFA’s schedule makers drew up a friendly-ish road for the home team, with a big carrot and considerable hurdle: Win the group and Canada’s round of 32 match is in Vancouver on July 2. Win that and the round of 16 game is July 7 in Vancouver.
The story writes itself. A bunch of goals and a win against Qatar would key up the country. Every Canadian would suddenly be a soccer fan. Marsch has spoken of success igniting the country.
The players know it.
“The group is open,” said defender Niko Sigur. “We know that everybody’s on even points, even goal differential. Going into this Qatar game, a win does us very good. And that’s what we’re looking to do.”