Coach Jesse Marsch, centre, will finalize his 26-man World Cup squad on Friday, two weeks before Canada opens the tournament in Toronto.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
Between the ice baths, the fitness testing and the incessant humidity, a distinct bond is beginning to form between the players in Jesse Marsch’s national-team training camp in Charlotte.
It’s a bond that will be partially fractured on Friday though, as six of those players will be saying goodbye to their teammates, as well as to their World Cup dreams.
While the injured captain Alphonso Davies continues to rehab in Germany with Bayern Munich, and winger Marcelo Flores is busy getting ready to play in Saturday’s CONCACAF Champions League final, the other 30 contenders are sweating it out, both on the pitch and off it to make the final 26-man squad.
“Obviously everyone wants to be on the roster, biggest competition in the world, playing in a home World Cup,” said Tajon Buchanan after an afternoon of interval training in 30 C heat. “Everyone’s pushing and everyone’s capable of making this roster, so you have to keep working hard and hopefully just put your best foot forward.”
While Buchanan, who played all three games in Qatar four years ago, is something of a shoo-in, there are naturally those who aren’t quite as certain of where they stand in the pecking order.
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That can apply to veterans as much as it can to youngsters.
“I think no matter how long you’ve been around, there’s always nerves,” said Derek Cornelius, another veteran of Qatar who has played 42 times for Canada. “We all care massively about doing well for our country, making sure that we represent Canadians well.”
For Cornelius and his fellow centre backs, the competition for places is especially fierce. They play in a vital area of the pitch, and while the Canadian men struggled in front of goal at previous World Cups – scoring just twice in six games – they were even worse at the back, conceding 12 in those contests.
With Moïse Bombito, arguably the most talented of the bunch, declaring himself ready to go following a broken leg last October, the group has been given a pretournament boost.
Canada defender Derek Cornelius, front, will welcome the return of centre back Moïse Bombito, as the duo have a tremendous on-field connection.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
That is especially welcome for Cornelius, who had developed something of a budding centre-back partnership with Bombito before his injury, with the pair managing to shut out France in a friendly in 2024, as well as making life hard for Lionel Messi and defending World Cup champion Argentina in two games at that year’s Copa America.
“I think they all presented different challenges, which is what I think allowed us to grow that partnership, and really understand how the other one plays in different circumstances and different challenges,” he said of their games together. “So yeah, there’s going to be harder ones coming up going forward, but I think we’re excited for that.”
Though the brotherhood is strong within the camp, the other centre backs aren’t taking it as fait accompli that they have no chance of getting into a game when the tournament kicks off next month. Far from it.
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The newer kids on the block, in the shape of the English-born pair Luc de Fougerolles and Alfie Jones, feel that Marsch’s defensive philosophy enables the unit to function well no matter its component parts.
“We all know what to expect when we play,” said de Fougerolles, who returned to full training on Thursday. He had been in concussion protocol after suffering an injury playing for his Belgian club side Dender.
“So I know what the person next to me is going to do, and I hope they know what I’m going to do, just based on the principles that Jesse wants us to do, and how we want to play.”
And Jones, who himself is working his way back from an ankle injury suffered on Boxing Day that required surgery, is feeling optimistic about his own chances.
“I’m just trying to take each day as it comes working to my full fitness, so it’s been a very good couple of weeks, a very productive couple of weeks,” he said. “Obviously it’s up to Jesse whether I make the roster, but yeah, I’m optimistic myself.”
Camaraderie was at a high at Canada's pre-World Cup camp, as Luc de Fougerolles, left, and Stephen Eustaquio showed on Thursday.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
Still, Jones knew, like others, that he was in for a long night on Thursday.
But the 28-year-old centre back, who was powerless to help as Liam Millar’s Hull City edged his Middlesbrough teammates at Wembley Stadium last Saturday for a place in next season’s English Premier League, had a plan of action.
“I think you just got to try and keep busy, got to try and take your mind off it, spend time with the guys,” he said. “I think that’s all we can do. It’s going to be a long wait, but yes, it’s part of football, and Jesse ultimately has the decisions to make, so we have to respect that.”
Irrespective of what happens when the final roster is unveiled on Friday evening, the bond between this group of players is strong. The core that went to Qatar has been bolstered with some fresh blood, operating under a dynamic new voice in the shape of Marsch and his coaching team.
But while being selected may be the thrill of a lifetime for a lot of these players, it also comes with a lot of responsibility.
“At the end of the day, Jesse’s going to name the 26 guys,” Buchanan said. “And those are going to be the guys that have to go out and play the matches, and hopefully win some games.”