Canadian head coach Jesse Marsch, centre, enjoyed getting reacquainted with his Canadian players during Tuesday's training session in Toronto, ahead of friendlies against Iceland and Tunisia.Eduardo Lima/The Canadian Press
As Canada prepares to roll out the welcome mat to the rest of the planet this summer, it seems only fitting that the national men’s soccer team players – many of whom ply their trade worldwide - bring some international flair and experience to bear when they play for the Maple Leaf.
While head coach Jesse Marsch will be mostly concerned about how that translates to the pitch – with Iceland and Tunisia on tap for friendlies on Saturday and Tuesday, respectively – for the players, it can involve adjusting to new customs and traditions in their day-to-day existence.
Not all of those are positive. Ali Ahmed, who moved to Norwich City in the English Championship in January, revealed on Tuesday that his least favourite thing about England is “driving on the left side.”
Not that it has slowed him much. The winger, who helped the Vancouver Whitecaps to the MLS Cup final last season, is now soaring with the Canaries, scoring four goals in 13 league appearances for the East Anglian club.
Having more than proven himself over four seasons in Major League Soccer, the 25-year-old chose to take on a new challenge, one that should pay dividends for his career, for his club and country.
BMO Field grows into FIFA World Cup venue
“For me individually, I think kind of a dream start the way I started,” he said. “And I think overall, I don’t think personally I’ve been my best.
“Definitely enjoying a new league, and the pace of play and the physicality in that league, I think it’s a perfect step for me to try and just take next levels and also get ready for the summer and challenge myself.”
The English Championship – one rung below the Premier League in the English pyramid - has also proven to be fertile proving ground for the World Cup claims of striker Cyle Larin, with the one-time holder of the national team goals record finding a new lease on his footballing life. With fellow forward Promise David in a race against time to make the roster after tearing a hip tendon playing for his club, Larin has rediscovered his form at Southampton, scoring four times in 11 appearances.
Marsch couldn’t be happier for his player, particularly as he looks to line up the ideal World Cup strike partner for Jonathan David this summer.
Canadian defender Alistair Johnston won't suit up for the late-March matches against Iceland and Tunisia, but is back with the Canadian squad as he recovers from a hamstring injury.Eduardo Lima/The Canadian Press
“He was great today,” the head coach said of Larin on Tuesday. “And you can see now, his confidence, his rhythm, his fitness, his power, everything. He looks really good, so really excited.”
Marsch was equally effusive about getting some of his other big names back. Even though they won’t be taking the pitch in either of the games at Toronto’s BMO Field – Canada’s last before Marsch announces his World Cup squad at the end of May - Alistair Johnston and Moïse Bombito joined the team for camp as they continue their extended rehab following serious injuries.
Marsch can add goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau to his nicked list, as he’s dealing with a minor injury. Dayne St. Clair will start in goal on Saturday against Iceland and the team will hope Crépeau will be ready for the Tuesday game against Tunisia.
Among those still missing are captain Alphonso Davies, who hasn’t played for Canada since last March and misses out this time around after suffering a hamstring strain playing for Bayern Munich in the Champions League earlier this month. Midfield linchpin Stephen Eustáquio is also sidelined after developing a hematoma while rehabbing a bruised thigh.
Despite concerns about Davies’s resilience with 80 days remaining until the World Cup, Marsch has been in touch with both the player and his club.
“He’s doing well,” Marsch said. “He was back on the pitch last week, just doing some individual stuff.
“And I think he’ll be with [Bayern] again once they get back going again, and he’s likely, I think, to be even eligible for their first match once they start to get back together. So, yeah, he’s in good way.”
Far from downhearted over the list of influential players on the sidelines, Marsch sees it as a pivotal part of developing the kind of squad depth that the team will need to get through to the knockout rounds come June.
For instance, with defenders like Davies, Johnston and Bombito out, both Ralph Priso of the Whitecaps and Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty of Red Bull New York are possibly in line to earn their first senior international appearances.
“Of course, we want to get ourselves back for the summer to 100 per cent, but this is all part of it,” Marsch said. “We’ve really used all of the injuries and when players are missing as opportunities for new guys to establish themselves.
“I mean, if you look at like Niko Sigur and Nathan Saliba and Tani [Oluwaseyi] and a bunch of different guys that have really elevated themselves when they’ve gotten opportunities, and that’ll be the case again, I think, in this week.”