World Cup: Canada's road ahead, and the reality it's paved with

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Lopetegui got Hassan Al-Haydos, the most-capped player on the team, to come out of international retirement for this World Cup, as they both felt he could be a calming and steadying influence in the locker room.

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The Qataris also had two other exhibition matches, against Serbia and Argentina, scuttled in March after bombs started flying in the Middle East.

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Canada: 30th

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Coach Jesse Marsch said that this is the best Canadian team in history. And despite being younger, on average, than their 2022 World Cup squad, they have more experience, more European-based players, and more players from a top-five league than they did the last World Cup cycle.

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The biggest question mark for Canada is: How healthy are they going to be?

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Don’t expect to see Alphonso Davies for the opener against Bosnia, and probably not against Qatar a week later, either. He is being treated delicately as he recovers from yet another injury setback, and they don’t want a repeat of 2025 — when he tore his ACL with Canada, and Bayern nearly sued the CSA over it. Circle June 24 against Switzerland as his likely return.

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“The first game is coming up pretty quickly,” Davies told media earlier this week. “The thing we talked about, me and the coach and the people that were in (a meeting regarding his fitness), I think we understand how important the first game is. But we understand recovery is always an important thing. If I’m recovering as good as possible, let’s see. If not, then there’s no need to rush, just keep continuing the recovery.”

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He’s not the only one. Marcelo Flores ruptured his ACL this week, ending his World Cup aspirations and robbing the Reds of one of their most creative and dynamic attackers. A host of other core players are newly or nearing recovery from injuries, and the final roster — which was announced last week — was going to be set after Friday’s friendly against Ireland.

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Canada’s high-pressure style puts a lot of physical demands on the players, and if they’re not at 100 per cent, it will degrade their ability to drown the opposition in their Maple Press.

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THE ROAD AHEAD

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Canada vs. Bosnia, June 12 (Toronto) 

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Canada’s very first game in the tournament might just be the most important one. To even challenge for the first in the group, they can’t slip up against Bosnia. But Canada’s squad, especially if Jayden Nelson gets the callup for the injured Flores, has speed to burn on the wings, one of the chinks in the B&H armour.

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And opening at home, in Toronto, the site of so many triumphs the past few years, should buoy the home side to victory.

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Canada vs. Qatar, June 18

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This will be the first West Coast game for Les Rouges, and all they need do is pressure, pressure, pressure and they should crack the Qatari defence, forcing the mistakes to poach on. A winnable game for Canada, and a draw likely wouldn’t do.

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Canada vs. Switzerland, June 24

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This is the game that will likely decide if Canada plays more games at B.C. Place, or not. If they top the group, they would play the first knockout round game at home. The second, too, should they emerge triumphant.

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On paper, and betting sites, it’s shaping up to be the biggest game in the country’s history.

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On the reality front: The Swiss have been in six straight World Cups, and the two goals they conceded in qualifying are the fewest by any of the World Cup teams. They pumped four goals past both Mexico and the U.S. in friendlies last year, Canada’s CONCACAF rivals and peers.

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On the hope front: Switzerland has never made it past the Round of 16. They’re dark horses and not front-runners for a reason. They’re not invulnerable. Slovenia (58th) and Kosovo (78th) held them to draws of 0-0 and 1-0, respectively, in qualifying last year.