Canada faces Morocco in World Cup Round of 16 with Davies questionable

Alphonso Davies returned to the pitch for just 15 minutes in Canada's dramatic Round of 32 victory over South Africa on Sunday, but the impact was immediate: his passing created two chances on goal, and South Africa's defensive shape shifted noticeably once he entered.

Now the question is whether the Bayern Munich left-back, Canada's captain and undisputed best player, can extend his playing time when Canada takes on world No. 6 Morocco on Saturday, July 4 at 10 a.m. PT.

Davies has been sidelined by a months-long hamstring injury. His brief cameo against South Africa, which stretched into five minutes of injury time, signaled his fitness is improving, but Canada head coach Jesse Marsch cautioned that the team remains cautious about his load.

"He feels really good," Marsch said. "What you saw is that South Africa really respected him when he came in, and they became a little bit more passive on that side of the pitch. We will be thinking about how to use Alphonso again, whether from the start or off the bench, to best suit what we want from our team."

Canada's run to the Round of 16 is historic — it's only the nation's third World Cup appearance and the first time the men's team has advanced past the group stage. But it has been accomplished largely without Davies, who is to Canada what Cristiano Ronaldo is to Portugal or Luka Modric to Croatia.

Stephen Eustáquio, the midfielder who scored Canada's injury-time winner against South Africa, understands the lift Davies brings.

"When Alphonso comes in, it's a big boost for the team. He is one of the best left-backs in the world and the best player we have on our team," Eustáquio said.

If Davies can manage a full half or more against Morocco, Marsch's gamble to preserve him through the group stage may pay off when Canada needs it most.