Alphonso Davies fit to play for Canada against Qatar
The Whitecaps-born captain will be available as a potential substitute Thursday at BC Place after missing the team's opening match.
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Alphonso Davies will be available to play for Canada against Qatar on Thursday, June 18 at BC Place, head coach Jesse Marsch confirmed Wednesday.
Davies missed Canada's opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina due to a hamstring injury but has been training all week. Marsch said Davies isn't expected to start but could come on as a second-half substitute.
"He's been in training this week and he'll be available tomorrow," Marsch told reporters at BC Place. "We'll see how the match goes and then make a decision on how we would choose to use him."
The decision to bring Davies in carries weight — he's Canada's best player and captain. At the same time, Marsch doesn't want to risk re-aggravating the injury in a must-win game.
"We've worked really closely with his physio," Marsch said. "It's just a matter of what kind of game is it, what kind of moment is it, and how do we feel Alphonso can contribute right now. But he's ready."
Canada's best defender, centre back Moïse Bombito, is also making progress after missing the first game. He looked "amazing" this week and has a better chance of appearing in Vancouver, Marsch said.
Defender Alfie Jones will miss Thursday's match with a muscle injury.
The match against Qatar is effectively a must-win. A victory could punch Canada's ticket to the Round of 32, with a chance to win the group. A loss or draw likely means they'll need to beat 19th-ranked Switzerland in their final group match to stay alive.