Alphonso Davies headlines Canada World Cup squad despite injury

Mueez Ajao

– Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies has been named in Canada’s World Cup squad despite injury worries.

– Davies, who plays as a defender for club but forward for his country, has been sidelined with a hamstring issue.

– The 22-year-old has not played for the German club in their past two Bundesliga games.

Also Read: Alphonso Davies will donate his World Cup 2022 earnings to charity

– “A kid born in a refugee camp wasn’t supposed to make it! But here we are going to the World Cup,” Davies wrote on Twitter.

– “Don’t let no one tell you that your dreams are unrealistic.”

A kid born in a refugee camp wasn’t supposed to make it! But here we are GOING TO THE WORLD CUP. Don’t let no one tell you that your dreams are unrealistic. KEEP DREAMING, KEEP ACHIEVING! pic.twitter.com/GT4hjz4ebO
— Alphonso Davies (@AlphonsoDavies) November 13, 2022

– While Davies’s name was part of John Herdman’s 26-man squad, the Canada coach was forced into a difficult decision, ruling out Doneil Henry after the veteran defender picked up an injury in the warmup for last Friday’s friendly against Bahrain.

– “The medical team assessed him and it wasn’t great news to be fair, the timing of his return was going to take anything up to 14 days,” said Herdman, in a conference call from Doha.

– “Doneil put the team first, we could have tried to return him to play and had him later on in the tournament but he knew it was the right decision to make.

– “It really shows the courage and what this brotherhood is about when a man can surrender his shirt and take that step forward to support the team in a different role.”

And now, the biggest giants of the world await.
But nothing within us changes.#WeCAN pic.twitter.com/ERmaemmAxw
— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) November 13, 2022

– Club Brugges forward Cyle Larin, Nottingham Forest’s loanee defender Richie Laryea and Reading forward Junior Hoillett are also included in the squad named on Sunday.

– John Herdman’s team are in Group F and will face Belgium, Morocco and Croatia at the tournament being hosted in Qatar.

– Canada’s first match will be against Morocco on 23 November.

Canada full squad:

Goalkeepers: Milan Borjan (Red Star Belgrade), James Pantemis (CF Montreal), Dayne St Clair (Minnesota United)

Defenders: Sam Adekugbe (Hatayspor), Derek Cornelius (Vancouver Whitecaps – Panetolikos), Alistair Johnston (CF Montreal), Richie Laryea (Nottingham Forest), Kamal Miller (CF Montreal), Steven Vitoria (Chaves), Joel Waterman (CF Montreal)

Midfielders: Stephen Eustaquio (FC Porto), Liam Fraser (Deinze), Atiba Hutchinson (Besiktas), Mark-Anthony Kaye (Toronto FC), Ismael Kone (CF Montreal), Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC), Samuel Piette (CF Montreal), David Wotherspoon (St Johnstone)

Forwards: Tajon Buchanan (Club Bruges), Lucas Cavallini (Vancouver Whitecaps), Jonathan David (Lille), Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich), Junior Hoillett (Reading), Cyle Larin (Club Bruges), Liam Miller (FC Basel), Ike Ugbo (Troyes)