Davis in question in Canada’s first game at World Cup – Toronto Sun

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DOAH, Qatar — Alphonso Davies returned to practice with Canada on Saturday but may not be ready for his first match at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

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Davis did some light stretching and passing on his own during the short time media were allowed to attend practice sessions at the team’s training facility at the Umm Salil SC complex.

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The Canadian star winger is recovering from a hamstring injury suffered in the German Bundesliga between Bayern Munich and Hertha Berlin two weeks ago. He stayed in Germany for a few days to receive treatment for his injury, and Canada crossed the Persian Gulf to beat Japan 2-1 in Thursday’s exhibition game.

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“We were happy to have him back. He always brings a special type of energy,” said Canada’s head coach John Hardman on Saturday. “He’s happy to reunite with the players he hasn’t seen in a long time. He missed part of the trip and was disappointed that he missed out on his experience in Japan.

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“But from what I can see, he’s fine, and being in a positive state of mind really helps the recovery process, and he’s really excited.” Seeing it helps.”

Many of the skyscrapers here downtown are adorned with giant photographs of the star players participating in this World Cup. Canada have not played in a tournament since their brief appearance in 1986, losing all three group games and scoring no goals.

Canada will start the tournament Wednesday against Belgium from here at Ahmad bin Al Stadium, just outside Al Rayyan.

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Davis has missed the last two games for Bayern before the league’s winter break, and a match against Belgium remains in doubt. Hardman could choose to save the star player for the key match against Croatia next Sunday and his third group game against Morocco on December 1. The top two teams in the group advance to the next round.

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“Is he ready to play? Just keep evaluating him,” Hardman said. “He’s been able to participate in some contact work, but he’s still building towards top speed. The key moment is when your hamstrings reach their limit.

“Again, we are gradually working on that process with him and it will take the next day or two.”

Canada are used to playing without Davis, who has missed seven of the team’s 20 Conca Cafe qualifying games to reach Qatar. The Edmonton product has suffered a string of injuries over the past year, beginning last Christmas when he developed myocarditis after a game against COVID-19.

Davis missed Canada’s qualifying matches in March, including Qatar’s clincher against Jamaica at BMO Field. Davis did not return to the field until April towards the end of the Bundesliga season.

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In early October, Davis suffered a skull bruise when he was kicked in the head by midfielder Jude Bellingham in a match against Borussia Dortmund. He was out of the line-up until he was substituted in the second half in the match.

Four days later, he suffered a left hamstring injury and was in contention for the ball in the 20th minute of the second half of a 3-2 win over Hertha Berlin.

“The big thing for us is that we were in good shape when Alfonso left the team,” said Hardman. So it’s not what I’m having trouble sleeping with. I just believe that these groups will come together in the way they need to and do what they need to do.

“As a coach, I think you’re always rolling the dice. Pushing him too early, a player with a talent like his, it’s always a high-risk situation. He’s so explosive.” It could be a long tournament for Canada and the last thing he wants is to miss it, so we have to get it right.”

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Hardman should consider the possibility of injuring his hamstring again or giving him more time to heal if Davis faces Belgium.

Canada are not expected to get a result against one of the world’s best teams in Belgium, who are considered title contenders, even if they lose 2-1 to Egypt in Friday’s exhibition game.

“My mission is to make sure he can play in this World Cup,” Hardman said. “It’s a childhood dream for him and I wouldn’t put him in a dangerous position. He trusts his teammates and I believe we can get through it, but Belgium I have to say they are on another level.In the ten years since we played against Brazil, we have never played against a team of this level.

“So we need players like Alfonso, whether in the starting line-up or on the bench. Given everything that happened, I’m at a point where I have to go and ‘other games are coming’, Croatia and Morocco. , and must manage it.

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Hardman has also addressed injury concerns for midfield general Stephan Eustacchio and starting goalkeeper Milan Boljan.

Eustakio is recovering from an undisclosed problem and Borjan is dealing with an abdominal issue.

Canada came to Qatar with defenders Scott Kennedy and Donil Henry without backup goalkeeper Maxim Crepeaux, who broke his leg in the MLS final on October 5.

Kennedy picked up a shoulder injury in Germany’s second-division game, while Henry injured himself during preparations for last week’s exhibition game against Bahrain. Officially he’s not on the 26-man roster, but Henry is still in the squad.

“Stephen day by day, it’s another calculation, an algorithm of whether he’s on target or not,” Hardman said. It’s mathematics and what he’s going to be able to withstand in the next few days of training.”

Email: dvandiest@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @DerekVanDiest