As the Canada men's national soccer team continues to feel like a cursed squad while it prepares for the World Cup, maybe it's time for coach Jesse Marsch to reach out for some supernatural help. The team has been struck by yet another injury, this time to midfielder Marcelo Flores, who recently chose to represent Canada over Mexico. Flores ruptured his ACL playing for Tigres in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final against Toluca and will miss the World Cup. For other teams, this would be devastating news; for Canada, it's just another day.
Injury Crisis Deepens
Alphonso Davies continues to recover from a hamstring injury. He will join the team in Edmonton at 11 p.m. Sunday, but is still at the point where he will train on his own. Defender Moise Bombito is in a race to be fit enough to play 90 minutes after breaking his tibia. Centre back Derek Cornelius is coming back from a hamstring injury that derailed his domestic league season. Striker Promise David is coming back from a ruptured tendon. The list goes on. Most of Canada's defensive players are coming back from significant injuries, leaving a roster filled with question marks.
Weather Woes Add to Misery
So, what's the last thing this team needs? To play on a heavy pitch. But that's what will likely be in the cards when Canada plays Uzbekistan at Commonwealth Stadium Monday night. A temporary grass pitch has been laid down and has been under a deluge of rain since Saturday night. The rain is expected to continue through to mid-week, meaning we could be looking at a slog. Obviously, when planning for the oppressively hot conditions of a North American World Cup in June and July, a team wants its preparation games to mimic those conditions. Instead, as the soccer adage goes, Canada and Uzbekistan will get Stoke City on a Wednesday.
Marsch commented on the pitch: 'It looks pretty good from here, so hopefully it holds up. We were told that they were investing a lot into making sure that this would be a pitch that would play at a high level, so you know we're hopeful that the rain, it's still coming down, but it's not so hard, and hopefully it won't be puddling or anything. But we'll use today to evaluate what the pitch feels like, and then make some decisions.'
The game plan is to split the squad and give most of the players 45 minutes of action. Defender Richie Laryea will be limited to 30 minutes as he recovers from, you guessed it, injury. But Marsch said a plan B may have to be in the works if the weather doesn't cooperate. 'We're going to be OK,' he said. 'We'll be prepared to pivot if the pitch is a little bit soggy. But I think both teams are in the same boat… we'll be ready to adjust to the elements, and you know, we're focused to maximize the most out of every day. We're excited to be here in Edmonton. We know there'll be a big crowd.'
