Soccer fans in Quebec and Montreal in particular will see some very familiar faces in Canada’s squad for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Six CF Montreal players have been selected from the 26-man Canadian roster, whose roster was announced on Sunday, 10 days before Canada’s first World Cup appearance since 1986.
The list of CF Montreal players includes goalkeeper James Pantemis, defenders Alistair Johnston, Kamal Miller and Joel Waterman as well as midfielders Samuel Piette and Ismaël Koné.
“From Le Gardeur to Qatar,” shared Piette on his twitter account.
“Mom and Dad, your son is officially going to the World Cup,” Miller wrote.
“Everything I’ve always dreamed of, and even liked. Let’s do it, Canada,” wrote Johnston, for his part.
The six players have been with the Canadian team since the beginning of the month, as part of the team’s last preparatory camp, held in Bahrain, in view of the group stage of the tournament which will begin for Canada on November 23 against Belgium. in a Group F duel.
With 23 per cent Montreal representation making up head coach John Herdman’s final roster, CF Montreal is not only among the best-represented clubs in MLS at the World Cup, but also the most represented in the Canadian selection.
The list also includes three Toronto FC players, midfielders Mark-Anthony Kaye and Jonathan Osorio as well as defender Richie Laryea. The Vancouver Whitecaps will be represented by forward Lucas Cavallini.
Defender Derek Cornelius, who the Whitecaps loaned to Greece, has also been selected for the Canadian squad.
Herdman will be able to rely on a group of 26 players distributed as follows: three goalkeepers, seven defenders, eight midfielders and eight attackers.
Besides Cavallini, the attacking group also includes Tajon Buchanan, Jonathan David, Cyle Larin, Alphonso Davies and Junior Hoilett.
Meanwhile, Herdman won’t be able to count on veteran defender Doneil Henry, who suffered a calf injury ahead of Canada’s preseason game against Bahrain on Friday. Herdman said Henry will be in Qatar, but not in a playing role.
Herdman said Henry, a 29-year-old defender, felt “a little stiff” during the warm-up before the game against Bahrain.
“He tried to push a little more and that possibly led to a tear,” Herdman told reporters from Doha.
“We are looking at magnetic resonances and working to get the final details. However, he just couldn’t create any explosion with his calf. »
Depending on the initial diagnosis, healing could take up to 14 days.
“Doneil put the team first […] We could have tried to get him back in the game and have him later in the tournament,” Herdman also noted.
“But he knew it was the right decision to make, to allow another player who had earned that right and who was in great shape to come in and take advantage of that opportunity. It was a very important moment. »
Moreover, Herdman already knew that he would also have to do without goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau (Los Angeles FC) and defender Scott Kennedy (SSV Jahn Rastibonne, Germany), both victims of injuries. Crépeau suffered a broken leg in the MLS Cup final and had to go under the knife.
In addition, 39-year-old midfielder Atiba Hutchinson (bone injury) and David Wotherspoon (knee), also a midfielder, will be available.
So does Osorio, despite only playing 18 minutes in MLS since Aug. 18 due to post-concussion syndrome. He did, however, play the entire game in Bahrain.
Before beginning their journey to the worlds, the Canadians will play a final preseason game on Thursday, November 17 against Japan, at Al-Maktoun Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
After their duel against Belgium, ranked 2nd in the world, Canada will battle Croatia (12th) on November 27 before facing Morocco (22nd) on December 1. Canada ranks 41st.
During its presence at the 1986 World Cup, the Canadian team finished last in Group C with a record of 0-3-0 and no goals scored against the Soviet Union, France and Hungary.