Coming into this World Cup, Canada’s hopes hinged on the form of their one world-class player, Alphonso Davies. This has been the case for every major competition they have entered since he made his international debut in 2017, and it’s easy to see why: over the last nine years, Davies has transformed Canada’s fortunes.
After being grouped in each of the first three Gold Cups in the 2010s, Canada have reached the quarter-final or further in five consecutive installments. The Bayern Munich star was also at the fore as they qualified for the 2022 World Cup, the first time they reached men’s football’s biggest stage since 1986. And their fourth-place finish at the 2024 Copa América involved a fit and firing Davies.
Related: Ounahi and Rahimi put Morocco in World Cup quarter-finals and end Canada’s journey
It’s a team sport, but when a roster has one indisputable star, its hopes are often inextricably tied to that player. That was bad news for Canada at this World Cup. Davies missed all three of Canada’s group games as he recovered from an injury he suffered in May. Finally, in the last-32, Davies came off the bench for 15 minutes and helped inspire Canada to victory over South Africa. Surely, it seemed, the Bayern star would take on a similar role on Saturday.
As Canada chased an equalizer against Morocco, though, fans were left wondering when Davies would come off the bench to jolt his team back to life. Marsch never brought on Davies. Canada ended up losing the match 3-0, ending their World Cup hopes.
After being grouped in each of the first three Gold Cups in the 2010s, Canada have reached the quarter-final or further in five consecutive installments. The Bayern Munich star was also at the fore as they qualified for the 2022 World Cup, the first time they reached men’s football’s biggest stage since 1986. And their fourth-place finish at the 2024 Copa América involved a fit and firing Davies.
Related: Ounahi and Rahimi put Morocco in World Cup quarter-finals and end Canada’s journey
It’s a team sport, but when a roster has one indisputable star, its hopes are often inextricably tied to that player. That was bad news for Canada at this World Cup. Davies missed all three of Canada’s group games as he recovered from an injury he suffered in May. Finally, in the last-32, Davies came off the bench for 15 minutes and helped inspire Canada to victory over South Africa. Surely, it seemed, the Bayern star would take on a similar role on Saturday.
As Canada chased an equalizer against Morocco, though, fans were left wondering when Davies would come off the bench to jolt his team back to life. Marsch never brought on Davies. Canada ended up losing the match 3-0, ending their World Cup hopes.
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