Questions round Davies’ standing persist as Canada continues arrangements for Doha Information – Medication Hat Information

Through Canadian Press on June 17, 2026.

Canada’s Alistair Johnston, entrance centre, and his teammates jog across the box all over a FIFA Global Cup football coaching consultation, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckVANCOUVER — Canadian defender Richie Laryea says he and his teammates know they weren’t at their absolute best when the country opened its FIFA Global Cup marketing campaign remaining week.
In addition they know they’ll wish to be higher once they proceed the match Thursday towards Doha Information in Vancouver.
“I think it’s a tale of two halves for us in the last match,” Laryea mentioned on Tuesday. “First part the place we’re now not as competitive as we generally are, and possibly now not at the entrance foot on each and every unmarried scenario as opposed to the second one part, you spot it’s a fully other recreation for us.
“I think that’s what we kind of took from the film session, knowing that we need to be exactly who we were in the second half for the full match this Thursday.”
Canada, ranked thirtieth in FIFA’s newest standings, began its Global Cup marketing campaign with a 1-1 draw towards Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto remaining Friday.
No. 56 Doha Information surprised many with a 1-1 draw towards favoured Switzerland the next day to come to go away each and every group in Workforce B with a unmarried level.
Canada and Doha Information have best confronted off as soon as prior to now, with the Canadians taking a 2-0 victory at a pleasant in Austria again in September 2022.
Each groups are very other these days, mentioned Stephen Eustaquio, Canada’s vice captain.
“I think if you look at the group stage right now, they have the same possibilities as us to go through the group, right? So they’re gonna come with everything, obviously,” he mentioned. “It’s gonna be an excessively exhausting recreation, however on the similar time, we’re in a position for it. We’re in a position for it.
“I think the Bosnia game was a good game for us to get confidence, to score our first goal, to get our first point in the World Cup, something that we didn’t accomplish in Qatar. But at the same time, we have to deserve to be on such a stage like this. And I think we’re gonna do it.”
The Nineteenth-ranked Swiss meet No. 64 Bosnia in Los Angeles on Thursday prior to Canada takes on Doha Information in Vancouver.
A number of analytics fashions have progressed Canada’s outlook for the reason that opening spherical of fits. The Athletic initiatives Canada has an 87 in step with cent probability of attaining the spherical of 32 and a 43 in step with cent probability of profitable the crowd. Football analyst Michael Caley provides Canada a 53 in step with cent probability of completing first.
“We can lose to anybody, but we also know if we’re at our best, that we can beat anybody,” mentioned proper again Alistair Johnston. “That’s one thing that we perceive, I feel, as a gaggle. And it’s what makes it irritating after we don’t play our at our absolute best, as a result of there’s the sort of giant discrepancy, I feel, between after we’re in reality at it and after we’re now not.
“So it’s going to be really important right from the first whistle (on Thursday) that we don’t waste that first half, kind of like we did against Bosnia.”
Questions nonetheless linger round whether or not Canada captain Alphonso Davies might be to be had on Thursday.
The big name left again has been getting better from a hamstring harm and following return-to-play protocols since becoming a member of the nationwide squad in Edmonton on the finish of Might. The group didn’t supply an replace on his standing at coaching on Tuesday.
Davies was once injured whilst enjoying for Bayern Munich in a Champions League semifinal in early Might. He warmed up with teammates all over Tuesday’s coaching consultation, operating and passing the ball, however didn’t take part within the portion of follow open to journalists.
“I don’t know if he can play. I mean, he hasn’t been training with us,” Eustaquio mentioned. “But what I can say, what he can bring to the team, he can bring his leadership, which is very important for us.”
Davies has now not performed for Canada since March 2025, when he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in a CONCACAF Countries League fit towards the US.
Canada’s head trainer Jesse Marsch and midfielder Ismaël Koné have been scheduled to talk with the media on Wednesday night time.
This file through The Canadian Press was once first printed June 17, 2026.