Canada finishes 2nd in Group B after 2-1 loss to Switzerland, will play knockout game Sunday in L.A.
Canada Falls to Switzerland in Group B Finale
The Canadian men’s national team has advanced to the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup for the first time in its history, despite a 2-1 loss to Switzerland at BC Place Vancouver. The result on Wednesday meant Canada finished second in Group B, securing their spot in the Round of 32.
Head coach Jesse Marsch made two changes to the starting lineup for the match against Switzerland, both in central midfield. Nathan Saliba and Mathieu Choinière were brought in, replacing Stephen Eustáquio, who was dealing with muscle tightness, and Ismaël Koné, who was injured. Fans displayed visual tributes to Koné, including showing his jersey number, 8, and he received an ovation during warm-ups.
The first half was a tight and physical contest, ending without a score. Switzerland nearly scored in the 11th minute, but Maxime Crépeau made a save. The dynamic of the game shifted early in the second half when Ruben Vargas scored for Switzerland in the first minute after the break, putting them up 1-0. Johan Manzambi extended Switzerland’s lead to 2-0 ten minutes later with a goal on a counterattack.
Canada responded in the 75th minute with a goal from Promise David, who had recently entered the match. The goal was set up by a pass from Saliba. Despite creating several opportunities in the final minutes, Canada was unable to find an equalizer.
Davies Used as Decoy, Set for Next Match
Head coach Jesse Marsch confirmed that Alphonso Davies was used as a decoy in the lead-up to the match against Switzerland. Davies, who has been sidelined with an injury, was on the bench but did not play in the game. Marsch stated that Davies was not yet ready to play but would be prepared for the next match.
Marsch noted that Switzerland’s news conference included multiple questions about Davies, suggesting his ploy was effective in making the opposing team prepare for his potential involvement. Switzerland head coach Murat Yakin acknowledged that they considered Davies in their preparations but did not solely focus on individual players.
Davies has not played for Canada since a ligament injury during Nations League play against the United States. He joined the national squad in Edmonton at the end of May and followed return-to-play protocols, including warming up with teammates and participating in running and passing drills. He did not dress for Canada’s 1-1 draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto or their 6-0 win over Qatar in Vancouver.
The 25-year-old wing-back has been out of play since early May due to a hamstring injury sustained while playing for Bayern Munich in a Champions League semifinal. This latest injury marks his third since returning from a 260-day layoff due to a torn cruciate ligament in his right knee. He was previously sidelined from February 22 to March 9 with a muscle fibre tear and from March 11 to April 2 with a right hamstring injury.
Davies has a history with Vancouver, having made his professional debut with Major League Soccer’s Vancouver Whitecaps at 15 years old. He signed his first professional contract with Vancouver in July of that year, becoming the youngest active player in MLS. During his time in MLS, he made 65 appearances and scored eight goals. He earned his first call-up with the national team in June 2017 after receiving his Canadian citizenship. He has scored 15 goals and provided 17 assists in 58 appearances for Canada.
In December 2022, Davies made history by scoring Canada’s first-ever World Cup goal in a group-stage match against Croatia. He left Vancouver in July 2018 when Bayern Munich acquired him. During his tenure in the German Bundesliga, Davies contributed to Bayern’s six league titles, a UEFA Champions League title, and a FIFA Club World Cup title.
Upcoming Knockout Stage Match
The loss to Switzerland means Canada will now play their Round of 32 match on Sunday in Los Angeles. Their opponent will be the second-place team from Group A, which could be South Korea, Czechia, or South Africa. The knockout rounds are single-elimination matches, meaning a winner must be determined, potentially through extra time or a penalty shootout if the score is level after 90 minutes.
Had Canada achieved a draw against Switzerland, their next match would have been held back at BC Place on July 2. Marsch expressed confidence in the team’s advancement, stating, “We’re going to be in the knockout phase, which is exactly where we wanted to be. We still have a massive opportunity ahead of us.”
This marks a significant achievement for the team, following a 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was Canada’s first point at a senior men’s FIFA World Cup, and a 6-0 victory over Qatar, the nation’s first win in the competition.
Source: tsn.ca
