Canada faced off against Japan in an international friendly this Friday in what seemed like an interesting challenge for the Maples to go head-to-head against a top national team for the first time since their lackluster 2022 World Cup performance. It was time to redeem themselves on the international stage.
Midnight in Newfoundland so...
It's #CANMNT Matchday!
If you’ve ever been curious about what happens when a top-tier club faces a team from the ninth tier, look no further. Bayern Munich obliterated minnows FC Rottach-Egern 27-0 on Tuesday during a friendly.
That score line looks more appropriate for a random college football game between Iowa and Nevada than it does for a soccer game.
FC Rottach-Egern are the local team near Bayern’s summer training camp and have faced the Bundesliga champs three times now. Each contest ends with Bayern scoring 20+ goals.
In the grand history of Concacaf, there's never before been a tournament where our gladiators have entered the arena and spectators have murmured amongst each other: "See them there? Them's Canada. They're going to slaughter everyone."
At least not since Craig Forrest was standing between the sticks.
One day after being nominated for the 2022 FIFPRO World 11, Alphonso Davies came off the bench and provided a dime for Kingsley Coman in Bayern Munich's 1-0 away victory over PSG in their Champions League last-16 first leg at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday night.
Bayern manager Julian Nagelsmann elected to start João Cancelo at left wing-back over Davies, and while the visitors controlled the opening 45 with the ball almost strictly in PSG's half, there wasn't enough penetration to trouble Gianluigi Donnarumma and the central pairing of Sergio Ramos and Marquinhos.
Running fast is not necessary to be a good player in soccer. If it was, Usain Bolt would have been a phenomenon when he tried to turn pro.
Having said that, we can't deny that speed always captivates the eye. You can see how a sprint perforates a defense or how a player dashing back to stop a counterattack is always an exciting view during a game.
After the Round of 16 there are no teams from Concacaf still competing at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Of the five confederations that competed in Qatar, Concacaf had the lowest number of victories with a measly three. None of the four teams finished with a winning record.
The gradebook is coming with full force Concacaf, and it’s not pretty. Here are the 2022 Concacaf World Cup grades.
Oh no, Canada.
Just as it was in 1986, so too will it finish in 2022. In just the fourth minute of Canada's third and final match of this year’s World Cup, Morocco’s Hakim Ziyech was gifted a goal after a horrible mistake from goalkeeper Milan Borjan. His misplaced pass took any remaining wind out of his side’s sails, condemning them to the same fate as their predecessors from 36 years ago (three matches, three defeats).
Oh, what could have been for Canada’s golden boy? Just 10 minutes into his side’s opening match, Alphonso Davies had the opportunity to score Canada’s first goal at the men’s World Cup. Fate would not be on his side, however, as Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saved his tame effort to keep the match scoreless.
BLOCKED BY COURTOIS
The search for a first-ever men's FIFA World Cup goal continues for Canada pic.twitter.com/M3v0ClUOfZ
An Alphonso Davies injury during Bayern Munich’s 3-2 victory vs. Hertha Berlin on Saturday has Canada fans worried.
In the 64th minute the Canadian full back had to be removed from the game after he picked up an injury. He was seen slowly walking off the field grabbing at the back of his right leg.
Alphonso Davies leaves the match with an apparent hamstring injury. pic.twitter.com/TDkDju43Z4
If you're having trouble visualizing what Canada's Alphonso Davies is about to do to the old man legs of Belgium and Croatia in World Cup Group F, Wednesday's DFB-Pokal match between Bayern Munich and Augsburg offered the perfect illustration.
Augsburg took an early lead at its home ground but Bayern struck back through an Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting brace and one from Joshua Kimmich to go up 3-1 with 30 minutes still to play. A Dayot Upamecano own goal gave Augsburg hope at 3-2, but it's the hope that kills you.