BRING OUT YOUR INJURED

Unfit & Unfancied

‘The most talented group in Canada’s history.’ That moniker is now

tattooed on our 2026 World Cup squad thanks to #CanMNT Believer-In-

Chief; Jesse Marsch.

Undoubtedly one of the most affable and likeable chaps I’ve ever had

the pleasure to encounter in all my days, evenings and blue moons

over at Stade Saputo. Or Claude-Robillard for that matter. Very

esteemed company there Jesse.

One of those football esteemed is Mike Moretto. The glue which kept

the original FC Supra, Montreal Impact, and for the last twenty

years our MNT and WNT’s together in his official role as Equipment

Manager.

Mike is the wearer of far more hats than that. With thanks to our

Believer-In-Chief Mike will take his rightful place on the CanMNT

bench for June 12th ’s opener versus Bosnia. A position denied to Mike

by the previous Head Coach at Qatar2022.

Not ever one to accept orthodoxy - in a previous incarnation Marsch

was that chap who dared go toe to toe on the pitch with the original

MLS Diva; David Beckham. In fact it was actually nose to nose

during the Galaxy’s 2007 tour stop in Salt Lake. Marsch doesn’t

suffer fools or divas gladly.

Having kicked oof camp in Carolina, before moving on to Edmonton and

Montreal, Marsch unveiled his playing squad to the throng gathered

in Toronto some 72-hours ahead of the Canadian MNT’s kick off. With

microphone in hand straddling the stage Marsch wasted no time

proclaiming ‘The People’s team” had evolved into ‘The Dream team.’

Caterpillars then, butterflies now. Every single one. The walking

wounded included.

The volume of injuries blighting too many key players who were named

to Marsch’s final squad back on May 29th is unheralded.

Only problem is that wasn’t the final squad.

The real final squads for any competing nation are submitted to FIFA

24-hours before group openers, in our case Thursday 15h 00. Canada

has never held its collective football breath more than at any other

time in its history than that moment.

Marsch has decided an unfit Bombito is worth 2 Priso’s in the bush.

Moïse will certainly join his fellow Montrealer Mike Moretto on the

bench Friday along with his 14 other team mates not named in the

CanMNT Starting XI.

Bombito, Davies, Ahmed, Jones, Schaffelburg the list seems endless

of Canada’s walking wounded going into the World Cup

How much of a part Bombito will play and Davies for that matter only

time will tell. There’s getting on the pitch and been your usual

effective self.

World Cup History is rather cruel on injured and unfit players

hitting the high notes. Rare if ever do the walking wounded go on to

play their parts. I could give you an historical list, but that

would be cruel.

As was England dragging a 20-year old Wayne Rooney and his broken

metatarsals around Germany in 2006. Rushed back; in training just

ahead of England’s second group stage game Rooney pulled his groin

of all things. Typical Wayne’s world that.

Let’s hope no one in the MNT pulls a groin on the walk out onto the

pitch in Toronto Friday afternoon. At this World Cup the entire

squad of 26 players will walk out as one and gather around the

centre circle before the anthems.

By the way I’ll be referencing World Cup History a lot over the

coming weeks. Off the top, it’s exactly why the Qatar 2022’s

Finalists will not be taking a bite out of the Big Apple July 19th .

No France, no Argentina. No chance. Only twice in World Cup history

has a nation repeated. The last time was so far back England hadn’t

even won a World Cup. No nation has managed three straight finals.

From watching my first Mondiale on the goggle box; Mexico 1970 the

subs bench at World Cups have increased in size from the permitted

two substitutes, some chap with a sponge and bucket plus the gaffer’s

eyes and ears. 4 or so dudes sat on the bench in 1970.

These days they’ll likely need a double decker bus to fit all the

players and team personnel, with the iPads and monitors in the hold.

Now there’s a glaring branding opportunity missed by FIFA. This

double decker bus bought to you by FIFACoin or something.

In the final tune up for Canada ahead of the Ball du Mondial versus

Ireland if you looked at the statistics the MNT dominated their

opponent. Twice as much possession, twice as many passes, four times

as many shots. Ireland though had more shots, and but for local boy

Maxime Crépeau’s piece of goalkeeping genius late on the Irish could

have won it.

‘We want to be the hardest team in the world to play against,’

opined Alistair Johnston when the Celtic double winner met the media

hordes Tuesday. Not a shabby plan that AJ for a team that has been

bereft of goals against any half decent opponent this past year and

more.

Back on June 13th , 2018 when it was announced by everyone’s favourite

FIFA employee; Gianni Infantino that the ‘United Bid’ from Canada,

US and Mexico would play host to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Finals. The

occasion was FIFA’s 68th Congress, held on the very eve of Russia

2018. Another agenda item that Moscow day was Vladimir Putin

proclaiming Russia was ‘ready to welcome the world’ per FIFA press

release.

Where’s 2026’s very same proclamation I can hear you all say.

A short while after FIFA’s United Bid bon mots the CSA’s Jason De

Vos joined Melnick and myself live on-air. Little did Jason, Melnick

or me know how things would play out between then and now as the

monumental Estadio Azteca gets to host an opening game in a World

Cup Finals for a record third time.

Last time we were at the Azteca a certain Diego Armando Maradona was

bouncing around the pitch with the World Cup Trophy firmly in his

grip.

Enjoy every single minute of the football at these World Cup Finals.

They say there’s three versions of the truth. Yours, mine and the

actual truth. We’re about to find out the truth about this group of

Canadian footballers.

Don’t though dare anyone celebrate Canada winning a game. Please,

s'il vous plaît.

The cross-country cheer resulting from Alphonso Davies’ goal 4-years

ago is still echoing in my ear drums. Or was it the clap trap

nonsense echoed and amplified by the media talking headz at the

time. I’m still waiting for the Prime Minister to announce that

national Holiday. To me there’s nothing more insulting than the

nation/media coming to a standstill owing to a goal been scored. Not

sure the IOC has yet sanctioned scoring a goal as an official

Olympic event.

An opening match ‘W’ would of course signify Canada’s very first win

at a World Cup Finals. So?

This is Canada’s most talented group, and I don’t think Canada’s

Believer-In-Chief was setting the bar at this World Cup so extremely

low.

Some of the biggest World Cup shocks in the history of the

competition have occurred in the current holders opening game. Think

Senegal shocking France in 2002.

Maybe this unusual and unfamiliar World Cup with the three hosts,

the United Bid as it was affectionately known will provide its

biggest shock in the final game.

Canada might melt. Bosnia might show up 30,000 strong.

I’m going for a siesta. Up at 04h 00 to get myself to the biggest

show in Toronto since well 1967.