World Cup 2022: Canada’s 23-man Squad
By Jim James
Hello all, and welcome back to the blog. As you know, Canada’s MNT have qualified for the World Cup, and if you want to hear the full story, go to the post I posted before. The last one. Today I’ll be telling you what I think should be Canada’s 23-man squad to go to Qatar. I’ll be doing a post on one now, and one in November, when we know more about the state of the players. We have a lot to get through, so let’s begin!
*Age will be at the time of the World Cup
Goalkeepers
Milan Borjan
Age: 35
Team: Red Star
Position: GK
The first man called up is the undroppable Number One. Milan Borjan has been crucial to Canada’s qualification, making many elite saves to save Canada points and proving just why he’s so trusted inbetween the sticks.
Maxime Crepeau
Age: 28
Team: LAFC
Position: GK
A rock-solid No. 2, Maxime Crepeau was in goal for Canada for a few games in the world cup qualifying, and did well. One of the best Goalkeepers in the MLS, the Quebec-born stopper is a solid heir to Milan Borjan when he retires.
Thomas Hasal
Age: 23
Team: Vancouver Whitecaps
Position: GK
5 caps for Canada U20, although Thomas Hasal hasn’t got anywhere near the senior team yet. However, I’m calling him up for experience. A World Cup, and sharing a dressing room with players he may replace should do wonders for his career. He’s the current Vancouver Whitecaps #1, and in my opinion should be trusted with the gloves in case of emergency.
Defenders
Richie Laryea
Age: 27
Team: Nottingham Forest
Position: RB
He’ll be in an eternal battle for the starting RB spot with the next player I list here, and nothing is decided. However, decided is that there’s no way he’s being dropped from this team. A well-deserved call-up.
Alistair Johnston
Age: 24
Team: CF Montreal
Position: RB
Come on, you can’t say you’ve heard the name Alistair outside of the name Alistair Cooke. Anyway, this flying full-back is going to be battling with Richie Laryea for a starting XI spot all tournament. He’s had his fair share of moments in the qualifying, and there’s no way I’m dropping him from the team.
Kamal Miller
Age: 25
Team: CF Montreal
Position: CB
Canada are in a pinch for Center Backs (Come on Fikayo) at the minute, and Kamal Miller is one of the better ones. However, there is no real undroppable center back. He played for Syracuse Orange for a while in 2018 and was taken 27th in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft by Orlando. After signing for CF Montreal last year, he’s got a place among Canada’s Center Backs.
Doneil Henry
Age: 29
Team: LAFC
Position: CB
This player has been around. Since starting his career in 2010, he’s been to 9 teams, including Toronto FC, West Ham, Blackburn, Suwon Blackbirds, and in January moved to LAFC. He’s been interchangeable in Canada’s defense in qualifying and may get a few games in the World Cup.
Derek Cornelius
Age: 24
Team: Panetolikos
Position: CB
Derek Cornelius hasn’t been playing too much, but was called up for the most recent qualifiers. I reckon that he’ll get right up there with Doneil Henry and the next player on this list for the 2nd center back spot.
Scott Kennedy
Age: 25
Team: Jahn Regensburg
Position: CB
Playing in the 2. Bundesliga, Scott Kennedy has been one of John Herdman’s favourite center backs in qualifying. 8 games played, which is very impressive for someone who hadn’t made his NT debut before the World Cup qualifying. Another deserved place in the team.
Joel Waterman
Age: 26
Team: CF Montreal
Position: CB
Usually there is only 4 Center Backs for John Herdman to choose from, but after I picked the players I absolutely had to have in the team, there was one spot left, and I picked Joel Waterman for the spot. He hasn’t got any caps for any Canadian team, underage or senior, but I think that he would be good Center-Back depth considering it is our worst position.
Alphonso Davies
Age: 22
Team: Bayern Munchen
Position: LB
Ah, there we go. The man who sparked the Canadian revolution. Although he doesn’t have a Canadian cap in 2022 due to a heart problem, if all goes to plan he will be fit and ready for Qatar. Although he won’t be played as a left back he will be counted as one. Do I really need to explain why he gets the call up?
Samy Adekugbe
Age: 27
Team: Hatayspor
Position: LB
Samy Adekugbe did very well to replace the irreplaceable Alphonso Davies in 2022, getting that famous goal vs the USA to cap a 2-0 victory, and helping out in so many Canadian attacks. The former Man Utd academy man is one of the players who will One Trillion Percent make this team.
Midfielders
Stephen Eustaquio
Age: 25
Team: Porto
Position: CDM
He’s one of the best players in the Canadian team, and is absolutely undroppable from this team. He got the assist on our first goal vs Jamaica, and is doing ok for Porto on loan. I don’t really need to explain why he’s getting picked.
Samuel Piette
Age: 28
Team: CF Montreal
Position: CDM
He’s been doing well off the bench, and Samuel Piette could start in a 2 CDM formation for Canada. He’s their guy to make more options available while also stopping anything in his way, while Eustaquio makes more forward runs and is really a box-to-box type, Piette is more defensive minded. Canada needs someone like that, so he gets the call-up.
Mark-Anthony Kaye
Age: 27
Team: Colorado Rapids
Position: CM
First things first, I’ve heard about some racial abuse towards Kaye for his red card against Costa Rica, which is absolutely disgusting. Besides that, Kaye has been one of the most underrated players for us in the qualifying. He was playing for TFC II for a while, yet another player we let slip through the cracks. Rats.
Jonathan Osorio
Age: 30
Team: Toronto FC
Position: CM
The Toronto FC player with the most appearances in history gets the nod in this team. He has been a fringe player in this team, but should still go to the World Cup.
Atiba Hutchinson
Age: 39
Team: Besiktas
Position: CM
You can’t go to Qatar without having Mr. Canada in your team. Atiba Hutchinson is somehow a centurion for 2 teams and almost a third. 94 caps for Canada, he is the leader of this team.
Attackers
Tajon Buchanan
Age: 23
Team: Club Brugge
Position: RW
He is my favourite man for Canada outside of Davies and David. A speedster who loves to score, Tajon Buchanan is the main right-sided attack starter for this Canadian team.
Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty
Age: 18
Team: Toronto FC
Position: RW
I think that Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty could be enough of a talent to be Toronto’s 2nd choice RW by the World Cup. He’s getting frequent game time, and is looking decent in a Toronto shirt at just 17. I talked about him more in the Next Generation post a couple months ago, you can read it after you finish this.
Jonathan David
Age: 22
Team: Lille
Position: ST
David may not be at Lille at the time of the World Cup, but he is now so we’ll go for it. He is a mighty player who can do everything. He will surely get the Canada all-time top scorer crown before he retires, no?
Cyle Larin
Age: 27
Team: Besiktas
Position: ST
However, it will be a mighty task dethroning this man. There is just something about Cyle Larin that makes him a BEAST at international level. The all time Canada top scorer and a monster.
Terran Campbell
Age: 24
Team: Forge FC
Position; ST
Terran who? I know it is weird seeing this guy in the team, but he has been a monster in the Canadian Premier League, and I feel that we need a CPL player in this team, so in you go, Terran.
Junior Hoilett
Age: 32
Team: Reading
Position: LW
The original Canadian wonderkid, Junior Hoilett was supposed to be what David is nearing being. However, he is still mighty effective for us, getting a beauty against Jamaica yesterday. He gets the call-up.
Honorable Mentions
Scott Arfield
Zorhan Bassong
Justin Smith
Theo Corbeanu
Lucas Cavallini
Ismael Kone
That does it for this post. I’ll do another one of these in November nearing the world cup, when we know exactly what these players are. I’m Jim James, until next time.