With a drop in defense and an experienced reinforcement in midfield, the coach John Herdman called the selection Canada to the Qatar World Cup, which begins next Sunday. He suffered the loss of defender Doneil Henry, but, in return, he will have the midfielder Atiba Hutchinson39 years old, the only one born when the team played its last World Cup, in 1986.

The veteran was confirmed in the 26-man squad at the last minute as he comes through injury and was doubtful for the Cup. He played his first game for besikta this season only last Wednesday. The midfielder came from a bone injury but lasted 70 minutes on the pitch. One of the pillars of the team, must be reserve in Qatar.

The Canadian team’s biggest casualty will be Doneil Henry, who suffered a calf injury in a friendly with Bahrain as the team prepared for the World Cup. The defender has been on the field in eight of 20 Canada Cup qualifying games. He will not be the only embezzlement of the Qatar team.

Goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau and defender Scott Kennedy are the others. Crepeau broke his leg while playing for Major League Soccer. And Kennedy injured his shoulder during a game for his team, Germany’s Regensburg, in late October.

Among the highlights of the World Cup are Alphonse Davies, Bayern Munich player. Fullback in Germany, he was drafted as a forward to defend the Canadian national team, a position in which he began his career in Major League Soccer, the United States soccer championship.

In preparation for the Cup, the Canadian team will play a friendly match against Japan on Thursday in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Canada, in Group F of the World Cup, will make their debut on the 23rd, against Belgium, one of the favorites for the title. Then the opponents will be Croatia and Morocco.

Check out the Canadian team roster

goalkeepers: Milan Borjan (Etoile Rouge), Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota), James Pantemis (Montreal);

defenders: Samuel Adekugbe (Hatayspor), Derek Cornelius (Panetolikos), Alistair Johnston (Montreal), Richie Laryea (Toronto), Kamal Miller (Montreal), Steven Vitoria (Chaves), Joel Waterman (Montreal);

midfielders: Stephen Eustaquio (Porto), Liam Fraser (Deinze), Atiba Hutchinson (Besiktas), Mark-Anthony Kaye (Toronto), Ismael Kone (Montreal), Jonathan Osorio (Toronto), Samuel Piette (Montreal), David Wotherspoon (St Johnstone ) );

Attackers: Tajon Buchanan (Club Bruges), Lucas Cavallini (Vancouver), Jonathan David (Lille), Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich), Junio ​​Hoilett (Reading), Cyle Larin (Club Bruges), Liam Millar (Basel) and Ike Ugbo (Troyes).

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