VANCOUVER — Canadian soccer standout Alphonso Davies will not be in the starting lineup when Canada squares off against Qatar in their second World Cup Group B contest at BC Place in Vancouver on Thursday.
Davies has been nursing a hamstring injury in recent weeks, though coach Jesse Marsch confirmed on Wednesday that the player has been cleared as fit to participate.
On the other side, Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui opted to keep his squad identical to the one that battled Switzerland to a 1-1 tie, once again leaving record goalscorer Almoez Ali out of the starting eleven.
For Canada, Cyle Larin earns a starting spot after coming off the bench to net the equalizer in the team’s 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Tani Oluwaseyi and Liam Millar have both been moved to the bench to make room for Larin and Ali Ahmed in the starting lineup.
Qatar will be led by captain Boualem Khoukhi, who found the back of the net against Switzerland in the team’s previous match.
Starting Lineups:
Canada: Maxime Crepeau; Alistair Johnston, Luc De Fougerolles, Derek Cornelius, Richie Laryea; Stephen Eustaquio, Ismael Kone, Ali Ahmed; Tajon Buchanan, Jonathan David, Cyle Larin.
Qatar: Mahmoud Abunada; Pedro Miguel, Issa Laye, Jassem Gaber, Edmilson Junior; Akram Afif, Ayoub Aloui, Homam Ahmed, Yusuf Abdurisag; Boualem Khoukhi, Assim Madibo.
