It was only a six-minute cameo, but for every Canadian soccer fan, it was six glorious minutes where the belief ahead of next year's World Cup received a genuine injection of excitement.
Alphonso Davies’ return had been talked about all year, but after almost nine months out with an ACL tear suffered in the Nations League, it still felt unreal. That changed when he stepped onto the pitch with two minutes left in Bayern Munich’s 3-1 Champions League win over Sporting CP last Tuesday — a moment that sparked relief from Newfoundland to the Yukon.
It came as a slight surprise, although pre-match head coach Vincent Kompany had suggested he may get some minutes: “We’re really pleased that Phonzy is back. He’ll help us for the rest of the season. He won’t play a big part yet today. He’s done everything to come back. He’s someone who comes back from injury stronger.”
In those limited minutes, the left back received a giant cheer, vociferous chants of “Davies” from the Sudkurve and appreciative applause when he won a tackle deep in Bayern territory. Phonzy was back!
On Saturday, Davies enjoyed an extended run off the bench again, but this time in the 62nd minute as Bayern drew Mainz 2-2. The rust seems to be crumbling off his 25-year-old legs, looking sprightly and enjoying some trademark runs down the left flank.
It is his speed that separates Davies from so many of his contemporaries, and that is the area that can be so deeply affected by a knee injury as serious as the one he suffered. So far, so good.
Former Canada international Jimmy Brennan knows as well as anyone how pace kills. A speedster at left back himself for much of his stellar career, Brennan was a fascinated observer over the past week.
“It’s his pace and explosiveness, I noticed it right away. It's still there, and that is the first thing you notice when a player returns from a serious knee injury: does he still have it or not?” Brennan explains. “He was still able to make the bursts, to find the space and the pockets, not many players have that talent, but Alphonso always has, and still looks to have.”
Not that Davies’ return was perfect, as Brennan admits:
“The touch, that will still take some time, it always does after you have been out so long, and Phonzy’s first touch wasn’t the greatest, but it will come.”
Time is thankfully something both Davies and the Canadian men’s team have. With no international matches scheduled until March, Davies will enjoy not only an uninterrupted extended stay at this club but also the perfect environment to get into top shape. The German season enjoys its winter break following this weekend's round of Bundesliga matches. Players are off for the holidays and will return to training in early January, ahead of the restart on Jan. 9.
On the horizon will be a congested schedule for Bayern Munich, including an intriguing Champions League encounter with Davies’ Canadian teammate Promise David and Union Saint-Gilloise in late January.
A fit and healthy Davies remains absolutely crucial for Jesse Marsch’s World Cup plans. Whether he kits up at left back or further up the pitch, Davies is still Canada’s best player.
Indeed, the team tends to play excellent football in his absence, and Davies replicating his Bayern Munich form in a Canada shirt has been frustratingly inconsistent. However, any discussion that suggests Canada is better without him is absolute nonsense.
Richie Laryea has been outstanding during Davies’ injury layoff, but remember that the Toronto FC man was only brought in to play on his unnatural left side when Vancouver’s Sam Adekugbe suffered an Achilles injury back in June, while playing for Canada against Côte d’Ivoire. It was Adekugbe who had manned the position so well for Canada during the regular Davies injury omissions throughout qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.
Of interest when he does return to the Canadian fold will be his relationship with his manager and, specifically, with the team's medical staff.
Following the torn ACL diagnosis in March while on international duty, Bayern Munich was extremely outspoken in its criticism of the Canadian setup and the handling of the injury. Terms such as ‘grossly negligent’ and ‘incomprehensible' were used, along with a veiled threat to consider legal action against the governing body.
Cooler heads prevailed, but conspicuous in his silence was Davies himself, who as captain was expected in some quarters to defend his national team and staff. The defence has not come, and this will become a storyline again prior to his next involvement with Canada unless it is dealt with beforehand.
Alphonso Davies has been the poster boy of Canadian soccer ever since he took to the stage at the FIFA Congress in Moscow as a 17-year-old in 2018, to pitch FIFA on exactly why Canada should co-host a World Cup.
Much has happened since then, and Davies has lived up to his billing on the global stage. Six months from now, once again the world will be watching. Despite injuries, illness, and the ascendancy of other players, Davies remains as crucial to Canada’s success as ever.
