Herdman calls mostly MLS squad to camp in Bahrain ahead of World Cup – TSN.ca

While off-season MLS players like Jonathan Osorio travel to a camp in Bahrain to compete with Canada for a spot in Qatar, defender Scott Kennedy’s World Cup dream is over.

Canada Soccer confirmed on Wednesday that a shoulder injury he sustained in Germany at his club SSV Jahn Regensburg will sideline Kennedy until the New Year.

“Unfortunately there’s no going back for Scott,” said Canada coach John Herdman. “He was devastated this morning.”

“For anyone who knows Scott, he’s just a good man, a good person,” he added. “He has a great character in the (team) environment. He always seems to contribute in a calm way and is very, very reliable on the field. So he’s going to be a big loss for this group, on and next to the field.

“Just one of those difficult moments as a coach where you have to share that grim reality with someone. (It’s) never easy.”

Herdman said Canada Soccer “specialists on the mental and emotional side” reached out to Kennedy.

Despite only capping eight caps for Canada, the 25-year-old from Calgary has proven to be an important member of the squad – at 1m80 is another imposing defender who can fill in for the 1m80 Steven Vitoria like needed.

And as Herdman hinted, he fitted well into the Canadian team.

The squad remains a work in progress, with Herdman bringing in 20 MLS players and midfielder Liam Fraser, who plays for KMSK Deinze in Belgium, for a camp and international match in Bahrain to get some work done before assembling his entire squad in front of the world Cup.

The friendly against Bahrain in Manama on 11 November will be preceded by a final warm-up on 17 November against No. 24 Japan in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which will feature the full World Cup squad. The 41st-ranked Canadians have never played against No. 85 Bahrain.

The FIFA country window for the World Cup in Qatar does not open until November 14, with the tournament starting six days later. European clubs play until the window opens.

In their first World Cup since 1986, Canada will open Group F play against No. 2 Belgium on November 23, before taking on No. 12 Croatia on November 27 and No. 22 Morocco on December 1.

Teams have until November 14 to announce their World Cup roster, this time expanded to 26 players. Herdman has said he will leave his team announcement “as late as necessary” due to concerns about injuries.

There may not be many roster questions left.

“I have 26 players in mind,” Herdman said, before adding, “There’s a reality check. Every week there are changes. Nobody predicted what was going to happen to Scott, which was so harmless. He could fall 10 times and stuff. ” (Injury) would only happen once, and it did.

“I think we know there are other elements of the roller coaster that we have to ride over the next few weeks on this journey with the number of games players are playing.”

Herdman noted Wednesday that past World Cups, where the squad limit was 23, have shown teams typically rely on a core of 16 or 17 players as conditions are a known quantity. Unlike World Cup qualifiers where you tend to rotate players from game to game due to travel and other factors.

“These 17 you pretty much have in mind already… I don’t think it would take a rocket scientist to figure out who those players are,” he said.

Others are chosen for their ability to improve as needed — while demonstrating an ability to “stay connected, be a good teammate, bring a positive attitude to an environment. And to challenge and compete.”

Herdman fielded 39 players during World Cup qualifying, leading to “some really difficult decisions” with the last six or seven players in the squad.

The camp in Bahrain will open on Sunday. Players from the camp selected for the World Cup list will travel to Qatar on November 12.

Herdman has signed eight players from CF Montreal, eight from Toronto FC (including winger Jacob Shaffelburg, who is on loan to Nashville), one from the Vancouver Whitecaps and three from other MLS clubs.

Toronto and Vancouver last played on October 9, the final game of the MLS regular season. Montreal exited the MLS playoffs on October 23, losing 3-1 to New York City FC.

Osorio leads the TFC contingent that has been called up. The veteran midfielder, who has since recovered from his post-concussion syndrome, has only played 18 minutes since he started against Miami on August 20.

“The feedback has been super positive,” Herman said of Osorio, who continues to train with TFC post-season.

“I feel a lot more normal. I feel a lot, a lot better,” Osorio said. “I’ve been in full training and training is going really well.”

The only MLS camp still in action is Los Angeles FC goaltender Maxime Crepeau, who will face the Philadelphia Union in Saturday’s MLS Cup Finals.

The Bahrain squad includes goalkeeper James Pantemis, defender Joel Waterman and midfielder Mathieu Choiniere (all CF Montreal) and defender Lukas MacNaughton (Toronto FC).

It is MacNaughton’s first international call-up.

Canada Roster for Bahrain Camp

Goalkeeper: Maxime Crepeau, Los Angeles FC (MLS); James Pantemis, Montreal CF (MLS); Dayne St Clair, Minnesota United (MLS).

Defenders: Zachary Brault-Guillard, CF Montreal (MLS); Raheem Edwards, Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS); Doneil Henry, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, CF Montreal; Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Luke MacNaughton, Toronto FC (MLS); Kamal Miller, CF Montreal (MLS); Joel Waterman, Montreal CF (MLS).

Midfielders: Mathieu Choiniere, Montreal CF (MLS); Liam Fraser, KMSK Deinze (Belgium); Mark-Anthony Kaye, Toronto FC (MLS); Ismael Kone, Montreal CF (MLS); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Samuel Piette, Montreal FC (MLS).

Forward: Ayo Akinola, Toronto FC (MLS); Lucas Cavallini, Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Jayden Nelson, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Schaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS).

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This report from The Canadian Press was first published on November 2, 2022.