Alphonso Davies made his first media appearance of this World Cup in Los Angeles on Saturday, promising the opening last-32 game against South Africa would mark his long-awaited return. The Bayern Munich left-back tore his ACL at SoFi Stadium last March, beginning an injury nightmare that kept him out of Canada's group-stage matches.
Davies returns to SoFi Stadium for redemption
"Coming back to this stadium, it's like now I get to finish something I started a year ago and really enjoy playing here," Davies said. "The first time I was in this stadium it was beautiful but it was cut short. At the end of the day, that's football." Canada head coach Jesse Marsch confirmed Davies is fit to start, adding: "Now that we have Alphonso back and healthy and ready to perform, it's a big moment for the team."
Canada's World Cup journey so far
Canada suffered a first defeat in the group stage against Switzerland, losing 2-1 in Vancouver after a 6-0 win over Qatar. The team also lost Ismaël Koné to a leg break but regains Moïse Bombito alongside Davies. Marsch said: "It changes the potential of what our team is and what we can do in this tournament."
South Africa's momentum and key players
South Africa, ranked 30 places below Canada in FIFA's rankings, arrives with momentum after a shock win over South Korea. Manager Hugo Broos said: "I think we can say already now that the World Cup is a success for us. That doesn't mean now that we are happy and just play the game tomorrow and go home. You want more." Midfielder Teboho Mokoena returns from suspension, likely alongside Yaya Sithole.
Marsch's tactics and team status
Marsch had used Davies's fitness as a decoy against Switzerland, but the ruse failed. Canada's vice-captain Stephen Eustáquio is also a concern, limited to 30 minutes off the bench due to muscle fatigue. The winner of Sunday's match will be the first into the last 16, with Morocco or Netherlands awaiting in Houston. Marsch said: "We're going to experience difficulty, we're going to experience success. We're going to have challenges. The key is that we're ready to rise."
