Gianni Infantino and FIFA have, to be fair, a bit on their plate.
asserted
Infantino → have → plate
What with bringing global soccer to the brink of total implosion, forgetting to unplug an internet router in Etobicoke is understandable.
asserted
forgetting → bring → Etobicoke
On Wednesday morning, with Jesse Marsch and his Canadian men linking up for the first time since the reverie and revelry of their World Cup summer, the open portion of training wrapped up.
asserted
portion → link → training
Media were shepherded inside to the Centennial Park clubhouse, given a multimillion-dollar facelift for FIFA’s carnival.
asserted
Media → shepherd → carnival
Laptops were opened and, surprisingly, automatically connected to a Wi-Fi network: FWC26.
asserted
Laptops → open → network
Perhaps the high-speed access is a lasting gift from Infantino and Co.
asserted
access → last → Infantino
Once the bill lands in Zurich, that’s a piece of Canada’s World Cup legacy that will vanish.
asserted
that → land → legacy
Just two months and a bit since the tournament wrapped, other chunkier pieces have disappeared.
asserted
pieces → wrap → ?
BMO Field will welcome Canada for Homecoming Saturday, a test against Chile.
asserted
Field → welcome → Chile
The venue will have 17,000 fewer seats than when Marsch’s men last visited.
asserted
men → have → seats
This week around the team has felt starkly different in many ways: less microphones and cameras, fewer bodies everywhere, unfortunate injuries and absences not helping.
asserted
injuries → feel → ways
Marsch 2.0 had to get going at some point.
asserted
Marsch → have → point
“Coming out of these big tournaments … it can be a (very) different footing from where we were,” the coach said Friday at the same place he guided the country to its first World Cup point back in June.
asserted
he → come → June
It didn’t feel like the same stadium that we’ve had.
asserted
we → feel → that
The magic was incredible to experience.
asserted
magic → experience → ?
I’m very proud of the team and of the country for how we showed up, but now it’s time to get back to work.
asserted
it → ’m → work
We all want to use that experience to catapult us to making new history and setting new standards.
asserted
We → want → standards
Having originally signed up for the job where the 2026 World Cup was the only focus, Marsch extended his deal until the next tournament in 2030.
asserted
Marsch → sign → 2030
New goals have been set: cracking the top 24 in the world rankings; a first trophy in nearly 30 years, with Nations League and Gold Cup hardware on offer in the next 12 months; evolving and deepening the squad.
asserted
goals → set → squad
Saturday night’s meeting with Chile will see a pillar of the program honoured when Junior Hoilett plays his 70th and final Canada game.
asserted
Hoilett → see → game
The 35-year-old winger joined Marsch at the podium Friday alongside Liam Millar, one of many proteges who’ve had Hoilett’s voice and hand guide them.
asserted
voice → join → them
“I’m lucky enough to have older big bros that (did) the same for me.
asserted
that → ’m → me
I hold it on myself to make fellow Canadians and fellow brothers feel welcome, especially overseas,” said Hoilett, for so long a lone trailblazer in English club soccer.
asserted
Hoilett → hold → soccer
Now six members of this 24-man squad plays in the U.K.
asserted
members → play → U.K.
“Loads of Canadians made a step overseas and are doing well for themselves and for the country.
asserted
Loads → make → country
It’s amazing … it’s a joy.”
asserted
it → ’ → ?
Hoilett laughed about how he used to be able to get as many free tickets for family as he wanted, but that’s no longer the case.
asserted
that → laugh → family
He’ll rightly be feted by the home crowd Saturday.
asserted
He → fete → crowd
“I don’t think there’s a more important, poignant person that has meant as much to the player pool, to the fans, to get us to where we are than Junior,” reflected Marsch.
asserted
Marsch → think → Junior
Some Canadian minds will flick to who’s not here.
asserted
who → flick → ?
Injury woes won’t abate, with Derek Cornelius suffering a gruesome dislocated hip in training Wednesday.
asserted
Cornelius → abate → training
In all, 11 of the 26 brought to the World Cup are absent.
asserted
11 → bring → Cup
Captain Alphonso Davies, as ever, attracts the biggest focus.
asserted
Davies → attract → focus
He’s skipping the homecoming (with a clash against Peru in Montreal next Saturday and the United States waiting in Minneapolis four days later) to go on a honeymoon, having married in July.
asserted
States → skip → July
That questionable decision is cast into a fresher light by vice-captain Steph Eustáquio rushing from his wedding in Portugal on Tuesday to join the squad 48 hours later.
asserted
decision → cast → squad
Eustáquio will feature off the bench against Chile.
asserted
Eustáquio → feature → Chile
Even when health improves, Marsch needs youth and depth for the long road to 2030.
asserted
Marsch → improve → 2030
He’ll need goals, too, and with no injuries in attack there are no excuses.
asserted
He → need → attack
Both Cyle Larin and Jonathan David are firing for their club teams.
asserted
Larin → fire → teams
As their country gets on with moving on, a little bit of the same would be a big help.
asserted
bit → get → same
The Aporia
