Alphonso Davies will not play for the Canadian national team during the upcoming international break. Surprisingly, the Bayern star was not named to the roster for the upcoming friendly matches. However, this is not due to an injury or athletic reasons.
As the Canadian Soccer Association officially announced, Davies was “not selected due to his wedding and honeymoon.”
This gives the 25-year-old an extra break after an intense soccer summer. Davies got married shortly after the World Cup and is now set to have the opportunity to spend his honeymoon without any interruptions from the national team.
The left back himself would apparently have liked to play for Canada. National team coach Jesse Marsch made it clear that the decision not to play was a mutual one and by no means initiated by Davies.
Marsch is granting Davies an extra break
“Alphonso wanted to be there, and we wanted him at this training camp, but he got married shortly after the World Cup. The World Cup was also a very grueling time for him, and he needed to recover physically. We discussed whether he should spend half the training camp on his honeymoon and then join us, and I just felt it was important for him to be able to enjoy his honeymoon in peace so he could continue to maintain his physical condition and form. He’s playing really well, looks very fit, and feels great. That’s why we wanted to make absolutely sure that in November—when we’ll need him for some important games—and then in March, as well as throughout the entire next cycle, he’ll be in a position to give his all to what we expect of him for the national team.”
For FC Bayern, the decision is likely to come at just the right time. Davies can use the international break to recover and won’t have to deal with any additional strain or the rigors of travel.
Especially after his long injury layoff and the subsequent World Cup, the extra recovery time could be valuable for the Canadian.
Davies is back in full swing at Bayern
There are no sporting reasons for his omission anyway. Marsch explicitly emphasized that Davies is currently making a very good impression and is back in strong physical condition.
The left-back has also regained his footing at FC Bayern following his injury problems. Most recently, Davies drew attention with strong performances and even scored a spectacular goal in the 5-0 Champions League victory over Bodø/Glimt.
Davies is expected to be available for Canada again in November. Until then, the Bayern star can enjoy his honeymoon.
For the Munich club, this has a pleasant side effect: While numerous teammates will be away on international duty during the international break, Davies gets a rare opportunity to give his body some extra rest.