Canadian star Alphonso Davies exits Bayern Munich match with hamstring injury 2 weeks before World Cup
Fullback getting more tests to determine severity; Canada opens World Cup Nov. 23
Canada star Alphonso Davies left Bayern Munich's game at Hertha Berlin on Saturday with an apparent hamstring injury.
The 22-year-old fullback from Edmonton limped off in the 63rd minute, holding the back of his right leg.
Davies appeared to get hurt when he lunged at Hertha Berlin striker Marco Richter in a bid to get the ball. He eventually ended his chase, pulling up while holding the back of his leg. He looked uncomfortable as he walked off the field accompanied by Bayern trainers.
"According to the doctors, at first glance, it is at least a muscle tear. We'll have to wait for further tests," Bayern manager Julian Nagelsmann, speaking through an interpreter, said in his post-match news conference.
WATCH | Davies suffers injury:
Canada, ranked 41st in the world, opens its World Cup campaign Nov. 23 against No. 2 Belgium in Qatar.
Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau left the field on a cart several hours later after injuring his leg while playing for Los Angeles FC against Philadelphia in the MLS Cup final.
Crepeau was a candidate for playing time in Canada's net in Qatar, but he badly injured his leg while committing a red-card foul in extra time. Philadelphia's Cory Burke might have had a clear path to a late go-ahead goal if Crepeau had not aggressively charged him after a poor back-pass by LAFC.
Crepeau stayed down for several minutes before being lifted onto a stretcher and a cart, but he exhorted the LAFC crowd from his prone position. Crepeau's teammates rallied to win his first MLS title without him, tying the game 3-3 on Gareth Bale's 128th-minute goal before beating the Union 3-0 on penalty kicks.
Crepeau's backup, John McCarthy, gave the only post-game indication of the gravity of the 28-year-old Quebec native's injury.
"I'm devastated for him, because it's a serious injury and it looks like he is going to miss the World Cup," said McCarthy, who won the MLS Cup MVP award after making two saves in the shootout. "You are not coming out of this game for a Band-Aid."
Crepeau started five World Cup qualifiers for Canada. Red Star Belgrade's Milan Borjan started 14, and Minnesota's Dayne St. Clair started one.
Davies has had his share of injuries over the last year.
He suffered a cranial bruise last month after taking a boot to the head in a game at Borussia Dortmund in challenging Dortmund's Jude Bellingham for the ball. Davies missed an ensuing midweek Champions League win over Czechia's Viktoria Plzen but returned to action the following weekend.
Alphonso Davies seeing a doctor tomorrow. Best case scenario, nothing there. Bad scenario, it’s a strain and it becomes a race against the clock for World Cup. Worst case scenario, hamstring is torn and he’s out.
—@AndiPetrilloDavies was sidelined in early 2022 after developing symptoms of myocarditis, a mild heart condition, following a bout of COVID-19 contracted during the Bundesliga winter break. He returned in early April after not having played since mid-December.
Davies, who can play on the wing or at left back, has started all but one of Bayern's 13 Bundesliga games this season, and he played in all but one of the team's Champions League games.
Davies has 12 goals in 35 games for Canada, which has World Cup tuneup matches against Bahrain on Nov. 11 in Manama and versus Japan in Dubai on Nov. 17.
It will be challenged from the start in Group F in Qatar, where the team faces Belgium on Nov. 23, then Croatia on Nov. 27 and Morocco on Dec. 1.
Bayern (8-1-4) defeated Hertha Berlin 3-2 to move atop the Bundesliga standings.
Watch the new CBC Sports show Soccer North airing weekly on CBC Gem and CBC Sports' YouTube channel. Hosted by Andi Petrillo, Soccer North brings Canadians closer to the most interesting soccer headlines happening on and off the pitch.
With files from The Associated Press
