Canadian players 'devastated' at pre-World Cup camp after keeper Crepeau breaks leg
Candiac, Que., native, injured in MLS Cup final, was to serve as backup in tourney
Canada's first training session Monday at a pre-World Cup training camp in Bahrain was overshadowed with the painful news that goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau was back in the U.S., recovering from surgery to repair a broken leg.
Crepeau was hurt playing for Los Angeles FC in Saturday's MLS Cup final. The injury occurred in extra time when the 28-year-old from Candiac, Que., charged out of his penalty box in search of an under-hit back pass, only to collide heavily with onrushing Philadelphia forward Cory Burke.
Crepeau, who left the game on a cart, was red-carded on the play for denying a goal-scoring opportunity. Backup 'keeper John McCarthy helped LAFC to a penalty shootout win and was named game MVP.
"I think everyone's just devastated at the whole nature of how that unfolded," Canada head coach John Herdman said Monday. "We've lost [defender] Scott Kennedy earlier in the week and then how it unfolded for Max, just so late in the game and a situation where he had to put his body on the line. It was such a sad moment.
"I think it rocked a lot of people. The injury looked pretty bad as well on TV. It's been a tough moment, I think, not only for the staff but for the player group here. With genuine concern at the level of that injury."
LAFC said surgery Sunday to repair Crepeau's right leg had been successful. Vancouver Whitecaps 'keeper Thomas Hasal has been called into the Bahrain camp. The 23-year-old is uncapped but has played for Canada at the youth level.
The injury will keep Crepeau out of the World Cup. He had been expected to be one of Milan Borjan's backups in Qatar, likely with Minnesota United's Dayne St. Clair.
Crepeau has won 15 caps for Canada and joined LAFC from the Vancouver Whitecaps in January in exchange for $1 million US in allocation money.
His absence leaves Herdman without experienced cover for Borjan, the 35-year-old Red Star Belgrade 'keeper who has 67 caps for Canada.
Inexperience in goal 'always a concern'
St. Clair has one cap to his credit while Pantemis is uncapped. Both are 25 years old.
"I think it's always a concern when the experience isn't there," said Herdman. "But when I look at Dayne St. Clair, James Pantemis, they've been with the team through a lot of these experiences. They've bought into the culture. They understand what it means to represent in this new Canada [team]. And they've earned the right to be here as well.
Kennedy was ruled out of the World Cup last week after injuring his shoulder playing for his German club side SSV Jahn Regensburg.
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There was better news Sunday on Alphonso Davies, who left Bayern Munich's game Saturday at Hertha Berlin holding the back of his right leg. The German club subsequently said a hamstring strain would sideline the Canadian for the club's remaining two matches before the World Cup break but would not keep Davies out of the tournament.
"It was a difficult couple of hours, I'll tell you that," said Herdman.
The 41st-ranked Canadians open their World Cup campaign Nov. 23 in Qatar against No. 2 Belgium.
Asked if he expected Davies to be ready then, Herdman was hopeful but realistic.
"The initial assessment from Bayern Munich would suggest that his recovery could hit that marker," said the coach. "So as long as everything in the recovery goes to plan, then we expect Alphonso to be available to represent (Canada) in the Belgium game.
"But these sort of injuries you just never know. It sometimes isn't always straight lines. We're not going to count our chickens until Alphonso actually turns up in the environment. He'll be staying with Bayern Munich to continue his full recovery with Bayern for as long as needed."
Herdman's players had a light training session Monday.
"The boys have come in buzzing," he said. "They're really excited to be back together. We've been pretty clear with them that the focus is a strong performance against Bahrain and to stay in the present. The future will take care of itself."
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