Canada soccer captain Alphonso Davies to undergo surgery after suffering injury in Nations League
Bayern Munich has confirmed that Canadian captain Alphonso Davies will be out of action for an extended period following surgery to repair a torn cruciate ligament in his right knee. The 24-year-old sustained the injury during Sunday’s 2-1 victory over the United States in the CONCACAF Nations League third-place game. Davies, hailing from Edmonton, had to leave the pitch in the 12th minute after an awkward fall while challenging for the ball in the Canadian penalty box at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
The surgery for Davies was successfully conducted on Wednesday, with Bayern Munich refraining from divulging further details about the ligament injury or specifying a definite timeline for his return. However, it was mentioned that the talented player would be sidelined for “several months.” This news comes as a blow to both Bayern Munich and the Canadian national team, with Davies set to miss the upcoming Canadian Shield tournament in Toronto in early June and potentially the CONCACAF Gold Cup later in the same month due to Bayern’s involvement in the FIFA Club World Cup.
In addition to Davies, Bayern Munich also announced that centre back Dayot Upamecano will be absent for “several weeks” due to an issue with his left knee. The French defender had recently participated in France’s UEFA Nations League quarterfinal win over Croatia. Upamecano was diagnosed with loose bodies in his left knee, which is expected to keep him out of action for an extended period.
Bayern Munich’s board member for sport, Max Eberl, expressed disappointment at the unfortunate turn of events, stating that the absences of Davies and Upamecano would weigh heavily on the team. However, Eberl remained optimistic about the squad’s ability to cope with these setbacks and continue pursuing their goals. Canada coach Jesse Marsch provided insight into Davies’ state of mind, mentioning that the player was understandably concerned about his knee following the injury.
With key players like Davies and Upamecano sidelined, Bayern Munich may have to rely on other talents within the squad, such as central defender Kim Min-jae and fringe players like Eric Dier, Raphael Guerreiro, and Hiroki Ito. The team is gearing up to face St. Pauli in the Bundesliga and Inter Milan in the Champions League quarterfinals in the upcoming weeks.
Despite the setbacks, Bayern Munich remains determined to navigate through this challenging period and maintain their pursuit of success on the domestic and international fronts. The absence of Davies and Upamecano will undoubtedly test the team’s depth and resilience, but with a strong squad and a united spirit, Bayern Munich is poised to overcome these obstacles and continue their quest for glory.
