Canadian men’s national team interim head coach Mauro Biello announced on Thursday the 23-man squad that will take part in Canada’s upcoming friendly match against Japan.
The roster features many familiar faces from recent first-team Canada squads, including stars Alphonso Davies, Stephen Eustáquio and Jonathan David. Recent Vancouver Whitecaps additions Sam Adekugbe, Richie Laryea and Junior Hoilett all got the call as well.
Perhaps the most notable newcomer to the group is 17-year-old Fulham defender Luc de Fougerolles, who will participate in a Canada Soccer camp for the first time. As a dual national born in London, England, he’s eligible to represent the Three Lions as well, so his inclusion in a full Canadian senior team camp is exciting news for Canadian fans.
Also in the squad is CF Montréal standout Mathieu Choinière, who received his first call-up last November for a friendly but still has yet to debut for the national team. Motherwell FC midfielder Harry Paton, likewise, will be looking to make his first appearance for Canada.
The most significant absence from the group is Tajon Buchanan, who is still returning to full fitness after an injury suffered at club level with Brugge. The full roster is listed at the bottom of this page, following highlights from Biello’s press conference on Thursday.
Biello is entering his first camp as Canada manager after John Herdman’s departure several weeks ago, knowing this Japan friendly will be a crucial tune-up match for his side ahead of the Concacaf Nations League quarter-finals in November, which will also serve as a qualifier for the pivotal 2024 Copa América.
Les Rouges will take on Japan, who sit 20th in the FIFA World Rankings, on Wednesday, Oct. 13 in Niigata, kicking off at 6:35 a.m. ET (live on OneSoccer).
Highlights from Mauro Biello’s press conference:
On the transition from John Herdman and assembling a new technical staff:
“These last five weeks with the changeover, John has brought across the majority of the staff. For me, the important thing was to connect first off with the players, and I think that was the first task that I thought was important, to really connect with them to share some of my ideas but also reassure them that there’s going to be some continuity in the work because I was part of some of that work. It was important to reach out to the players and listen to them, just get some feedback from them to be able to now understand a little bit better their perspective. …
“For me that was the first call of order, and then stayed into trying to find the staff, trying to build a staff to help me out. I felt that getting a staff with a certain experience — and I know that we’ll be announcing those names this afternoon — but for me to have a staff that had a certain experience at this level was key, and guys that have been in and around the program. For me, those were some key components that I think can add value.
“This whole experience has been exciting because for five years I was working in that same staff, and pretty much there’s patterned thinking all the time; we’re usually saying the same things. But it was good to get the lens of guys from the outside. I think that was really helpful because sometimes when you get stuck in that type of thinking because you’re in a staff for so long, you think it’s the norm, but then you get some other soccer minds that might see something a little bit differently, not knowing all the context, but at the same time I thought that was important and being able to pull out some of those findings for me in my preparation.”
On Alphonso Davies’ role:
“I think as we all know, he’s one of the best left-backs and left-sided players in the world. For me, that’s important to continue to bring that continuity with him, also with the national team, so we’re looking to play him in a position where he’s comfortable, where he sees things every week at his club.
“But at the same time for me, it’s about adjusting tactically, how we can maximize him on that left-hand side so he could bring his potential to the team.”
On the goalkeepers competing for minutes:
“Maxime [Crépeau] has been out for a while but has come back in top form and has been able to perform really well. Dayne [St. Clair] has gained some experience at the Gold Cup. And then Milan [Borjan] is and has been the leader in that position for years. For me, it’s about reconnecting the group for this trip, getting them that fluidity and tactical cohesion that we need moving forward and preparing them for November.”
On bringing in Luc de Fougerolles:
“I’ve known Luc for a couple of years now. He was part of my under-20 group back in 2022, he couldn’t make it into that camp and into qualifying because of personal reasons, but I’ve been following him and his progress. For me, watching him now start to climb the levels with his club team — he was able to join his team in preseason and played really well against Brentford and Chelsea.
“Part of this selection is also a long-term approach, but at the same time it’s bringing someone of his ability and his ceiling into the environment and seeing how he’s able to compete in this environment. It’s a player that could play centre-back and as we know it’s a position where we want to continue to improve. He’s been knocking on the door there at Fulham, and for us to bring him into the environment and get him on board — I’ve been in contact with him and his parents over the last couple of years and in this final process here I was in contact with him. He was excited and looking forward to the experience.”
On being in contention for the permanent job as Canada coach:
“This is an audition for me. I’m lucky enough to have been given this opportunity to take the team and I’m honoured and privilege to be given this chance, and I’m for sure looking at it as taking this audition and preparing this team. But my mindset is the same whether I’m interim or I get confirmed as head coach, I’m looking at this the same way. For me there’s this short-term focus of building this team and getting the cohesion that we need to get to that next level, and then with a lens on what’s coming up in the future. There is qualification for Copa América, that is a very big tournament where we’ll be matched up with very good teams.
“For me I’m looking to gain answers here in the short term, and at the same time trying to slowly plan out what comes in the future. I know what this job requires, it was the same when I was interim in Montréal, it was about winning games. It was all the same, thing, ‘Is he ready, is he this, does he have enough experience,’ and this is just part of the cycle of a coach. I was lucky enough to be an assistant in various levels of MLS, to be able to learn how to manage high-profile players, to learn what some of the managers did, what worked and what didn’t work. It’s the same thing for me, I got the opportunity to work next to John for five years, because understanding the international game is different from club level. …
“Now for me, it’s important to pull out those things that I learned and adjust them to my way of thinking and my way of working, and hopefully this audition goes well for me and the team, and for this nation.”
Canada’s Roster:
Goalkeepers: Milan Borjan (Slovan Bratislava), Maxime Crépeau (Los Angeles FC), Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United FC)
Defenders: Moïse Bombito (Colorado Rapids), Derek Cornelius (Malmö FF), Steven Vitória (GD Chaves), Kamal Miller (Inter Miami CF), Luc de Fougerolles (Fulham FC U-18), Alistair Johnston (Celtic FC), Samuel Adekugbe (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Richie Laryea (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Alphonso Davies (FC Bayern München)
Midfielders: Mathieu Choinière (CF Montréal), Stephen Eustáquio (FC Porto), Ismaël Koné (Watford FC), Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC), Harry Paton (Motherwell FC), Samuel Piette (CF Montréal)
Forwards: Junior Hoilett (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Liam Millar (Preston North End FC), Charles-Andreas Brym (Sparta Rotterdam), Jonathan David (Lille OSC), Cyle Larin (RCD Mallorca)