Speedy left-back Alphonso Davies is hoping his big game experience with the German giants, Bayern Munich will be instrumental for Canada at the forthcoming World Cup finals.
Davies will plunge into the tourney as Canada’s most decorated player having won multiple trophies with the serial German champions in four seasons.
These include four Bundesliga titles, two German Cups, and the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League.
The Ghana-born defender who can also play as a winger hopes to inspire Canada beyond Group F which consists of Belgium, Morocco and Croatia.
“I just try to give some of the boys motivation, by telling them to keep their heads up because the worst thing you can do on a football pitch is keep your head down.
THE PROMISE
“It’s just not good for anybody. And if I can be a guy like that, to tell them we got this, we will be good to go,” Davies said as quoted by TSN.
He is among the litany of Bayern Munich’s players that will be on parade for their respective countries at the World Cup finals.
The 22-year-old is however first to admit that competition will be stiff but says they will not go down without a fight.
“I’m gonna be a little bit nervous [at the World Cup] but for me it’s just. We made it to this point for a reason and each and every one of us has to be confident in ourselves and go out there and show what we have.
“We can’t be scared; we can’t be timid. We’re gonna be playing against big-name players, but at the end of the day football is football. You just go out there and play your game.”
BAYERN STAR SHOWS CONFIDENC IN CANADA
Davies added: “I feel like everyone on this team is able to play, is able to battle for this goal that we’re trying to achieve. All these players coming through is just good for us.”
Head coach John Herdman is confident that Davies will use his wealth of experience to steer Canada in Qatar.
According to Herdman, Davies embodies the aspirations of the Canada national team in this generation.
“He is new Canada. I think he embodies what this team is about, what this country is about – the confidence, the swagger, the anything’s possible.
“And this kid is a refugee from West Africa, who’s got Champions League trophies, all these Bundesliga titles, and he’s 22 years old.
“So, I’m sure he’s thinking he’s winning this World Cup. And that’s the new Canadian mindset. This is what we want Canadians to think,” Herdman said.
Canada will begin their World Cup sojourn against the highly rated Belgium and Davies wants them to set an early marker by upsetting the star studded Belgians.
“Every time we play for the national team and sing the anthem, we try to sing it with pride.
“We try to motivate the crowd as well, to show that we will fight for this and upset these big name players.
“Because we believe and fight for our country. And now, on the biggest stage in the world, we just have to sing it a little bit louder, so we can put the whole world on notice that Canada is at the World Cup and we’re here to play football,” he said.
