The final countdown to the FIFA World Cup begins Monday night in Edmonton, but for Canada supporters, excitement will be mixed with anxiety.

Canada hosts Uzbekistan at Commonwealth Stadium in the first of two pre-tournament friendlies before opening the World Cup against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto on June 12. The result matters far less than fitness and sharpness. Every challenge, sprint and tackle will be watched through the lens of player health after the devastating news that midfielder Marcelo Flores suffered a ruptured ACL in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final and will miss the tournament.  

That reality places extra focus on Jonathan Osorio and Richie Laryea, two of the most experienced players in Jesse Marsch’s squad.

Related Read: Marsch insists Laryea, Osorio ‘will be a big part’ of Canada’s World Cup success

The veteran Toronto FC duo are two of the 13 returning players from the 2022 World Cup squad and were named to Canada’s 26-man roster earlier this week. Monday’s match offers an opportunity to build minutes and rhythm ahead of their second appearance on football’s biggest stage.  

Osorio is Canada’s most-capped outfield player and a trusted leader in the dressing room. The priority will be helping establish control in midfield while guiding a squad that includes numerous World Cup debutants, from Dayne St. Clair to Moïse Bombito, Niko Sigur, Tani Oluwaseyi and Promise David.

“Richie will play 30 minutes,” Marsch told reporters, including Canadian Soccer Daily, on a Sunday afternoon Zoom call. “Most players are going to play 45 minutes tomorrow, so we’re going to (treat it as a) split squad. Moïse (Bombito) should be ready to go. Most of our guys should be ready to go. (For) Ali Ahmed, we think it’s a little bit too early, so he’ll need a little bit more time. Jacob Shaffelburg will also need a little bit more time.”

Laryea’s versatility could be equally important, especially with several Canadian players managing injuries heading into the tournament and against a largely unknown opponent in Uzbekistan.

“We had this mapped out because we thought it was a team that played at a good level and that would challenge us,” Marsch said. “They defend really well, and they’re a big, athletic team. From that sense, I think there’s some Bosnia and Herzegovina in there, and some Qatar in there a little bit because of the (same confederation), but I think (Fabio) Cannavaro has done a good job with (Uzbekistan).”

Uzbekistan will make their World Cup debut later this summer and provide Marsch’s team a useful test. The Central Asian side, managed by the 2006 World Cup winner, are organized, disciplined and unlikely to make life easy for Canada.  

“They’ll be defensively oriented and hard to break down,” Marsch said. “It’ll be a game where we have to be aggressive, eliminate their ability to put crosses in the box and be good on set pieces. It’s a well-rounded team.”

Still, Monday’s biggest objective is simply to stay healthy. After Flores’ heartbreaking injury, every Canadian supporter will be hoping the final whistle arrives with the roster intact and Canada one step closer to a fully fit squad for a historic home World Cup.  

More to come.