A win, a couple of goals scored and there we have it — the end of the 2025 calendar year for Canada’s men’s national team.
Although Tuesday’s win over Venezuela in front of basically no one at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was hardly a feast for the eyes, it did signify an element of importance: the first goals scored in four matches and another clean sheet — that is three straight and an impressive three goals against in the last 11 matches.
Overall, 2025 was a year of general progress under Jesse Marsch, despite some disappointment. Don’t forget this was the year Canada was supposed to lift some silverware for the first time in a quarter century. A third-place finish at the Nations League did come courtesy of a win over the United States, which certainly brought with it some bragging rights. However, a frustrating Gold Cup quarterfinal ouster at the hands of Guatemala on penalties brought with it an air of suspicion from the fan base.
Thankfully, after an undermanned Canada fought to a brilliant two-win performance in Europe against Romania and Wales in the summer, the mood shifted once again heading into the fall windows, where the goals were tough to come by but a resolute defence began to build an identity. This while Alphonso Davies, Moise Bombito and Alistair Johnston all endured long layoffs with serious injury. To say the least, Canada was impressive at the back.
So where are we now? Have the questions that we asked ourselves in January been answered after 14 matches? Is the picture any clearer ahead of next year and the 2026 World Cup?
Not really.
• Up front, the question was: Who will partner with Jonathan David? It was still Cyle Larin’s job to lose to begin the year, but lose it the Feyenoord man seems to have done. Marsch stated publicly that he now likes Villarreal’s Tani Oluwasheyi at No. 9. Although despite showing great usefulness off the ball in recent matches, his lack of a finishing touch suggests the job is still wide open.
The form of David also continues to raise concern. In January, he was still filling the net for Lille in France. A summer move to Juventus in Italy has gone poorly, though, and it has seeped into this play for Canada. One goal in his last 18 matches for club and country is the ugly statistic. David will surely rediscover his form, but the attack is murkier now than it was as 2025 turned.
• On the left side, it was a rollercoaster of a year. Davies tore his ACL at the Nations League and he is yet to return, although he did take training at Bayern Munich this week. Replacing him at full back was Toronto FC’s Richie Laryea, and to say he has been a revelation is perhaps unfair on Laryea, but arguably he has been the team’s best player since taking the left-back shirt.
Ahead of him and also vying for that tag is Vancouver’s Ali Ahmed, who before his red card last week against Ecuador, seemed to own the left-wing shirt. Aside from his tenacity with and without the ball, Ahmed has become Canada’s most trusted player at set-pieces, and has taken the shirt from Jacob Shaffelburg ever since his red card in the Gold Cup quarterfinal.
So what does this mean? Is Laryea too good to drop, even for superstar Davies? Should Davies now play in midfield, and, if so, what about Ahmed? Or Liam Millar, who is also just back from an ACL injury? Again, clear as mud.
• Centre back? Bombito’s broken leg will sideline him until March, a crushing blow for Canada’s top centre back, but in his absence this year youngster Luc de Fougerolles has risen to prominence as a genuine choice to partner Derek Cornelius. Meanwhile, Joel Waterman has been excellent, Kamal Miller has shown consistency, and the new guy, Middlesbrough’s Alfie Jones — who made his debut against Venezuela — looks to have all the tools and experience to fight for a starting job. Sure, centre back is suddenly an area of real confusion, but it is also an area of immense depth and strength. This is a good problem to have, assuming Bombito is back in action for Nice this spring.
• What about in goal? A year on, and we are still being fed the line that both Dayne St. Clair and Max Crepeau are fighting for the gloves. Although, there is a sense that St. Clair has the edge, having played in the tougher matches this year and being named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year with Minnesota, while Crepeau has been back-up in Portland and finds himself looking for a new club.
Both ‘keepers played well for Canada; the team is in good shape between the posts but it is fair to say the picture is not a whole lot clearer now than it was 11 months ago. In fact, with Huddersfield Town’s 21-year-old Owen Goodman a surprise call-up who has become eligible in recent weeks, there is the potential, albeit unlikely, of the picture becoming even more muddled by June.
• In January, central midfield was a good place to debate. Who would partner Stephan Eustaquio? At the time, Ismael Kone’s nightmare spell at Marseille was coming to an end, and if it wasn’t going to be him, then who? Over the past year, both Mathieu Choiniere and Nathan Saliba excelled, both enjoyed moves to new clubs and were knocking on the door … which they still are.
Despite a bit of a drama when Kone seemed to lash out at his head coach versus Romania after being subbed off, he has become one of the stories of the year — for positive reasons. He has been fantastic at Sassuolo in Italy, and his swagger has returned with his country, starting both of the November friendlies beside Eustaquio.
And who was it playing peacemaker following Ahmed’s red versus Ecuador? That’s right: Kone, who seems to have listened to the calls for him to mature. Eustaquio may be fighting for minutes at Porto at the moment, but central midfield, like right wing with Tajon Buchanan, seems to be relatively clear after all these matches in 2025.
Everywhere else? Not so much. This is not a reason for concern, talent is deeper than we have ever seen with this squad, and it makes for a highly competitive playing field that every coach would dream to have.
Canada has four more matches before the games become super important next summer, and more questions than answers than this time last year.
Be happy, this is the way it should be.
from Sportsnet.ca
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