Tajon Buchanan, Ismael Kone return to Canada squad for Nations League matches

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Inter Milan’s Tajon Buchanan and Olympique Marseille’s Ismael Kone, two of Canada’s most impactful players at the 2022 World Cup, will return to the squad after recent injuries.

The pair’s respective returns headline Jesse Marsch’s squad to play a two-legged Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

Buchanan, a quick and dangerous outside midfielder, returns after suffering a broken tibia in training at the 2024 Copa America. Buchanan has not played for Inter Milan since his injury. Kone, who has quickly become a first-choice midfielder for Marsch, was not available for Canada’s training camp and friendly against Panama in October because of an ankle inury.

These additions give will give Marsch nearly a full-strength starting XI at his disposal. Stars such as Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David and Stephen Eustaquio are part the men’s national team squad who will travel to Suriname for the first time in the program’s history.

After a strong ad surprise semi-final showing at Copa America Canada recently shot up to 35th in FIFA’s international rankings. That is their second-highest ranking in men’s team history. Suriname is located in South America but because of cultural ties to the Caribbean, the Suriname men’s national team are part of CONCACAF. Suriname are ranked 136th in the world according to FIFA’s rankings.

Marsch has held a training camp for North American-based players whose MLS and CPL seasons have concluded in Toronto ahead of Canada’s overseas-based players making up the bulk of the team beginning on Monday. Five players from that camp were named to Marsch’s squad.

Canada plays the first leg of the Nations League quarterfinal in Paramaribo, Suriname on November 15. The return leg is at BMO Field in Toronto on November 19.

Canada squad in full Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau (Portland Timbers), Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United), Jonathan Sirois (Montreal)

Defenders: Moise Bombito (Nice), Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich), Alistair Johnston (Celtic FC), Jamie Knight-Lebel (Crewe Alexandra), Richie Laryea (Toronto), Kamal Miller (Portland Timbers), Joel Waterman (Montreal)

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed (Vancouver Whitecaps), Tajon Buchanan (Inter Milan), Mathieu Choiniere (Grasshopper), Stephen Eustaquio (Porto), Junior Hoilett (Hibernian FC), Ismael Kone (Olympique Marseille), Jonathan Osorio (Toronto), Jacob Shaffelburg (Nashville), Niko Sigur (Hadjuk Split)

Forwards: Theo Bair (Auxerre), Jonathan David (Lille), Cyle Larin (Mallorca), Tani Oluwaseyi (Minnesota United)

What’s on the line for Canada? A win over two legs against Suriname would see Canada return to the four-team Nations League Finals in March.

Canada lost to the United States (USMNT) in the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League final. It’s a loss that still stings within the team.

“As I stood there and I saw the U.S. lift the trophy and get their medals, that was very hard,” Davies told The Athletic in October. “It was a switch in our minds where we said, ‘If we want to win a trophy, we have to change something’. And I think everyone changed our mentality from that point.”

The Nations League presents Canada with their next chance to win that trophy. The men’s team’s only major trophy win came in the 2000 Gold Cup.

That’s why Marsch is not taking this Suriname team — and these matches — lightly. There will be extensive travel for his European-based players – first to Florida for a brief training camp then further south than any other CONCACAF team will play this international break – to new surroundings.

After a summer playing against the best players in the world, from a friendly against Kylian Mbappe and France to two games against Lionel Messi and Argentina in Copa America, the matches against Suriname present a throwback to Canada’s days of playing chippy CONCACAF opponents. Canada’s physicality and ability to endure unusually hot temperatures will be tested.

“(Suriname) has got dual nationals now,” midfielder Jonathan Osorio told reporters. “It’s not a game that we’re overlooking at all.”

Injuries mean opportunities for others As important as Buchanan’s return to the squad is for Canada, injuries have still hit the men’s national team hard of late.

Derek Cornelius suffered a chest injury in his last match for Olympique Marseille and will miss this international break. Up-and-coming Fulham defender Luc De Fougerolles sustained an injury in Canada’s last training camp and won’t be in action until the new year. Liam Millar will miss the rest of the season with an ACL injury.

Cornelius and Millar’s absence in particular will be felt by Marsch when it comes to starting lineup selection. Cornelius is a first-choice centre-back and has already gained valuable experience through the start of his season in France’s Ligue 1. Millar has flirted with a starting role under Marsch and the right winger’s performance against Panama off the bench in October was one of his most noticeable in a Canada shirt.

“He doesn’t get enough credit (for Canada),” Marsch told reporters after the game against Panama. “Liam’s performances against Copa America were a little up-and-down. He’s in a good way right now. We had a long discussion whether to start him.”

Of the three newcomers Marsch called into his October squad, Knight-Lebel, 19, is the only player who received his second call-up. While Knight-Lebel did not see the field for Canada, a thinned-out centre-back group makes his debut a possibility in the return leg in Toronto.

The sturdy and responsible centre-back has been a regular starter in League Two for Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City. Marsch has long indicated that he’s comfortable giving opportunities to young players should they deserve them. Marsch has looked for players to quickly understand his tactical demands and showcase them in training sessions, again, with little adaptation time.

And it’s clear from his second call-up that Knight-Lebel has at least partly satisfied Marsch’s demands.

“The intensity without the ball is something that’s very new to me: how he wants us to press and how aggressive he wants us to press and swarm the ball is different from anything I’ve experienced. My first training session with Jesse was one of the most intense sessions I’ve ever been a part of,” Knight-Lebel told The Athletic in October.

In the midfield, Millar’s absence likely heralded the return of a long-standing Canada figure: Junior Hoilett, 34, is the oldest member of the squad. The attacking midfielder has seen his role reduced in the Canadian squad as of late.

He suffered a hamstring injury earlier in his season in Scotland and because of squad turnover, has not started for Canada since the 2023 Gold Cup. Yet Hoilett has started Hibernian’s last six Scottish Premiership matches and his voice and leadership qualities have long been held in high regard by the rest of the Canadian squad.

(Top photo: Bill Barrett/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

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Tajon Buchanan, Ismael Kone return to Canada squad for Nations League matches

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