The Club Hits Reset
Maxime Crepeau will be Canada’s man between the posts at the World Cup. Head coach Jesse Marsch confirmed Crepeau as the starting goalkeeper on Thursday after splitting time with Dayne St. Clair in Monday’s friendly against Uzbekistan.
Crepeau is expected to start Canada’s friendly against Ireland on Friday, serving as the final tune-up before the World Cup opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Max’s maturity and experience, I think, is exactly what we need in the goal, along with all of his goalkeeping qualities,” Marsch said.
The Timing Says Plenty
While the goalkeeper decision is settled, Marsch said he will continue to delay his choice on who will replace injured forward Marcelo Flores until after the Ireland friendly. Canada has until June 11 at 3 p.m. ET to name the replacement.
Flores suffered a ruptured ACL on Saturday, one day after being named to Canada’s roster, while playing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup with his Mexican club Tigres UNAL. Marsch highlighted Jayden Nelson’s play—Nelson scored Canada’s second goal in their 2-0 win over Uzbekistan—as one option to fill the spot.
The decision between Crepeau and St. Clair has loomed for months, with little separating the two. St. Clair is the reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, while Crepeau, at 32, is the most senior of Canada’s three goalkeeping options.
The Next Hire Matters
“For whoever Jesse picks, the other person always supports in that role… there’s a lot of respect between us,” St. Clair said earlier this year.
Goalkeeper Owen Goodman is also part of Canada’s World Cup roster but was not considered for the starting role. Only weeks before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was set to begin, Crepeau broke his leg during the MLS Cup Final, forcing him out. His Los Angeles FC went on to win on penalties.