The Roster Takes Shape
Jesse Marsch has made his call. Maxime Crepeau will start between the posts for Canada at the World Cup.
The head coach confirmed Crepeau as Canada's starting goalkeeper on Thursday, ending months of speculation over who would get the nod between Crepeau and the reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, Dayne St. Clair.
The matchup already has enough history; the job is to keep the reading list shorter than the tension.
"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 Margins Are Thin
Crepeau split time with St. Clair in Monday's 2-0 friendly win over Uzbekistan, a tune-up match that offered little separation between the two. That game also saw Jayden Nelson score Canada's second goal — a fact Marsch cited when discussing how the team might fill Marcelo Flores's vacant spot up front.
Flores ruptured his ACL on Saturday, just one day after making Canada's roster. The injury occurred during a CONCACAF Champions Cup match with his Mexican club Tigres UNAL. Canada has until June 11 at 3 p.m. ET to name his replacement, and Marsch said Thursday he'd continue weighing options until after Friday's friendly against Ireland.
The Crepeau-St. Clair competition had been quiet but persistent, each backing the other publicly. "For whoever Jesse picks, the other person always supports in that role," St. Clair said earlier this year. "It's difficult at times because it's no secret we're both competitors."
The Next Test Arrives
Owen Goodman is also in the squad, though he was never considered for the starting role. At 32, Crepeau is the eldest of Canada's three goalkeepers — and the one carrying the most scars. He missed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after breaking his leg during the MLS Cup Final with Los Angeles FC, a setback that cost him the tournament entirely.