Davies returns to training as World Cup kicks off

Canada's captain and talisman Alphonso Davies has returned to training with the ball just one day before the World Cup kicks off. The Bayern Munich left-back stepped onto the pitch on June 10, raising hopes he could feature later in the group stage after a race to recover from injury (1). No timeline has been confirmed, but any involvement from Davies would transform Canada's prospects as they open their co-hosting campaign. For now, his presence on the training ground is the spark fans needed.

Fan reactions

Relief is the prevailing mood among Canada supporters after the sight of Davies back with the ball. The unexpected emergence of a 21-year-old Canadian goalkeeper training with Belgium's star-studded squad – facing shots from De Bruyne, Lukaku, and Doku – has added a surreal subplot to the pre-tournament chatter. Fans are buzzing about the oddity of a near-unknown Canadian standing between the posts for one of the tournament favorites.