Canada isn’t pulling the plug just yet on key centre-back Moise Bombito.
With days until Canada gets set to kick off at the FIFA World Cup, head coach Jesse Marsch is hoping that Bombito will be fit enough to join the team despite dealing with pain in his surgically repaired left leg.
“With Moise, we’re just gonna go day by day. I thought he looked really good today, so that was a positive development for him,” Marsch said on Monday following the team’s practice in Toronto.
Bombito, who plays his club soccer with French side OGC Nice, suffered a fractured left tibia in an early October game against Monaco. He missed the remainder of the Ligue 1 season.
His return to action came on June 1 in a Canada friendly against Uzbekistan, but he was subbed out for Luc de Fougerolles after 30 minutes after feeling soreness in his left leg.
Joshua Kloke of The Athletic reported Sunday that he would be taken out of Canada’s 26-man World Cup squad, but Marsch told reporters that he would give Bombito “up until the last minute” to prove he can play for the side at the World Cup.
The 26-year-old participated in a specialized training Monday as he looks to recover in time for the tournament, which Canada will open on Friday against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto.
According to Kloke, Bombito wasn’t part of Canada’s initial training group and instead completed solo training for 30 minutes. When he did join the rest of the group, his movement didn’t appear as sharp as it had in the past.
Bombito, a Montreal native, has 20 caps for Canada since getting the call-up in 2023.