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Vancouver Whitecaps wingback Ali Ahmed is a late call to camp for the men’s national soccer team. First opponent: Lionel Messi and Argentina
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Published Jun 13, 2024 • Last updated 2 days ago • 4 minute read
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Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Ali Ahmed has been called up to Canada’s men’s national team for the side’s 2024 Copa América pre-camp, with the official squad for the 2024 Copa América announced on Saturday. Ahmed miss Vancouver’s road match against Eastern Conference side New England Revolution on June 15. Ahmed has four caps with Canada, all in last year’s Gold Cup. Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images /PNG
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When Ali Ahmed was a teenager, his attempt to live his dreams and go pro in Europe having disintegrated, he used to hop the fence on Toronto FC’s training ground in the pre-dawn hours and kick the ball around with friends until security kicked them out.
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On Thursday, the Vancouver Whitecaps wingback was made a late call-up to Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad this week, and is travelling to Atlanta to join the national team as they prep to face reigning World Cup champs Argentina in the Copa America tournament.
He was part of Canada’s Gold Cup squad in 2023, his first year as a starter in Vancouver, and barely a year after being elevated from the Caps’ second team.
Now he’s hoping to wear his country’s colours in the second biggest tournament in the world.
“I was actually just back home at a barbecue with some friends and we’re just talking and one of them just asked me like, you know, ‘does ever just hit you? You know, what you’re doing and where you’re at from, where you started?’” he said. “And funnily enough, I told him when it actually really hit me was when I was with the national team the first time. You definitely sit back and look at everything and all the milestones I’ve hit in such a short time and how has happened and where I’m at, it’s honestly living the dream.”
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Ahmed was ready to face Lionel Messi in May when Inter Miami paid Vancouver a visit, but when the Argentine bailed on the trip to the Pacific Northwest, that scouting opportunity disappeared. And also left a bitter taste in the mouths of a lot of local soccer fans.
So what will happen if Ahmed makes the pitch against Messi in the June 20 meeting?
“You know, I might have to do something for Vancouver … let’s just say that,” he said, laughing.
That was, to be clear, a joke and not a threat. Just for the record.
“No, whether it’s Messi or whoever it is, we’re going hard. I’m going hard regardless, honestly,” Ahmed added. “It’s a huge tournament. I’d say it’s one of the biggest tournaments in the soccer world, maybe after the World Cup. You can put the Copa and Euro 2A and 2B. Especially for us Canadians … watching the Copa America growing up, and now potentially competing and playing in a Copa America, these are the moments, these are the highlights of your career you’ll never forget. These are the moments that never leave you and you tell your family tell your kids about.”
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Since the high of making the World Cup, the men’s national team has seen a dip in form. They’ve lost to the U.S. twice, in the Gold Cup and CONCACAF Nations League, crashed out of the latter tournament against Jamaica, and only beaten Curaçao, Honduras, Trinidad and Tobago, and Panama. They’ve lost their last three friendlies by a combined 8-1, though held France to a scoreless draw on the weekend.
Marsch has only been in charge for two games since taking over from interim coach Mauro Biello, and the Copa will be his first significant test.
“I was excited (about his hiring),” said Caps wingback and national team regular Sam Adekugbe, who will miss the Copa as he rehabs a calf injury.
“When the rumours were swirling around about the potential candidates, a lot of the (national team) guys were speaking and thinking he was the best one just because he has that understanding of the North American leagues as well as the experience in Europe, and he’s worked in Canada as well in Montreal. So I think from all different aspects, it felt like the best solution.
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“It’s really hard to kind of say, how different he will be. Every coach has their different qualities. John (Herdman) worked in the past and he was really good, not just tactically but also with the psychology point of view as well.
“Just hearing what (Marsch) said in interviews and talking about the dynamism of how he wants to play, the aggressiveness, I think it’s something that will obviously interest our group, seeing as how we’re quite athletic, mobile and young as well, and have a lot of exuberance.”
Ahmed has spent time on the phone with the new Canada boss, as they get to know each other, what they perceive as their strengths and preferences, and is looking forward to camp and the Copa in America to see how it translates on the field.
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“This is another platform for us to grow and be ready for 2026,” said the 23-year-old Toronto native. “Playing in high level games and high level teams like this only helps you prepare and gets you ready for that main goal — which is 2026 (World Cup) at home. What better way to prepare for the biggest tournament in the world?”
“It’s an important time for the national team,” echoed Adekugbe. “We have the World Cup coming. We have Copa America. And I mean, it’s no secret, (the national team) has been through a bumpy phases and change last year. With change comes new beginnings, and we’re hoping that this is going to kind of be the start of something really special with these years to come.”
jadams@postmedia.com
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Courtesy : https://theprovince.com/sports/copa-america-whitecaps-ali-ahmed-canada