Short answer: Yes. Alphonso Davies is confirmed to start today against South Africa.

FOX Sports: "Alphonso Davies was expected to play against Switzerland, yet mysteriously didn't. 'I think Alphonso Davies will be ready to go next game,' Marsch said after the Switzerland loss." That game is today.

Davies suffered a hamstring injury during Bayern Munich's Champions League semi-final against PSG in May — arriving at the World Cup with zero competitive minutes in his legs. SoccerLaduma notes he "has not played a full 90 minutes of competitive football since early May."

CBS Sports: "Marsch said he may be available against South Africa, but he also said the same before the Switzerland match before revealing he had used Davies as a 'decoy' to make the Swiss waste time in their preparations." The Switzerland stunt was Marsch playing psychological games — Davies was on the bench but saved specifically for the knockout rounds. Today, there is no more saving. The tournament is now elimination. Davies starts.

SoccerLaduma: "Bafana will be up against one of the most dangerous left-backs in the tournament from the outset." Davies' pace on the left is the kind of threat that Khuliso Mudau — South Africa's right-back from Mamelodi Sundowns — has almost certainly never faced at this level. When Davies pins Mudau wide, David and Larin get the central spaces.

FootballWhispers: "With Alphonso Davies expected to start and stretch South Africa's backline from the left, David should find even more space to operate through the middle." FOX: "Jonathan David is +165 to score against South Africa." RotoWire: "He is the value scorer on the card — the likeliest man to get the goal in a 1-0 or 2-0." $10→$26.50.

Davies starting doesn't change the total picture — South Africa have scored just once from open play in 3 WC games and have held under 40% possession every match. FOX: "Take Under 2.5 (-138)." CBS: Under 2.5 primary. The total projection is 1-0 or 2-0 Canada. $10→$17.25.

Covers regulation, extra time AND penalties. With Davies confirmed starting, Canada field their strongest possible lineup at this World Cup for the first time. Racing Post: "Canada have lost only three of their last 27 matches." $10→$13.23.