What to know about former Akron star Richie Laryea, now playing for Team Canada in World Cup
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As Canada gets ready to take on Belgium on Wednesday in the first round of the World Cup, so too does defender Richie Laryea.
Layrea played for the University of Akron in 2014-15 and starred there in 42 games.
There should be a buzz around town around 2 p.m. when the two meet.
For now, here are five things to know about Laryea and how he came to Akron and the strong bond he has with Team Canada:
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How big a piece is Richie Laryea to Team Canada?
Laryea isn't only a big part of the squad, he might be the key to Canada in getting out of a Group F that includes Belgium, Croatia and Morocco.
He's as versatile as they come and can play on either side of the defense and has speed to burn.
What makes him even better are his on-ball skills and pinpoint passing. Expect Canada to exploit those strengths, especially when it's on the attack.
Richie Laryea isn't a stranger in big games
Laryea was 18 when he made his debut in the Canadian youth program and 24 when he debuted for the national team.
He has represented Canada in the Concacaf Nations League in 2019, Concacaf Gold Cup in 2021 and helped the squad win the 2021-22 World Cup Qualifiers.
World Cup Qualifiers (Canada qualified for Qatar 2022)... represented Canada at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022...
What does Zips coach Jared Embick see in Laryea?
No one around these parts knows Laryea's game quite like Embick, who coached Laryeas both seasons the 27-year old played for Akron.
A master in the X's and O's of the game, Embick expects Canada to utilize his speed to gain an advantage.
"Laryea brings 1 v 1 ability," Embick said. "He can help create goals from the wing back position. He will create overloads with Canada in the wide areas and look to give them some attacking width."
There's a sense of family in Laryea and Team Canada
At kickoff, Laryea will join midfielders Mark-Anthony Kate and Jonathan Osorio as members from the MLS' Toronto FC team playing for Canada.
What's more, there are 11 MLS players on the squad.
That list includes defenders Alistair Johnson, Joel Waterman and Kamal Miller, midfielders Ismael Koné and Samuel Piette and keeper James Pantemis of CF Montreal.
Dayne St. Clair of Minnesota United FC is also a goalie and Lucas Cavallini of Vancouver Whitecaps FC is at forward.
Why Richie Laryea chose Akron way back when
When Layrea needed to make a college choice, he did so with the goal of playing professional soccer.
At 5-foot-9 and 149 pounds, he's not imposing on the pitch.
Knowing that, he looked to Embick to help grow his game with the future in mind.
“I’m a smaller guy, so I’m not really there to knock people over, like thump the ball forward," Laryea told mlssoccer.com in 2016. "I’m about close control, keeping the ball, distributing it among your teammates, close touches, stuff like that.
"Akron reminded me of the club team I played for in Toronto. I played with Sigma FC in Toronto, and we traveled a bit to play against college teams. So the club coach there told me that if I have any desire to go pro, the place for me to go would be the University of Akron.”
Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Former Akron star Richie Laryea plays for Akron, Canada in World Cup
