Canadian men will qualify for Qatar with one more win, but they want more than that

They were knackered, as John Herdman put it, as Wednesday night verged on Thursday morning.

The Canadian men’s soccer team had just beaten El Salvador and taken all nine points available in the latest qualifying window. The unbeaten team stayed atop the final World Cup qualifying group, four points ahead of the United States and Mexico. It extended its win streak to five matches, a first by any team in the region’s final round of qualifying. And it moved to within one win of securing a berth in Qatar in November.

And it all happened without Canada’s best player, Alphonso Davies, sidelined the last three matches with myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, following a bout with COVID-19 last month.

The Canadians have made qualification look straightforward so far, but looks can be deceiving.

“(El Salvador) was one of the toughest places I’ve ever been,” midfielder Stephen Eustáquio said. “Hard grass, hard environment, the weather was very hot, a lot of noise everywhere.”

Eustáquio played his first match of the window Wednesday, after reportedly testing positive for COVID-19. Another three players and four coaches did not make the trip to El Salvador after coming down with the virus.

No two games were the same for Canada during the last window, but for the three 2-0 scorelines. Canada dominated Honduras in the opener, then let the Americans come to them in Hamilton. The team started Wednesday’s match in control but, with tired legs and tired minds after three games in three places in seven days, got caught up in some of the chaos of a chippy game in San Salvador. Finding a rhythm was not easy.

Canada took leads within the first 10 minutes against both Honduras and the United States. Breaking the deadlock on Wednesday was more difficult. But Herdman had weapons to play off the bench. Bringing in Cyle Larin, Tajon Buchanan and Alistair Johnston just before the 60th minute got the team’s pressing rhythms back, allowing the squad to regain control. It was not 10 minutes before they were in front.

“Find your way to win,” Herdman said. “I think what I’ve seen from this group is, they’m maturing. We had some moments (Wednesday) where I think we could still grow, there’s no doubt. But I could just keep doing this every week. I think the lads could as well. We just wish we could have a week off, recover… and get back at it. ”

Canada could qualify for Qatar as early as March 24 in Costa Rica, its next match. But the team has set bigger targets than just reaching the World Cup. Staying unbeaten, staying atop the standings are among those goals. Climbing FIFA’s ranks may also be on the list. A significant jump from Canada’s current standing, 40th in the world, could ultimately mean an easier World Cup draw, with groups chosen based on seeding.

Junior Hoilett, left, fights for the ball with El Salvador's Narciso Orellana during Canada's 2-0 win in San Salvador on Wednesday.

Herdman expects more challenges to pop up between now and March. Injuries, maybe more COVID-19 cases. He hopes to have Davies back, but the 21-year-old Bayern Munich star must be cleared to play first. Herdman teased the possibility of new players joining the fold by March, but getting firm commitments takes time, too.

Preparation starts next week, Herdman said, after some much-needed sleep.

“We’re going to come back on Monday fighting,” Herdman said. “Ready to make sure we push for another nine point window.”

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the Code of Conduct. The Star does not endorse these opinions.



Reference-www.thestar.com

Leave a Comment