VAN DIEST: Canada gears up for even colder duel against Mexico in World Cup qualification

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Alphonso Davies had a look of disbelief when informed Tuesday of the expected forecast in Edmonton for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier between Canada and Mexico.

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With a snowstorm expected to hit the city, temperatures could drop to around -10 ° C at the start, in front of an expected crowd of nearly 50,000 at Commonwealth Stadium.

“I didn’t know that,” Davies smiled. “Minus-10 is not easy for anyone, so it will be a bit difficult. But we are Canadians, we are made for this climate. I don’t know what to say about the Mexicans, I hope they enjoy the snow, I hope they enjoy the cold.

“It will be a cold game for both sides, but whoever loves it more is going to show themselves on the field.”

Mexico lost 2-0 to the United States on Friday and is just one point ahead of Canada in the final stage of Concacaf qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar. With a win, Canada would overtake Mexico in the rankings for at least second place in the eight-team standings, and perhaps even first, depending on how the United States fares against Jamaica on Tuesday.

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“Mexico is a good team, we can’t take anything from them, even if they lost the other day,” Davies said. “We know they are a good team and, for us, we are fighting for our place in Qatar. We know they come with a strong mentality even though they lost to the United States, but we can’t take any of that away, they are a good team.

“But we are also a good team and we are going to give them a good fight.”

Davies is being modest. This is Canada’s best men’s team since the country’s only appearance at a World Cup in 1986.

Heading into the game against Mexico, Canada has yet to lose a match in qualifying for the World Cup, which included two preliminary rounds to reach the final eight, where the top three advance to Qatar and fourth-place teams advance to a continental tiebreaker. for an additional berth.

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Canada scored three crucial points with a 1-0 win against Costa Rica in front of more than 48,000 fans at Commonwealth Stadium on Friday. It was the first time Davies had played professionally in his hometown and he can’t wait to do it again.

“It was amazing, seeing all the fans that came out, it wasn’t easy, it was very cold, but seeing 48,000 people come out, it was incredible,” Davies said. “Just playing at home, when you were a kid you dream of moments like this and I was happy to be able to do it for my national team and it’s just amazing to see everyone out there.”

Davies, 21, has become a global star since leaving Edmonton as a teenager to pursue a professional soccer career with the Vancouver Whitecaps. He started out as an all-time forward against Costa Rica, but is likely to return to a left-wing spot in the Canadian midfield against Mexico.

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Davies terrorized Mexico at the Azteca Stadium in October in a 1-1 draw playing in Canada’s midfield instead of the left-back position he occupies in star-studded Bayern Munich.

“When I go on the field, I don’t worry about who is in the stands and who is watching me, I just play my game and try to help the team as much as possible,” Davies said. “Tuesday is going to be a good game, I think we are ready and excited.”

Temperatures at the time of the Costa Rica game stayed just above freezing, which is actually mild for November in Edmonton. Canada practiced Sunday afternoon under similar conditions.

Mexico arrives on Monday, having traveled to Indianapolis, where it set up camp for this international window, following the loss to the United States in Cincinnati on Tuesday. They are scheduled to practice Monday night in Edmonton.

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“We are looking forward to that match, we had a good result there (in Mexico) and I don’t think we are satisfied, I think we could have won that match,” said Canadian midfielder Samuel Piette. “Now that we are home, it will be cold and, hopefully, we will have the same support as Costa Rica and it may be a shock or surprise for Mexicans who come to this environment, but it is like that when we go there or other difficult places. .

“Obviously we are very happy with the victory and it was not our best game against Costa Rica, it is a difficult field to play; we also have quality on the ball. But I think those conditions will be the same for both teams and hopefully we can add the three points and show everyone that we are a serious team and we want to be the first in Concacaf ”.

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The men’s national team has been in Edmonton for a week, which is a luxury considering the nature of qualifying for the World Cup, where teams are constantly on the move during an international window. Canada Soccer’s hope in scheduling the two games in Edmonton was that the players would acclimate to the conditions and artificial turf by the time Mexico arrived in town.

“At the end of the day, it’s a football game, 11v11,” Piette said. “Yes, we have more training than Mexico in this field, in these conditions we are used to it, we are Canadians.

“We are happy to play in these conditions to show that we can play in difficult places like we did in Mexico, when it is hot also in Jamaica. But we want to show that we can also play in our own conditions when it’s cold. “

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On Twitter: @DerekVanDiest