Although the FIFA World Cup qualifying tournament has taken Canada to such hostile lands as Haiti, Mexico and Jamaica in recent months, John Herdman predicts his team will get a real taste of what Concacaf is like when they face Honduras on Thursday in San Pedro Sula.
The head coach of Canada’s men’s soccer team says his players “expect to be tested by the crowd, by a roster fighting for its survival for the World Cup — and by all that which will fall upon us”.
“We talked a lot about these things. And we came across some of that in Haiti, some really interesting things happening behind the scenes that the public and the media would probably never have heard of,” Herdman said.
“But at the end of the day, this group knows what it wants,” he added. He has a goal that is clear. No matter what comes our way, I know this group is as committed to getting a result as any team I’ve worked with. »
Thursday’s match at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano is the first of three in a week inside FIFA’s international window. Duels against the United States and El Salvador will follow.
Canada (4-0-4, 16 points) and Honduras (0-5-3, three points) occupy the ends of the overall standings in Concacaf’s final qualifying round for the 2022 World Cup, in Qatar.
Last September, the two teams tied 1-1 in Toronto, but since then the Canadians have collected 15 points and are undefeated. For its part, Honduras only added two.
Canada outscored their opponents 13-5 in their first eight games while Honduras were limited to five goals and allowed 15 after the same number of games.
However, traditionally, Honduras have always been a different team at home, and their players have their backs against the wall.
“It will be quite a battle. […] It’s going to be a tough night,” advised Herdman, who conducted his video call from Florida, where the team trained.
A still uncertain presence
As for the formation that will face Honduras on Thursday, uncertainty persists, that surrounding the presence of midfielder Stephen Eustaquio who, according to Portuguese media, has tested positive for COVID-19.
“We are still awaiting the arrival of Stephen Eustaquio — for medical reasons. It’s going to be day to day,” Herdman said. “We are just waiting to find out if he will get the green light to come (join us). We have hope. We could see it at any time. »
Goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler, who plays in England, was already in Honduras waiting for the team, Herdman added.
After Thursday’s game, Canada will return home to take on Team USA on Sunday at Tim Hortons Stadium in Hamilton. Then, Herdman’s troupe will make a 3400 km celestial trek to El Salvador for a match to be played next Wednesday.
The three-game-in-seven-day presentation involves a rotation within a roster that won’t include star player Alphonso Davies, sidelined with myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, after testing positive for COVID-19 .
According to Herdman, Davies’ absence will be felt on and off the court as well.
“He brings such an infectious attitude to the band,” Herdman said. When ‘Phonzie’ is here, you know it. »
After the last games of the qualification phase, in March, the teams occupying the first three positions in the table will qualify for the World Cup. The fourth-placed club will face a country from the Oceania region in an intercontinental playoff match.
Currently, Canada holds first place, one point ahead of the United States (4-1-3, 15 points), and two ahead of Mexico and Panama, who have identical records of 4-2- 2, for a total of 14 points.