The watchword is clear among the Canadian men’s soccer team: the selection must “break away from the past” to enter a “new era”.
Interim coach Mauro Biello and his new captain Stephen Eustáquio, who will wear the armband for the playoff match against Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday, detailed the main points on Friday during a press conference in Frisco, Texas.
The Reds will face the Soca Warriors in a crucial match for qualification for the prestigious Copa América next June, played in the United States. And for the occasion, Biello decided to change the face of his team.
Exit goalkeeper Milan Borjan, exit defender Steven Vitória, goodbye Mark-Anthony Kaye, no Junior Hoilett: the group called up is made up exclusively of players under 30 years old. Jonathan Osorio, 31, was initially recalled, but has since suffered an injury that caused him to return to Toronto FC.
And since Atiba Hutchinson has retired, the “new start” that Biello wants to lead will involve, at least temporarily, through the appointment of Eustáquio as captain. And this, even if Alphonso Davies has made it known that the title interests him.
“He sets an example, he has the respect of the group,” explained the Quebec head coach on Friday, speaking of the man sitting next to him. A player who has “grown up” over the last five years with the maple leaf, through his experiences at the World Cup and with his club, FC Porto, particularly in the Champions League.
I like the calm that Steph exudes. This will be extremely important in a match like this. Yes, there are other leaders on this team who can lead it in their own way. And that’s important. We have made changes to give space and a chance to these young people so that they can flourish. It will be an important match to see how our leaders will react at different times.
Mauro Biello, interim head coach of Canada
The main person concerned considers himself “the one who will always be present to help his teammates and give his opinion to his coach”.
“It’s just an armband,” agrees the mustachioed midfielder. I have the feeling that [samedi], we will need much more than one player to organize the team. »
The end of “fraternity”
This new era visibly also goes through a certain rebrand of the team’s mentality. Much has been made, particularly in these pages, of the beautiful “fraternity” which reigned within the selection during the qualifications for the 2022 World Cup.
But the last few difficult months, including on the ground, have crumbled this image. The defeat in the home-and-away series against Jamaica, which prevented Canada from advancing directly to the Copa last November, left its mark in this regard.
This is why today, Eustáquio and Biello seem to be introducing a new party line: “Canada first [Canada first] “.
“The term “fraternity” has been very important to us in the past, underlines the player. We had great chemistry, we were brothers, and we still are. But we are in a different era. Now it’s Canada first. There is no individuality here. We put Canada forward, and we win. We have new players for that, and tomorrow will be a big test. »
In addition to this new formula, Mauro Biello also mentions that he wants to see his team show “humility”. “We lost a little bit over the last year, and we have to find it again,” he said.
” It’s a new start. We must detach ourselves from the past. There was this journey, and now it’s another one. This is the direction I want to take this group. »
Canada v. Trinidad and Tobago, OneSoccer and FuboTV, Saturday at 4 p.m.