Head coach John Herdman had been talking about his Canadian team by videoconference for about twenty minutes, with his usual passion and fervor, when we felt a little emotion rising in his face.
Posted at 9:44 p.m.
There was talk of the more than strong possibility of seeing Canada travel to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup in November.
“If we qualify, the whole country will discover us in Qatar. And for the first time, people won’t have to put on their Italy, Croatia, Netherlands, Scotland, England, Greece or Serbia jerseys! They will be able to put on their Canada jersey. »
“To be part of this historic moment, […] it’s what gets us out of bed in the morning, he says smiling, before wiping his eyes. It would be a dream come true. »
Going into the penultimate stretch of qualifying matches, Canada sit first in the CONCACAF Octagon. The Maple Leaf is still undefeated after eight games. Each team plays 14.
The first three of the group go directly to the World Cup. The fourth must go through the roadblocks. Although Canada, at 16 points, is only two points ahead of the 4and place, he is more than ever allowed to believe in it.
“More determined than ever”
The first of his last tests is a major one: a trip to Central America to face Honduras, this Thursday evening.
This selection, last in the Octagonal and still without a win, experienced a disappointing qualification. But they should not be taken for granted. Thursday’s game “is their last chance to earn the respect of their fans,” Herdman warns.
“It’s also their last chance to keep their World Cup dream alive. It will be quite a battle. »
But Herdman is recognized as an excellent tactician. And in videoconference, he demonstrates it eloquently.
“Honduras offers a very different game at home and abroad. […] At home, they average 17 shots on net per game. They have the best transition game stats in CONCACAF. »
“With players like [Romell] Quito, [Alberth] Elis and [Anthony] Lozano, they can threaten your defensive line with just one or two passes. It’s a trend that can be seen in their last five goals. »
But don’t assume that Canada doesn’t believe in its capabilities.
“Everyone is fully engaged,” Herdman said. We feel it. Players know they have to push for a higher level of performance.
“We can’t wait to be tested by the crowd and by a Honduran team that has to fight for its survival. We talk a lot about all this. Players are more determined than ever to get a good result. »
Without Alphonso Davies
Still, Canada should get this result without Alphonso Davies, its centerpiece and its great star. The Bayern Munich player suffers from myocarditis which appeared after a COVID-19 infection.
It’s obvious that Herdman would prefer to have him with him, as much for his skills on the pitch as for “the contagious positive spirit he brings to the group”.
But he prefers to see his absence under the magnifying glass of a “glass half full”.
“In the last two games, the teams have put a lot of attention on Alphonso, tactically. They invalidated certain elements that he brought to us. »
PHOTO CHRIS YOUNG, THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Alphonso Davies
This will therefore be an opportunity for others to “project themselves into the limelight”.
He lists a few options, like Junior Hoilett or Tajon Buchanan, who could bring the offensive touch Canada needs.
“We have several players who are hungry and who want to take advantage of this opportunity. »
Team Canada plays Honduras at 8:05 p.m. Thursday, then travels to Hamilton, Ont., to face the United States on Sunday. This international window will end on February 2 in El Salvador.