As we approach the final set of CONCACAF World Cup fixtures, the Canadian men’s national team (CanMNT) has called upon a solid 25-man squad in attempts to put a conclusion on the task they initiated here – qualification into the 2022 World Cup.
We’ve reached that time of the year.
And on this occasion, it could evolve into a momentous affair.
For Canada’s football squad, we are, obviously, referring to the March international break, where CanMNT can solidify their position in the 2022 World Cup with an emphatic run behind and potentially in front of them whilst breaking a 36-year drought in the meantime.
The Journey Thus Far for CanMNT
In July 2019, Canada’s manager and tactical mastermind, John Herdman, wasn’t deterred by the newly instated road to the World Cup in CONCACAF qualifications.
Canadian’s embarking on their World Cup 2022 journey were presented with a problematic qualification stage – having to battle through the teams of the Caribbean, as well as North and Central American teams to claim a position in Qatar.
“If we look at it the right way, it just could be one hell of a story,” Herdman commented at the time.
The global pandemic presented rescheduling and unforeseen difficulties, but this didn’t prevent Canada’s finest from boosting their FIFA ranking from 78 to No. 33. And this week, Herdman and company can produce yet another historical moment in Canadian football by confirming qualification for the Qatar 2022 World Cup with a victory over Costa Rica.
“I don’t think we want it to end. We’ve really enjoyed the experience. If you’d asked if I enjoyed it as I entered the stadium in Haiti, no,” Herdman told reporters with a smile. “But when you look back, there’s been some amazing moments that, I think, have shaped the team. As a staff, coach, and player group, we’ve grown. We’ve grown massively through this period.”
Unblemished, Unbeaten – Unstoppable?
Heading into the final three fixtures of the CONCACAF qualification stage, Canada won seven, drew four, and lost none with 25 points to their name. Comfortably sitting on top of the pile, the Canadian squad has won six consecutive games. They lead the triple threat (Canada, USA, Mexico) by four points and enjoy the first place positioning at the time of writing. With a mere two points required to seal the deal, Canada is all but into Qatar 2022, especially when factoring in the unbeatable form they’ve presented.
The legalization of single-game sports betting has slowly been introduced to Canadian provinces. For those backing CanMNT in their World qualification tenure, they’ve been nothing glorious profits with respectable betting odds. Ontario Bet365 will undoubtedly deliver cautious betting lines moving forward as the Canadian team continue to defy the odds.
Avid bettors can join in on an undefeated Canadian record when they play Costa Rica on Thursday in San Jose. Next Sunday, they’ll host Jamaica in Toronto before ending the qualification process against Panama in Panama City.
Whilst Canada’s final three fixtures present a demanding road schedule, Herdman echoes, “It’s what you get out of bed for.”
“It’s what I’ve hoped for – that we play these types of matches and can just keep writing new chapters in this story,” he continued.
With that in mind, this team are fresh from a January window where they were confronted with a comparable situation and delivered a trio of 2-0 victories – stamping their mark on the American football scene.
Their accomplishments weren’t easy to come by; between injuries and absences, and a travelling schedule from hell, they managed to achieve greatness, a feat they’ll feel confident in achieving this time around, too.
And on the subject of greatness, it’s nice to know the Canadian squad isn’t reliant on their star man Alphonso Davis whose been absent since January. He remains unavailable while he recovers from Myocarditis alongside the absence of David Wotherspoon and Samuel Piette.
Yes, with these absentees, it’s undeniable the CanMNT are receiving added pressure, but they’ve already dealt with much worse in this tournament when they handled several absences in October.
Always optimistic, invariably prepared, and consistently adapted to handle whatever is thrown at them, we can expect great things from this team and their future endeavours within international soccer.
