TEAM CANADA READY FOR EDMONTON DEEP FREEZE
Side hopes to create distance in standings from Costa Rica in World Cup qualifying
With three days to acclimatize to freezing temperatures and an artificial turf, the Canadian men's national soccer team is ready to kick off a crucial 2022 World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica on Friday.
Nearly 50,000 fans are expected to converge on Commonwealth Stadium (7 p.m. MT) in Edmonton for Canada's seventh game in the 14-game quest to qualify for Qatar 2022. Canada will also play host to Mexico at Commonwealth Stadium on Tuesday.
Organizers are opening the gates two hours early in anticipation of the large crowd.
“There was good mood at the beginning of the week, you sensed that connection, but you can feel the group are now starting to get down to business,” Canada head coach John Herdman said on Thursday.
“I think tactically, they've come together over the last couple of days; I've seen some good growth.
“As I've kept saying to them, we don't need to play the occasion, this is a tough match against Costa Rica and we know they're going to bring a quality that has taken them to a World Cup. We know they're a good team, but we just have to take care of business and that's about what we do and our identity.”
Historically, Costa Rica has been the third-best team in the region, behind Mexico and the United States, and has four World Cup appearances to prove it.
Canada has not qualified for a men's World Cup since its only appearance in 1986, and is not only trying to wrestle third spot away from Costa Rica, but reel in Mexico and the United States above them. Those teams will meet in Cincinnati on Friday.
“It was exciting to get the group back together and Edmonton has always showed up for Canadian soccer, whether it's been women's or the men's team in the past, so we're excited to feel that energy and see this place packed out,” said fullback Alistair Johnston. “It's definitely colder than what we're used to, but at the same time, it's going to be a bit of a culture shock for both Costa Rica and Mexico.
“We're excited, It'll be a good game. Costa Rica has a lot to prove. They're a great team, you look at that team on paper, they have guys who have a World Cup on their resumé and have played on huge clubs. It's a really good team and they're going to have in the back of their minds what happened at the Gold Cup, which I thought was one of our best team performances all around.”
Canada defeated Costa Rica
2-0 at the Gold Cup tournament in July and then went on to lose a heartbreaker 2-1 to Mexico in the semifinal. Herdman said the win against Costa Rica was a turning point for the men's program.
Since then, Canada has gone undefeated in the final round of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers with two wins and four ties heading into the game against Costa Rica.
“A lot of people thought Costa Rica would be a real tough test for Canada in that game,” Herdman said. “I think the turning point was just how much control we had. I think the players came out of that with the belief we could go in and beat Mexico after that Costa Rica game.
“This is a different game, we know that, it's World Cup qualifying and there is a lot at stake for Costa Rica. For them, this is a six-point match. For us, we can put ourselves eight points clear of what usually is the third-best team in CONCACAF.”
Canada is third in the eightteam standings, one point back of the U.S., two ahead of Panama and four up on Costa Rica. The top three teams after the homeand-away round robin qualify for the World Cup in Qatar, while the fourth-place team advances to a continental playoff with a team from another region for an extra berth in the tournament.
“We can really see the country is behind us and believes in us,” said Canada striker Jonathan David. “It's going to be a very special night and I hope we can deliver.
“I always believed growing up that we had really good players around the country and we just needed to find them and little by little, we did find them and they're all on the team now. I think the team right now is in a very good stage and we're ready.”
The national team featuring David, who plays for French champion Lille, Alphonso Davies of Bayern Munich, goalkeeper Milan Borjan of Red Star Belgrade, Stephen Eustaquio of Pacos de Ferreira in Portugal, and Cyle Larin of Besiktas in Turkey, among others, is considered the most talented men's team ever fielded by Canada.
The group expects to qualify for the World Cup in 2022 before getting an automatic berth as co-host in 2026.
“Since Day 1, since I've been here, we've looked around and seen the talent that is in this room and know this is a team that has enough talent to go to a World Cup and we can make waves on the international stage,” Johnston said. “For us, nothing has changed as the qualifiers have gone on; if anything, we felt we left some points on the table, which has been frustrating to us.
“Our big thing this week is to not be complacent. We know where we are in the table and we know we have to keep winning games, and most importantly, win games at home and we have a great opportunity this week to get six points.”
Notes: Larin has been battling a stomach virus according to Herdman and did not train the last two days … Costa Rican star goalkeeper Keylor Navas of Paris Saint-germain will not play against Canada and did not make the trip to Edmonton.