I remember exactly where I was when Canada got eliminated.If we get thru it will be the first time we make the final stage since 1996.
Crazy.....
And now saying it's fully job done after the Larin goal.Offside as well when he called the ref cowardly.
Fcuking amateur 100%.
For me, that's a decent draw for Canada and it all comes down to home form.Canada games not scheduled yet but we know who they will play in each window as that draw was conducted before Canada even finished the first qualifying round.
September:
vs. Honduras
@USA
vs. El Salvador
October:
@Mexico
@Jamaica
vs. Panama
November:
vs. Costa Rica
vs. Mexico
January:
@Honduras
vs. USA
@El Salvador
March:
@Costa Rica
vs. Jamaica
@Panama
Deserved to be roasted. Wish I heard it in real time. lol…..Estaquilo best player on the pitch.
That own goal….Wheeler is an asshole with that call. “Doing a solid for his country”. Fcuk off.
No, it was lame. Very embarrassing for Wheeler. Very unprofessional, and he was openly taunting a Canadian professional player that may have just lived his worst moment. The guy just happened to have Haitian heritage and, if you've seen the line of keepers we have you can understand why he chose Haiti. As much as this moment is now famous, he may have become equally famous for being the worst play-by-play homer in the sport. Yes, even when compared to the passion we hear in footballing first nations.Deserved to be roasted. Wish I heard it in real time. lol
I see it as a good draw for Canada. Depth will be critical for all squads. Like you, I see every team but Mexico as beatable. I am old school, and this line of thinking isn't popular as we all like to make our players as comfortable as possible, but fcuk Vancouver under the dome in November. Edmonton, Toronto, Winnipeg. Make it uncomfortable for Mexico & CR. Think they will be doing that for us? Hell, Azteca may be one of the hardest stadiums to play in on the planet! I think there is one higher elevation stadium in Bolivia, holds about 60K in a very poor, crime ridden part of the country, and apparently that's their magic bullet, too. Why can't we take a similar approach? Edmonton or Winnipeg sounds PERFECT. Toronto could still be warm.For me, that's a decent draw for Canada and it all comes down to home form.
Hot early takes:
If they can start with 9 points again Honduras, Panama, and El Salvador that puts them in a great position to make those teams play catch up right off the hop. Difficult trips to wherever the USA picks to play us and the Azteca, where any result at all would be a huge bonus. The October trip to Kingston is an interesting one though where a Canada team in form might well be able to knick a point. Jamaica have been strengthening however, much the same as Canada, as they scour Europe's top leagues for anyone with any heritage at all.
After that the rubber really hits the road, hence why the start is so crucial. That Costa Rica home game really seems like it has the potential to define Canada's qualification bid. The other teams that will hopefully behind us in the table at this point will see a big chance to make up ground, but a result against the Costa Ricans would be huge. Mexico is obviously a juggernaut and we cannot be expecting points from that one, but, again, chance for a bonus point maybe. Obviously I would love to see games at BC Place and I am sure most of the games will be in Toronto because of its proximity to Europe and the grass pitch. However, for Mexico and Costa Rica at home in November I vote Commonwealth in Edmonton or Investor's Group in Winnipeg. We have seen Costa Rica have trouble in the snow before... (see Denver, 2013).
Then comes the question marks in the January window. I think FIFA is adding a window due to the disruption Covid-19 has caused, but I cannot seem to confirm this at the moment. January is not a traditional FIFA window, and if it is a CONCACAF only window, that could be very dodgy re who is available to play. Tricky away trips to El Salvador and Honduras with USA at home. Canada simply has to get points in this window and, obviously, we all know how this team has traditionally struggled to get points on the road in Central America. Meanwhile, the US game almost certainly has to be at BC Place given BMO Field will surely be unplayable in January.
The final window will no doubt come down to how the table looks going into it. If Canada has amassed 13-15 points by March, they should have a chance. Costa Rica away is another very tough match to see Canada getting something out of, but it depends whether or not Costa Rica has more or less locked up a spot in Qatar by then. It is tough to see them being home and cooled by Match Day 11, so chances are a win over Canada might be what they need to punch their ticket. Jamaica at home sets up as a must win and if there is any hope of Canada qualifying it is sure to be a great atmosphere (probably in Toronto...). Then Panama away to close it out. Tough to see Canada having already secured a top four spot prior to this game, which means they will likely need a result away from home in Central America. Hopefully it won't end like Honduras away in 2013...
Overall, it is certainly an uphill battle, but we've got a ticket to the dance so anything can happen. With the exception of Mexico, Canada should genuinely have a chance against every one of these teams at home. If they can hold serve, it will likely come down to whether or not we can finally pick up away points in CONCACAF against the other bottom half sides. Canada has never been able to do that before, but we have never had a team like this either.
It will affect our guys far less. Hell, most grew up playing in cold climates. Besides, they will be jacked to know we are doing everything possible to make it uncomfortable for others. What I don't want is the Canadian Red Carpet treatment.IDK. The days of shite pitches/coldness are over. Our group wants to PLAY and we need to start thinking in those terms. 30 below will affect our guys as well.