football | World Cup qualification: Canadian footballers – minus nine degrees for the World Cup on course

Canada topped the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers with a win against Mexico and dreamed of their first World Cup participation since 1986.

Canadian footballers knew how to celebrate a home lead in World Cup qualification. The association moved the game against Mexico to Edmonton on Tuesday (November 16, 2021), after a crisp nine degrees below zero and an icy cold wind swept through the stadium on this November evening. On match day, the city and stadium were still under a 20-centimeter layer of snow. Canadian media already named the game “The Isteca” – based on the famous Aztec Stadium in Mexico City, where climatic conditions are roughly at the other end of the temperature scale.

Before kick-off, the “Toronto Star” posted a video from the stadium to Twitter showing workers clearing a field of snow and ice. There was also a nice greeting towards the enemy: “All right!”

Victory against Mexico at Edmonton Cold Chamber

The Mexicans put on a good half-hour show in the Edmonton Cold Chamber. Until goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa could only rebound a free kick that was dangerously fast on the icy ground and Canada’s Cyl Larin took the lead. After the break, the Beikta Istanbul striker also made the initial decision with his second goal – and a subsequent cheer for the entire team, which only ended on a pile of ice in front of the stands.

The Mexicans only came up with a goal in the final stage, which turned hot despite the temperatures. The end resulted in a 2–1 victory for Canada, the first victory of a Canadian men’s selection against Mexico in more than twenty years – most recently in the 2000 Gold Cup. In World Cup qualification, it was also 45 years before Canada defeated Mexico.

Best chances of participating in the World Cup for the first time since 1986

The two teams were only one point apart before the game in the CONCACAF group. Because the United States surprisingly only played a draw against Jamaica, Canada now has 16 points at the top of the World Cup qualifiers in North and Central America, ahead of the United States (15) and Mexico (14). The top three will go straight to the World Cup, with fourth place still with a chance to go to the playoffs. As the leader of the table, with six games to go, Canada has its best chance of participating in the World Cup for the first time since 1986.

A promising intermediate result, which is not only due to the fact that Canada’s winter home games have shocked opponents. Rather, Canadian football is on the rise. For decades, the association has invested primarily in successful women’s football; In recent years, basic work in colleges and talent academies has also been strengthened for men.

Alfonso Davis Isn’t Canada’s Only Talent

It now provides the first result. Furthermore, similar to the neighboring United States, which is also successful with young players, more and more Canadian talent is now playing and developing at the highest level in Europe. First and foremost, young star Alfonso Davies, FC Bayern’s winger, recently impressed in the national outfit with his goal after an irresistible solo run in a 4-1 win against Panama. The other players are under contract with European clubs, none of them over 22 years old, along with match winners Jonathan David, Tajon Buchanan and Larin against Mexico. With 22 goals in the national jersey, double scorer Larin has already caught up with the previous record scorer Dwayne de Rosario.

For a long time the Canadian men’s football team has not had that much talent. “At the moment everything is working, which we have been waiting for many, many years,” said record international Ateeba Hutchinson after the victory against Mexico in the “Toronto Star”. After several unsuccessful years with the national team, the 38-year-old is experiencing an entirely new enthusiasm for football in the country: “It would have been unthinkable a few years ago that we would come to Edmonton and the stadium is almost sold out.”

National coach Harderman: “The country dreams of Qatar”

National coach John Hardman, who previously coached the Canadian women’s football team, also believes his team is ready to break out of football’s insignificance. “What we see is a new Canada. We are no longer the only ones to slaughter,” said Herdman on radio station “CBC.” “The whole country dreams of going to Qatar. We fight for it, no matter what it costs.” Even if it’s quite hot in there.

That: sportschau.de