EDITORIAL – The CanMNT revealed their starting roster for the January-February window of World Cup qualifying. However, except for FC Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies, all the other players Canada needs are on the list.
CanMNT revealed starting roster – Analysis
Canada Soccer announces FIFA World Cup Qualifiers squad to start new year#CANMNT 🍁 https://t.co/oKx7GXosWJ pic.twitter.com/jrAa7r9M6L
— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) January 24, 2022
The CanMNT roster looks pretty good. The 25-man roster has most of the players from the previous Concacaf World Cup windows. They have Jonathan David and Cyle Larin for example. These are the two players who scored the three goals in the November World Cup qualifying window.
The focus though is on Stephen Eustaquio and Junior Hoilett. There were rumours that one or both of these players would not play in the CanMNT World Cup qualifying window. TSN reported that Eustaquio reported positive for COVID-19. This is while Reading FC’s Junior Hoilett got injured in January according to Reading FC.
68' #CanMNT player Stephen Eustáquio scores! The relentless pressure by Canada leads to another goal! #OneSoccer#CRCvCAN | 0-2 | #GoldCup21 pic.twitter.com/UyZjWT9QGL
— Last Word on Soccer (@LastWordSC) July 26, 2021
Eustáquio might be the best midfielder for the CanMNT. He can generate offence for the CanMNT but can also help on defence. He was probably Canada’s best player in the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup. This included getting an assist and a goal against Costa Rica in the Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinals. Eustáquio should be given credit for the fantastic assist, however, Hoilett should also be credited with the technique and power used to score the first goal of that Costa Rica game. Hoilett will be needed as he and Liam Millar will most likely back up David.
The problem is how many games will these players play? Just because they are on the roster does not necessarily mean they are going to play any of the three games in the January-February window. This might be the case even though Canada may prefer these two players on the roster. According to Abby Neufeld of CTV News, Canadians only need to isolate for five days after testing positive for COVID-19. However, this also means that Eustaquio needs to eventually test negative for COVID-19.
Players missing from the November window including Alphonso Davies
Alphonso Davies has temporarily stopped training after being diagnosed with mild myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle.
Come back stronger, Phonzie! 🙏❤️ pic.twitter.com/dE8rSk5xOp
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 14, 2022
Left-back FC Bayern Munich player Alphonso Davies was the most notable omission from the CanMNT roster. Davies will be out because of myocarditis.
It is impossible to replace Davies, not just for Canada, but also for any Concacaf nation. He is probably the best player in Concacaf. After all, he was the only player residing from Concacaf to ever make the Best FIFA XI in 2020. There are some good replacements though for Canada. Hatayspor player Samuel Adekugbe is the player that comes to mind. He will probably start as left-back for the CanMNT.
Starting XI! 💪🏼
Come ooooon! 🔵⚫ #CluStv pic.twitter.com/ta24RnG2nR— Club Brugge KV (@ClubBrugge) January 15, 2022
In the other two positions, Davies plays as a winger and as a forward. Both positions though Canada has some really good players. On left-winger positions, there is Larin, Miller, and Hoilett. Then on the right-wing, the CanMNT has Tajon Buchanan (who went to Europe from MLS this year) as a right-winger. Then in the forward positions, Canada has three centre-forwards. David, who might be the second-best player in Concacaf, will be the first choice as a forward. This might be a chance for K.R.C. Genk forward Iké Ugbo to make a name for himself who just recently came into the CanMNT team late last year.
Lastly, CF Montreal goalkeeper, James Pantemis, who featured in every previous final round of CanMNT World Cup qualifying roster, was not in the January-February roster. He will be replaced by another goalkeeper on the CanMNT roster.
New players coming to the CanMNT
Lucas Cavallini and Cristián Gutiérrez have jetted off to continue Canada’s bid for a place in the @FIFAWorldCup 🛫🏆
Before they left, the pair spoke to @VWFC_Reporter about the opportunity that awaits 🇨🇦#VWFC │ #CanMNT pic.twitter.com/DEJ0mJctpD
— x – Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) January 25, 2022
Cristián Gutiérrez, left-back for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, will be the new player to watch for the CanMNT. He will most likely get his first cap for the CanMNT in the January-February window. Yes, Adekugbe will most likely be the preferred option. However, it is unlikely that he will start all three games in the January-February window.
This is what Whitecaps’ sporting director Axel Schuster said about Gutiérrez according to Dylan Butler of MLS Soccer before joining Vancouver:
The player had a choice to play for either Chile or Canada. Gutiérrez played for the Chile U20 team from 2016-17 making seven appearances during that time period. He has also made 31 appearances with his current team, Vancouver, since 2020.
🇨🇦 The best of luck to Jayson who has now joined the @CanadaSoccerEN team for their World Cup qualifiers over the next week. #oafc
— Oldham Athletic (@OfficialOAFC) January 25, 2022
Lastly, CF Montreal goalkeeper James Pantemis has been replaced by Oldham Athletic goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler. While he is not a new member of the CanMNT team, Leutwiler has not been in one of Canada’s final World Cup qualifying cycle rosters. Even though Leutwiler, has been a part of the CanMNT since 2016, he only made three appearances. Leutwiler has played 21 games for Oldham since 2021. Unfortunately, unlike Gutiérrez, do not expect Leutwiler to get some playing time. Milan Borjan and Maxime Crepeau will be ahead of him in the goalkeeping position.
CanMNT roster overview – analysis
The Canadian squad by clubs 🇨🇦
CF Montreal has the most players called-up (3) while Besiktas and the Whitecaps follow 🔵#CanMNT | #CFMTL #VWFC #TFCLive pic.twitter.com/KnZtOebWw7
— TrueNorthFoot ⚽️🇨🇦 (@truenorthfoot) January 24, 2022
The CanMNT will get their first real taste of Central America against Honduras and El Salvador in this World Cup qualifying window. Yes, they played Jamaica to a scoreless draw in October. However, the stadium had hardly any fans because of COVID-19.
Former CanMNT player Julian De Guzman said this about playing in Central America according to TSN:
The CanMNT will play their first game against Honduras at 8:05 p.m. ET. This will be at Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, Honduras on January 27. The CanMNT will then play at home against the USMNT at Tim Hortons Field at 3:05 p.m. ET.
The game will take place in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada on January 30. Canada’s last game in the January-February window is on February 2 at 9:00 p.m. ET against El Salvador. The game will take place at Estadio Cuscatlán in San Salvador, El Salvador. All games will be televised on Sportsnet and shown on OneSoccer and Telus.
Photo Credit: Canada Soccer on January 24, 2022.