PREVIEW – A must-win CanMNT game is coming up as they face Cuba in the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup. Canada, like the last two games, will be considered the heavy favourites, however, Canada has failed to win their games against Guadeloupe and Guatemala.
A Must Win CanMNT Game on Tuesday Against Guadeloupe
CanMNT (2-2-1)
The CanMNT was unable to beat Guatemala in Houston, Texas. It was a game where both teams had almost an equal amount of opportunities to score. This is what CanMNT head coach, John Herdman, said about the game (source: Concacaf)
REACTION 🎙️
Hear from #CanMNT midfielder Jonathan Osorio following his team's 0-0 draw vs. Guatemala in the Gold Cup group stage pic.twitter.com/4e65nbBQXH
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) July 2, 2023
READ MORE: CanMNT Reveal 2023 Gold Cup Roster After Disappointing CNL
Players to watch include Richie Laryea, who can create scoring chances for his team. Lucas Cavallini’s play off and, on the ball, will also be very important as he plays a big role in how well Canada does in the Concacaf Gold Cup. They have only lost one game in their last five games, which was against the USMNT, however, they have also dropped points in a home draw against Guadeloupe.
Cuba (1-0-4)
Cuba enters this game last in Group D with zero points. They lost 1-0 to Guatemala before being dismantled 4-1 by Guadeloupe. They will look to end their Gold Cup campaign on a positive note as they play the CanMNT in Houston on Tuesday.
Some players to watch with Cuba includes Arichel Hernandez, who plays for Liga Nacional club in Guatemala with Mixco. Another player to watch out for is EFL Championship player for Norwich City, Oniel Hernandez.
Ironically, their only win in the last five games came against Guadeloupe in the Concacaf Nations League tournament.
Head-To-Head and Predictions in a Must-Win CanMNT Game
Both teams have faced each other six times, with Canada winning all six games. The last time these two teams met in the Gold Cup was in the 2005 Concacaf Gold Cup, where Canada were eventually 2-1 winners over Cuba. The last meeting overall between these two teams resulted in Canada winning 1-0 over Cuba on the road on October 7, 2019.
CLASIFICACIÓN GRUPO D 🇬🇵🇬🇹🇨🇦🇬🇵
Guadalupe se posiciona como líder del Grupo D por diferencia de goles y saborea el pase a la siguiente ronda.
Canadá se complica su pase y Cuba esta prácticamente eliminado.#VocesDeportivas #CopaOro2023 #Concacaf #GoldCup pic.twitter.com/00e2G5V7mP— Jair Velazquez (@jairvelazquezD1) July 2, 2023
Predictions: CanMNT 3 – Cuba 0
Expect Canada to score some goals on Tuesday. It may not be enough for the CanMNT to secure the top spot in Group D, but it would be enough for Canada to advance to the Gold Cup quarterfinals stage. It is also important to note that winning by a goal differential of two goals or more will give Canada an automatic spot in the Gold Cup quarterfinals stage.
If Canada wins only by a differential of one goal and Guatemala ties with Guadeloupe, Guadeloupe will automatically qualify as the top seed of Group D because of goal difference. This means that the second team who could advance would be determined by a number of goals scored in all group matches, and if not determined by that, fair play points. If all is not determined by then, the drawing of lots will need to be done to determine who makes the quarterfinal stage of Group D.
The game will be shown live in Houston, Texas at Shell Energy Stadium. It will be shown live at 6:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Fans can watch the game live on OneSoccer and Telus.
Photo Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports, of a Zachary Brault-Guillard Headshot, on July 1, 2023.
