{"id":40298,"date":"2022-01-25T21:09:40","date_gmt":"2022-01-26T02:09:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/?p=40298"},"modified":"2022-01-25T21:09:40","modified_gmt":"2022-01-26T02:09:40","slug":"canmnt-revealed-starting-roster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/2022\/01\/25\/canmnt-revealed-starting-roster\/","title":{"rendered":"The CanMNT revealed their starting roster \u2013 Analysis"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>EDITORIAL<\/strong> \u2013 The CanMNT revealed their starting roster for the January-February window of World Cup qualifying. However, except for FC Bayern Munich&#8217;s Alphonso Davies, all the other players Canada needs are on the list.<\/p>\n<h2>CanMNT revealed starting roster \u2013 Analysis<\/h2>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Canada Soccer announces FIFA World Cup Qualifiers squad to start new year<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/CANMNT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#CANMNT<\/a> \ud83c\udf41 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/oKx7GXosWJ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/oKx7GXosWJ<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jrAa7r9M6L\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/jrAa7r9M6L<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CanadaSoccerEN\/status\/1485706668671442944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">January 24, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tsn.ca\/video\/eustaquio-tests-positive-for-covid-19-will-miss-canadas-upcoming-wc-qualifiers~2367576\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">TSN<\/a> reported that Eustaquio reported positive for COVID-19. This is while Reading FC\u2019s Junior Hoilett got injured in January according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.readingfc.co.uk\/news\/2022\/january\/17\/-we-have-to-emphasise-our-home-advantage-\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Reading FC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">68&#39; <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/CanMNT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#CanMNT<\/a> player Stephen Eust\u00e1quio scores! The relentless pressure by Canada leads to another goal! <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/OneSoccer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#OneSoccer<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/CRCvCAN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#CRCvCAN<\/a> | 0-2 | <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/GoldCup21?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#GoldCup21<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/UyZjWT9QGL\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/UyZjWT9QGL<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Last Word on Soccer (@LastWordSC) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LastWordSC\/status\/1419457783691464712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">July 26, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Eust\u00e1quio 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\u2019s best player in the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup. \u00a0This included getting an assist and a goal against <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/2021\/07\/25\/canmnt-dominated-the-costa-ricans\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Costa Rica in the Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinals<\/a>. Eust\u00e1quio 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.<\/p>\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/toronto.ctvnews.ca\/ontario-introduces-shortened-isolation-periods-new-testing-guidelines-1.5723606\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">CTV News<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n<h3>Players missing from the November window including Alphonso Davies<\/h3>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Alphonso Davies has temporarily stopped training after being diagnosed with mild myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle.<\/p>\n<p>Come back stronger, Phonzie! \ud83d\ude4f\u2764\ufe0f <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/dE8rSk5xOp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/dE8rSk5xOp<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ESPNFC\/status\/1481974391810449411?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">January 14, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Left-back FC Bayern Munich player Alphonso Davies was the most notable omission from the CanMNT roster. Davies will be out because of <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/2022\/01\/14\/alphonso-davies-sidelined-myocarditis\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">myocarditis<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Starting XI! \ud83d\udcaa\ud83c\udffc<br \/>Come ooooon! \ud83d\udd35\u26ab <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/CluStv?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#CluStv<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ta24RnG2nR\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/ta24RnG2nR<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Club Brugge KV (@ClubBrugge) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ClubBrugge\/status\/1482420316962013192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">January 15, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/2021\/11\/06\/canmnt-november-roster-ike-ugbo\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Ik\u00e9 Ugbo<\/a> to make a name for himself who just recently came into the CanMNT team late last year.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<h3>New players coming to the CanMNT<\/h3>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Lucas Cavallini and Cristi\u00e1n\u00a0Guti\u00e9rrez have jetted off to continue Canada\u2019s bid for a place in the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FIFAWorldCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@FIFAWorldCup<\/a> \ud83d\udeeb\ud83c\udfc6 <\/p>\n<p>Before they left, the pair spoke to @VWFC_Reporter about the opportunity that awaits \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/VWFC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#VWFC<\/a> \u2502 <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/CanMNT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#CanMNT<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/DEJ0mJctpD\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/DEJ0mJctpD<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WhitecapsFC\/status\/1486021042896130051?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">January 25, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Cristi\u00e1n Guti\u00e9rrez, 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.<\/p>\n<p>This is what Whitecaps&#8217; sporting director Axel Schuster said about Guti\u00e9rrez according to Dylan Butler of MLS Soccer before joining Vancouver:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlssoccer.com\/news\/vancouver-whitecaps-sign-canadian-born-left-back-cristian-gutierrez-colo-colo\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u201cHe has the four cornerstones we look for in a player, he is fully aware of the challenge in front of him, and he is excited to continue his development in his native country.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The player had a choice to play for either Chile or Canada. Guti\u00e9rrez 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.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 The best of luck to Jayson who has now joined the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CanadaSoccerEN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@CanadaSoccerEN<\/a> team for their World Cup qualifiers over the next week. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/oafc?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#oafc<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Oldham Athletic (@OfficialOAFC) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/OfficialOAFC\/status\/1485918028105670660?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">January 25, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s 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 Guti\u00e9rrez, do not expect Leutwiler to get some playing time. Milan Borjan and Maxime Crepeau will be ahead of him in the goalkeeping position.<\/p>\n<h3>CanMNT roster overview \u2013 analysis<\/h3>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The Canadian squad by clubs \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6<\/p>\n<p>CF Montreal has the most players called-up (3) while Besiktas and the Whitecaps follow \ud83d\udd35<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/CanMNT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#CanMNT<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/CFMTL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#CFMTL<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/VWFC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#VWFC<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/TFCLive?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#TFCLive<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/KnZtOebWw7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/KnZtOebWw7<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; TrueNorthFoot \u26bd\ufe0f\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 (@truenorthfoot) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/truenorthfoot\/status\/1485718784338018304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">January 24, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/2021\/10\/10\/canmnt-and-jamaica-independence-park\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Jamaica to a scoreless draw in October<\/a>. However, the stadium had hardly any fans because of COVID-19.<\/p>\n<p>Former CanMNT player Julian De Guzman said this about playing in Central America according to TSN:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TSNSoccer\/status\/1485750790681673730\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u201cI played inside the Bernab\u00e9u against Real Madrid and inside the Camp Bou against Barcelona, and both are difficult environments. But when you play in Central America, you got to find out how to survive.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The CanMNT will play their first game against Honduras at 8:05 p.m. ET. This will be at Estadio Ol\u00edmpico 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.<\/p>\n<p>The game will take place in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada on January 30. Canada\u2019s 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 Cuscatl\u00e1n in San Salvador, El Salvador. All games will be televised on Sportsnet and shown on OneSoccer and Telus.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Photo Credit: Canada Soccer on January 24, 2022.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>EDITORIAL \u2013 The CanMNT revealed their starting roster for the January-February window of World Cup qualifying. However, except for FC Bayern Munich&#8217;s Alphonso Davies, all the other players Canada needs are on the list. CanMNT revealed starting roster \u2013 Analysis Canada Soccer announces FIFA World Cup Qualifiers squad to start new year#CANMNT \ud83c\udf41 https:\/\/t.co\/oKx7GXosWJ pic.twitter.com\/jrAa7r9M6L [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3104,"featured_media":40348,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3406,27],"tags":[557,4517,4235,1012,237,4737,1332,4333],"class_list":["post-40298","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-canada-mnt","category-fifa-tournament","tag-alphonso-davies","tag-concacaf-octagonal","tag-cristian-gutierrez","tag-el-salvador","tag-honduras","tag-julian-de-guzman","tag-junior-hoilett","tag-stephen-eustaquio"],"modified_by":"Raheem Bashir, Site Manager","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40298","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3104"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40298"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40298\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40348"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40298"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40298"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40298"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}