Canada’s win over Honduras just another step in Herdman’s master plan

TORONTO – John Herdman sees the massive image always and by no means lets himself get distracted for a single second, remaining steadfastly centered on getting the Canadian males’s workforce to the following stage.

Case in level: Canada’s 4-1 victory over Honduras on Tuesday at Toronto’s BMO Field, a consequence that clinched his facet’s berth for the Concacaf Nations League finals in Las Vegas in June alongside the United States, Mexico and Panama.

There was so much for Herdman to love about Canada’s effort towards Honduras. Midfielder Stephen Eustáquio masterfully pulled the inventive strings whereas ably being abetted by the industrious Jonathan Osorio, considered one of Canada’s purpose scorers on the night time. Centre again Scott Kennedy marshalled a sturdy again line that gave little or no away, whereas Cyle Larin (a brace) and Jonathan David (one purpose) mixed to devastating impact as the primary reference factors within the Canadian assault.

Ismaël Koné, solely 20, bossed issues in the midst of the park along with his wonderful two-way play in what Herdman described as “one of the best midfield performances” he’s witnessed throughout his tenure in cost.

Canada had beforehand certified for the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup, which comes proper after the Nations League finals, so that is going to be an extremely busy summer time for Herdman’s workforce.

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“If you want to be part of Concacaf’s elite, you have to be in these finals. You’ve got to get into these big events. It’s the first in our history to get to a Nations League final and I think this group believes it can win it,” Herdman stated within the post-game press convention.

At the identical time, Herdman used his pulpit to difficulty a problem to Canada Soccer to rearrange for his workforce to play extra significant video games towards the world’s highest groups. He pressured the significance of Canada testing itself towards prime European and South Americans nations (what he likes to name “Tier-1” groups), basically saying that it’s not sufficient for his younger Canadian squad to simply face Concacaf opponents within the subsequent three years forward of the 2026 FIFA World Cup that the nation will co-host with the U.S. and Mexico.

Herdman’s facet largely performed towards nations from inside its area within the buildup to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and that got here again to hang-out them as they bowed out within the group stage after struggling losses to Belgium, Croatia and Morocco. In explicit, the Croats and Moroccans outclassed the Canadians, and it’s solely by going through such high quality opponents regularly that Canada can enhance, in accordance with Herdman.

“We need real experiences. We need proper, Tier-1 experiences. We went to (last year’s) World Cup with one match against a Tier-1 opponent in a decade. … We have to take control of our destiny. If this team is not playing Tier-1 games (and) getting Tier-1 matches consistently, we are wasting our time,” Herdman bluntly acknowledged.

He added: “We need Tier-1 experiences if we’re serious about really competing at a World Cup. As an organization and as a country, we’ve got to get after it. These next three years, those young players, if they’re going to play matches like this in Concacaf week-in and week-out, it’s not helping. … It’s matches against Brazil, matches against France, matches against Croatia, Netherlands, England, Belgium. Those are the games that are going to set us up for real success.”

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It’d be fantastic to assume that each one Canada Soccer has to do is name up the English FA to rearrange a high-profile pleasant between Canada and England at Wembley Stadium. Even in one of the best of occasions, that’d be an extended shot. As it stands, a cash-strapped Canada Soccer, whose fame has been bruised and battered over the previous couple of years for causes too quite a few to listing, merely doesn’t have the stroke to drag it off.

There’s additionally the small matter of the crowded worldwide calendar. There are solely so many FIFA home windows yearly, and every of them are dominated by European groups taking part in qualifiers for the European Champions, UEFA Nations League and World Cup, whereas South American nations undergo a marathon qualifying course of for the World Cup that lasts roughly 18 months. So when, precisely, are these nations supposed to suit Canada into their packed schedules?

If Herdman desires “Tier-1” video games, it’ll doubtless be as much as his workforce to make that occur. The prime six groups on the 2023–24 Concacaf Nations League, which kicks off in September, will robotically qualify as friends for subsequent summer time’s Copa América. The South American championship, and the promise of taking part in Lionel Messi and Argentina, Neymar and Brazil, Darwin Núñez and Uruguay, and the perfect that the continent has to supply would supply the ultra-competitive fixtures Herdman so desperately craves.

In the meantime, the ultimate 4 of the Concacaf Nations League looms giant for Canada. A semifinal showdown with Panama on June 15 awaits the Canadians, with the winner to tackle both the U.S. or Mexico three days later within the remaining. More than 23 years have handed since Canada lifted the Concacaf Gold Cup, however the workforce has by no means been higher positioned to win its second main worldwide trophy.

“It’s something that’s missing for us. We need to start showing we’re a dominant force here in Concacaf,” captain Atiba Hutchinson stated.

John Molinaro is without doubt one of the main soccer journalists in Canada, having coated the sport for over 20 years for a number of media retailers, together with Sportsnet, CBC Sports and Sun Media. He is at present the editor-in-chief of TFC Republic, an internet site devoted to in-depth protection of Toronto FC and Canadian soccer.

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