On eve of World Cup qualification, coach John Herdman still sees room for improvement

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica – Canada could also be on the verge of World Cup qualification however coach John Herdman continues to be searching for enhancements.

Within the lead-up to Thursday’s match towards No. 42 Costa Rica, Herdman stated he spoke to the staff management group about “staying away from the event.” And whereas the Thirty third-ranked Canadian males have gained six straight in qualifying, which incorporates victories over the Twelfth-ranked U.S. and No. 13 Mexico — he believes there may be extra within the tank.

“We’ll benefit from the sport collectively however we’ll not get carried away,” Herdman instructed reporters. “So (we) come again to a little bit of humility within the coaching periods this week the place we recognized some areas from January we weren’t pleased with, areas the place a few of our stats had dropped under a line that we thought was acceptable for our staff.

“So we’ve labored onerous this week on the method, the method of enhancing. And people enhancements will carry us by way of the sport hopefully.”

However whereas wanting to verify his gamers concentrate on getting higher — with Herdman citing sport administration as a potential space of progress — reasonably than pondering the “enormity of an event,” he made it clear that this Canadian staff has greater targets than simply attending to Qatar 2022.

Herdman stated he confirmed the staff a two-minute video from his first camp on the helm in Murcia, Spain, in 2018.

“(It) introduced them proper again to that second the place as a gaggle we stated we’d qualify … and I believe each man is aware of what’s in entrance of him. They’re within the front-row seat. Their fingers are on the steering wheel. They will do that. They will really do greater than that simply qualify. And that’s the thrilling bit. And I believe that’s the true motivator.”

Canada (7-0-4, 25 factors) has been the shock bundle in CONCACAF qualifying, topping the ultimate round-robin desk forward of Mexico and the U.S. (each 6-2-3, 21 factors) with Panama fourth (5-4-2, 17 factors) and Costa Rica fifth (4-3-4, 16 factors).

The highest three groups on the conclusion of the present worldwide window will symbolize North and Central America and the Caribbean in Qatar. The fourth-place finisher will tackle a aspect from Oceania in an intercontinental playoff to see who joins them.

After Costa Rica, the Canadian males host No. 62 Jamaica on Sunday at Toronto’s BMO Area earlier than wrapping up qualifying play March 30 towards No. 63 Panama on Panama Metropolis.

“We’ve received three missions, we’ve received three separate teams of fellows which might be clear on this sport, the sport in Toronto and the sport in Panama. Every one in all them has large significance for this program,” stated Herdman.

The Canadians wish to end first in CONCACAF qualifying, displaying they honestly belong. And a continued stand up the rating ladder — Canada was ranked 94th when Herdman took over in January 2018 — might assist in the case of the World Cup draw.

A win Thursday and Canada is in. A draw can even suffice if Panama fails to beat Honduras or Mexico wins or ties the U.S. on Thursday. One other clinching state of affairs can be if Panama ties or loses to Honduras and Mexico beats the U.S.

The Canadian males have certified for only one World Cup — in 1986 in Mexico.

Herdman persistently refers to his staff as “new Canada,” saying “It’s not about two or three gamers.”

Requested about key moments for the staff, Herdman reeled off a listing — beating the U.S. 2-0 in Toronto in CONCACAF Nations League play in October 2019 in Toronto, posting a 1-0 win in Haiti in a qualifying match final June, displaying the squad’s depth on the Gold Cup final summer season, and Alphonso Davies’ highlight-reel purpose in a 4-1 qualifying win over Panama final October in Toronto.

“I believe it received the nation to consider that we are able to do that,” he stated of the Davies purpose, which confirmed off the Bayern Munich’s star’s tempo, power and willpower.

As for Costa Rica, Herdman famous its home league has been suspended for the final two weeks to permit the nationwide ream to arrange for Canada.

“The Costa Rica I noticed in November (when Canada gained 1-0 in Edmonton), I believe goes to be very completely different to the one we’re going to expertise in San Jose,” stated Herdman. “And so they’ve solely misplaced one match in San Jose.”

“They’ve received an enormous goal, which is to remain alive (in qualifying),” he added. “My group of males, they know they will qualify on this sport and that’s what we got here to do.”

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This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed March 23, 2022