Instant analysis on the CanMNT squad release for the March World Cup qualifying window
As expected, the CanMNT squad for the March World Cup qualifying window came out on Sunday. Here, I dive into some what immediately stood out from that drop.
It came a little later than anticipated, but it’s finally here.
Ahead of their crucial March World Cup qualifying window, we finally know the names of the 25 players that will represent the CanMNT over the next few weeks, as Canada begins their final push towards the 2022 World Cup here.
With just 3 matchdays remaining in the ‘Octagonal’, the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, this is a huge window for Canada, too, as they look to finish the job they’ve started through the first 11 matchdays of this stage.
Currently sitting atop the Octo with 25 points, 4 ahead of the 2nd-placed US and Mexico, Canada are as close to the World Cup as ever, sitting with a magic number of just 2 to assure qualification, but at the same time, they’ll know that the job isn’t over until it’s over.
So as they look to snap their 36-year World Cup drought, a tall task awaits them here, as they look to not only assure qualification to the big dance, but also keep their spot atop the Octo, as well as try to become a pot 3 team for the big tournament itself later this year.
It won’t be easy, as 3 tough tests await them in Costa Rica (away), Jamaica (home) and Panama (away), with travel between games expected to be a heavy burden, but this isn’t anything that this Canadian team isn’t unfamiliar with at this stage.
And speaking of that familiarity, that’s a key theme in this latest squad release, which hit the internet Sunday afternoon. As expected, 24 out of the 25 names in the squad have been in the squad for at least a game this Octo, with Canadian head coach, John Herdman, looking to reward those who have gotten his side to this point so far as much as possible.
At the same time, there was room for a new face (more on that in a second), as well as some names that we haven’t seen in a while, but other than that, it was all about turning to those who had been here before for Herdman.
“There’s a loyalty to those people who have committed to the journey,” Herdman admitted on Sunday. “There's loyalty to those who have shown up every window.”
So now, as his Canadian side looks to now finish the job that they’ve started here, it’s time for them to pick up where they left off, as they’re riding a 6-game winning streak heading into this camp.
But before they try to do that, here’s a look back at some of what stood out from the initial squad release, one where there was plenty of news, even despite there not being that many surprises.
Ismaël Koné continues rise with Canadian call-up:
And speaking of surprises, it only feels right to start with the biggest shock from this roster announcement, which was the inclusion of the 19-year-old CF Montreal midfielder, Ismael Koné.
Uncapped at all levels of the CanMNT, this is the first time that Koné has been in a Canadian camp, period, let alone a senior one, making his name one that stood out immediately.
At the same time, this has been coming, as Koné has gotten off to a strong start to his MLS season for Montreal, where in just 7 appearances across the CONCACAF Champions League and MLS, he already looks like someone who has played professionally for years. Despite having played against tough teams such as Liga MX’s Santos Laguna and Cruz Azul, as well as MLS’s Atlanta United, Philadelphia Union, Orlando City and New York City FC, he’s shone in some tough environments, even adding 2 goals and 2 assists along the way.
So safe to say, the hype has already been starting to build with Koné, who has trained with European sides Genk, Mouscron and Bologna, and according to TSN’s Matthew Scianitti, is also now attracting interest from big European clubs with his strong start.
Because of that, reports emerged last week from longtime Canadian Soccer reporter, Kristian Jack, that Koné had earned the call into this squad, and while there were some that suggested it might be onto Canada’s long list that they keep in case of injury, it was revealed on Sunday that it was the first team proper.
So while it might be a bit of a surprise to see, this has been coming for a while now, and considering that after those rumours came out last week, Koné then went out and had a performance to remember against Atlanta, picking up a goal, an assist and a penalty won after putting his team down a goal early with a bad giveaway, that is just the latest example of why.
Because of that, a Canada call-up was just the next logical step on what has been a meteoric rise for him so far, but according to Herdman, it’s one that he deserves.
“Yeah, the last four or five weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind for him,” Herdman said. “From playing a variety of different levels in the CONCACAF Champions League and MLS, in some big venues, in front of big crowds and big moments, too. One thing that I've seen consistently is just this fearless mindset.”
“In the game this weekend (vs Atlanta), he was able to show that sort of resilience, that’s really important to be part of this team, where you can make a mistake and then come back and produce this performance like he did. So if you're good enough, you're old enough in my book, and I’m always trying to ensure that young players deserve those opportunities, and he's been selected because I think he can contribute across these three games.”
And that’s what’s key about Koné’s inclusion - it’s one that is fully deserved.
Yes, some might wonder if it’s a bit soon to call in a 19-year-old with just 7 appearances under his belt, leading to some suggestions that Canada is just trying to cap-tie him, but he already looks like a special player, one that will only continue to grow, making this a deserved inclusion.
Seeing that he was actually a winger and an attacking midfielder throughout his academy days, the way that he’s come in and become a reliable box-to-box #8 on this CF Montreal team stands out, showing why Herdman was eager to call in the youngster.
So considering that, as soon as Koné’s Montreal teammate and Canada regular in midfield, Samuel Piette, was ruled out of these games with an ankle injury, opening up a spot, it all just made too much sense not to bring him in.
Now, it’s too early to tell how much Koné will play here, as he now has to get integrated into the squad and prove himself in training, but this is expected to be just the start of what’s to come from him in a Canadian shirt, which is why this call-up had people talking on Sunday.
As Herdman later said, there’s not many players like Koné in this program, so with the door open to include him, you can see why he was eager to jump at bringing him in.
"I haven't seen a profile like that from a midfielder in the time that I've been here,” Herdman admitted when asked about Koné.
No return for Alphonso Davies on the pitch, but a return to camp possible:
But for all of the talk about who was in the squad, one name that won’t be there?
Alphonso Davies, who remains out as he continues his recovery from Myocarditis, which also kept him out of the January window.
The good news, however, is that recovery is progressing quickly for the Canadian star, who based on reports out of Germany, looks just a few weeks away from returning, with early April being set as a target date for Bayern.
Unfortunately for Canada, though, that means that this camp looks to be just too soon for Davies to feature, ruling him out of contention to play before the Octo is over.
At the same time, that doesn’t mean that he can’t be a part of the group in this camp, even if it’s in a limited capacity.
As confirmed by Herdman on Sunday, they’re looking to bring in Davies for at least a little bit of camp, allowing him to taste the environment again, all while continuing his rehab.
There are still hurdles to clear if that’s to happen, as they’d have to get the green light from FC Bayern and his doctors to fly over, but it’d be huge for Davies if it could happen. Having played a big role in where this team is at now, you’d like to have him be able to celebrate them making the World Cup once they lock it up, and Herdman admitted as much.
Of course, his health comes first in every instance, which is why he’s already ruled out from playing, but if they can make it work to have him come in to be around the team, why not make it happen?
“I mean he’s calm,” Herdman said of his conversations with Davies. “I think as a young man, he’s been frustrated, that’s for sure, he’s an energetic guy and he’s been told to sit and do nothing for 8-9 weeks, so he’s excited to be back, I know that, but he’s realistic as well about his recovery. So I think for all of us, we were desperate to have him in, to be a part of this, to get him on the pitch, even if it’s for a few minutes to help him experience all of the effort he’s put in over these 4 years.”
“But there are bigger things ahead, and I think his health, anything around the heart is so precarious, all of us just want to make sure that he gets back to full health, and the best place for him to be is with Bayern Munich with the medical people there, who have managed his recovery this whole time. There may be an opportunity (he comes), we’re working with Bayern to see if we can have him in and around the environment at some stage, but again, his recovery comes first.”
Fitness concerns?
Otherwise, returning to the players that will be there this camp, one thing to keep a close eye out for is the fitness of certain players.
For the most part, this squad is in pretty good form, but there are some situations to monitor, namely that of midfielder Stephen Eustaquio and full back Richie Laryea, who have either played sparingly (Eustaquio) or not played at all (Laryea) since January transfers to FC Porto and Nottingham Forest, respectively.
That’s part of the process of joining a new club sometimes, so it’s hardly a worry from an outside perspective, but from a Canadian perspective, you do wonder if that’ll impact their ability to help this team ahead of this camp.
Considering that the pair are among two of Canada’s biggest minute munchers this Octo, you’d ideally like them in top form if they’re to assume their usual roles, but instead, it looks like rust and fitness could be two key factors for them.
But according to Herdman, it’s not something he’s too worried about. Of course, he wants them playing big minutes, and admitted as much, but he feels that it shouldn’t have too much of an impact on their performance, just maybe their overall output.
So while the lack of minutes led some to wonder if they’d get dropped from the Canadian squad (which was never going to happen), that was never a thought in Herdman’s mind, who is expecting big things from the pair this window.
“Yeah, I think you've always got those concerns as a coach,” Herdman said when asked of their club situations. “What I think you don't underestimate, either, the sort of power of the human will and the human potential.”
“Players can turn it on when they need to, what we know is they might not be able to turn it on for 95, 100 minutes, there'll be a period in the game where I think these players will suffer a bit, but at the end of the day, they have shown a resilient mindset here, and if I didn’t believe the science and everything that scientists told us, we wouldn't be where or we wouldn't be where we're at now. These are big moments for players, and human potential can stretch if you give it that room.”
Otherwise, Eustaquio and Laryea aren’t the only areas of concern on this squad heading into this window, though.
First, centre back Steven Vitoria is one to monitor, because, despite his inclusion in this squad, he’s missed out on a few of Moreirense’s recent games with a knock, some that reports suggested being severe enough for him to maybe even miss out on this camp. He’s in the squad, though, so it obviously doesn’t look as bad as that, but there’s no doubt that he’s not at 100%, which is a worry.
Secondly, fellow centre back Scott Kennedy is also one to watch, as he left Jahn Regensburg’s game early on Sunday with a knock. It didn’t look to be too serious, with Kicker suggesting that he’d been struggling with a nosebleed for a while in that game, but because of his early exit, you did wonder if that could potentially impact his participation for Canada.
Herdman didn’t provide any updates on the pair during his media availability, however, so it’s not yet known what their full status is at the moment, but considering that they’re both included in the squad, that is positive news, at the very least.
Extended squad at the ready:
But say Vitoria and Kennedy end up being worse off than originally thought, or if someone else picks up an injury, Canada has replacements at the ready, if needed.
John Herdman won’t tip his cap on exactly who, but he confirmed that Canada has a long list of players ready, a ‘taxi squad’ of sorts, giving him flexibility should his team get with any injuries or suspensions.
One name we know for sure, though, is Raheem Edwards, as Herdman admitted that the LA Galaxy left back has earned that designation after his strong start to the MLS season, but other than that, the rest will have to be left up to the imagination.
Based on what we know about Herdman, he likes a mix of familiarity and form, as well as guys who are playing in MLS (so they don’t have to travel far if called), so if I were to speculate, some names I’d also expect to be alongside Edwards on that list would probably be James Pantemis, Joel Waterman, Zachary Brault-Guillard, Russell Teibert and Tesho Akindele, with a possible outside shout for Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty and Ralph Priso.
So while it’s unlikely we ever learn who is on that list, to be fair, at least unless there’s a huge injury crisis, it is fun to imagine, and just shows the sort of things that Herdman has ready at his disposal if needed, highlighting his meticulous preparation for these windows.
Looking Forward:
Other than that, however, it was a pretty straightforward roster release for Canada. Injuries aside, the squad pretty much picks itself these days, with it taking someone like Koné having to knock down the door just to get in.
But that just shows how solid this Canadian team is, as they are where they are for a reason, with their strong squad playing a big part in that.
With a player pool deeper than ever before, they’ve managed to maximize that this Octo, putting themselves on the cusp of the World Cup. Now, they’ve got to finish the job, of course, but they’ve put themselves in this position with some strong play, and will look to wrap things up in style.
It’s been a long journey, one that began 17 games earlier, but the end is in sight, and Canada is just looking to make the most of that here, wrapping up what has been a pretty unforgettable ride up to this point.
The end won’t be easy, as they can’t just waltz into the World Cup, but this isn’t their first bit of adversity that they’ve faced on this journey that they’re on, and it won’t certainly be their last, so they’ll look to do what they’ve done with each hurdle they’ve faced up to this point - enjoy it.
“I don’t think anyone wants it to end, we've really enjoyed the experience,” Herdman admitted. “I mean, if you've asked me if I enjoyed it when I was entering the stadium in Haiti (back in Round 2 of qualifying)? No, but when you look back, there's been some amazing moments that have shaped the team and as a staff, as a coach, as a player group, we've grown massively through this period.”
“So it's been 17 games now on this journey, we’ve got 3 left to go. So there'll be more growth in these next three games, I think this is probably the toughest schedule yet.”
Canada’s players take the field in their most recent World Cup qualifier against El Salvador (Canada Soccer/Martin Bayzl)