Herdman rallies CanMNT ahead of huge USMNT home test: 'What an opportunity!'

Ten minutes down the road from Tim Hortons Field there stands a monument in a park. On that spot, 208 years ago, an invading American army did battle with a force of British-Canadians and lost.

The stakes of a football match are far more trivial than those of a real battlefield, but as a very different American force rolls into Hamilton this weekend, perhaps John Herdman and the Canadian men’s national team can find inspiration in the Battle of Stoney Creek.

This being Canada’s only home game of this three-match World Cup Qualifying window, Les Rouges have been eagerly anticipating this opportunity to lock horns with their archrival the United States. Canada still sits atop the standings of the Octagon in this final round of Concacaf qualifying, now with just five games yet to be played for each team. The top three spots grant a guaranteed ticket to Qatar 2022, and the Canadians now have a five-point cushion on fourth-place Panama after results on Thursday night.

Now, though, is not the time for Canada to rest on their laurels. Sunday’s game is one they’ve had circled on the calendar for a while, now — especially after they came so close to beating the Americans away from home in September.

While the stars haven’t aligned quite the way Canada wanted them, with Alphonso Davies unavailable and a capacity restriction in Ontario putting a slight damper on the atmosphere at Tim Hortons Field, this could nonetheless be a big moment for the Canadians. They’ve been left frustrated after two matches against the U.S. in 2021 (the 1-0 loss at the Gold Cup and the aforementioned 1-1 draw in Nashville) but now they’ve finally got another crack — and this time, at home.

Both teams will enter this match brimming with confidence. Canada, just a few nights ago, exorcised their demons in San Pedro Sula with a gutsy 2-0 win over Honduras. The U.S., meanwhile, kept pace by knocking off El Salvador, 1-0, at home. The two sides are achingly close to booking flights to Doha, but there’s still work to be done. For the visiting U.S., this is a chance to re-assert their dominance over the northern neighbours. For Canada, it’s an opportunity to flip the script after trailing behind for so many years.

Canada have proven that they can beat the United States; they did so at BMO Field in October 2019. Still, it’s been 41 years since they did it in a World Cup Qualifying game. There’s a long way for Canada to go before they can claim an upper hand in this matchup.

“I think there’s definitely a mindset shift in our team in terms of how we look at the U.S.,” Herdman told reporters Saturday. “There’s a real excitement to play them, it feels like a real derby match. It’s a fight for the top of the table, so I think that’s all I need to say in terms of what this means to us now. In our country, it took us a while to get there, I still think the U.S. are a few years ahead in how they’ve been able to build their talent pool and deepen their rosters with players in Europe across every position, but Canada are coming.”

He added:  “What an opportunity for these players. It’s World Cup Qualifying, a massive game. It’s not a friendly game, and you’re playing your biggest rival: the U.S.A.”

The U.S. — reigning champions of the Gold Cup and Concacaf Nations League, both of which they won in 2021 — have been strong in the Octagon so far, currently sitting in second place (one point back of Canada) with five wins, three draws, and one loss in Panama. Back in November, they beat Mexico 2-0 just days before El Tri met Canada in Edmonton. Gregg Berhalter’s side, like Herdman’s, is packed with young talent as a new generation of players begins to mature.

The hosts, meanwhile, will be eager to increase their grip on first place in the table, which they would do with three points on Sunday.

Unfortunately, neither team will quite be at full strength for this match. Canada — already missing its star in Davies, who remains out while he’s treated for myocarditis, might also be without some key midfielders. Mark-Anthony Kaye was mysteriously absent from the matchday squad in San Pedro Sula too. Plus, Samuel Piette left the game on Thursday with an injury, so it’s unclear whether nor not he might be fit to play.

The good news, however, is that OneSoccer’s Gareth Wheeler reported that Stephen Eustáquio made it to Hamilton and thus could be available for Sunday’s game.

“They still have some great players,” U.S. coach Berhalter said of his opponent on Saturday. “When you think about the speed of Tajon Buchanan, he can do that. When you think about Jonathan David, he’s got the quality. He’s one of Europe’s top strikers right now. Cyle Larin’s always been a very good player. They have weapons. I think it was surprising the way they approached that game (vs. Honduras), but when I look at how they create chances a lot of them are from counter attacks, Honduras was no different. They may take a different posture at home, but who knows. We’re preparing for everything and we’ll be prepared either way.”

The major loss for the United States heading into Hamilton is Lille winger Timothy Weah, who hasn’t travelled with the team to Canada due to an issue with his vaccination status.

To the 12,000 fans attending on Sunday: bundle up. The forecast for Sunday afternoon is only -4 degrees Celsius (balmy compared to the temperatures of past few days), but the wind that blows through Tim Hortons Field is sure to bite. With the frigid cold and the sticky turf pitch in Hamilton, there may be an adjustment period in the early stages of this game. The U.S. may actually be slightly more acclimated to the conditions, having played their first match in Columbus, Ohio rather than sweltering Honduras, but nonetheless the playing field should be quite even.

The age-old rivalry between Canada and the United States has been played out on many a stage. At last, though, it’s arriving in men’s soccer.

It’s time for Canada to defend home soil once again.