EDMONTON 鈥� Sam Adekugbe grew up in Calgary, and has played pro soccer in Norway, so he knows a few things about having to deal with inclement weather.
When asked about the coldest game he ever played in, his memory went back to Scandinavia.
鈥淧robably, Norway, small town called Tromso, got down to -15,鈥� Adekubge said after the Canadian national team trained indoors Monday at the Scottish Dome on Edmonton鈥檚 south side. "It was cold, but we survived."
sa国际传媒 (3-0-4) is preparing to face Mexico in a game that could decide who goes to the top of the table in CONCACAF鈥檚 World Cup qualifying Octagon. sa国际传媒 currently sits third, Mexico (4-1-2) is tied with the United States at the top. The top three teams qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, while the fourth-place team gets a final chance to qualify through an intercontinental playoff.
sa国际传媒 beat Costa Rica in Edmonton Friday, in front of more than 48,806. That game was played in what some in Edmonton would consider balmy November conditions, at 1 C. But Environment sa国际传媒 is calling for heavy snow during the day Tuesday, followed by what could be -11 C temperatures around kickoff 鈥� and that鈥檚 before the wind chill is factored in.
Defender Steven Vitoria said the weather won鈥檛 affect the team.
鈥淲e grew up in this," he said. "We joked around during the week, this brings us back to our childhood. We鈥檙e excited. We鈥檙e not going to find any excuses. We鈥檙e going to leave it all out there, whether it鈥檚 sunny or snowy.鈥�
He said the weather wasn鈥檛 a factor Friday, because the fan support for sa国际传媒 was so strong and the players were able to ride the wave of emotion.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 really feel it, we fed off the heat of our fans and we think it will be crucial tomorrow night.鈥�
sa国际传媒 Soccer officials confirmed that more than 50,000 tickets have been sold for Tuesday.
Coach John Herdman said he expects nothing less than a war between the two teams; Mexico beat sa国际传媒 2-1 at the Gold Cup, but sa国际传媒 drew the Mexicans 1-1 at Azteca Stadium earlier in the qualifying cycle.
鈥淭he pitch is going to be set up the same, it鈥檚 a narrow field for both games,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut the narrow-field conditions, it鈥檚 not going to matter. It鈥檚 going to be an absolute war. It鈥檚 what we鈥檙e intending to bring. Both teams want to finish up at the top of the group by the end of the year.鈥�
The field at Commonwealth is narrow because of the surrounding athletic track. During training at the Scottish Dome Monday, the sidelines were brought in so the team could replicate the Commonwealth conditions.聽
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in Edmonton Monday morning to make an announcement on the child-care plan, visited with the team during the session.
鈥淚 just want you to know how much we are all so excited about what you have achieved, what you are going to continue to achieve and know that we鈥檙e really, really, really rooting for you all,鈥� Trudeau told the players.聽
Trudeau asked the team whether they thought the cold weather and snow would be an advantage against Mexico.聽
鈥淭hey鈥檙e not going to like it,鈥� one team member said.聽
鈥淚t鈥檚 not like you鈥檝e grown fur. Nobody is going to like it, but you鈥檙e a little more used to it?鈥� Trudeau asked.
The players smiled and nodded.
"He reminded us that we鈥檙e all in this together as a country, and we all share a common goal, to raise our country鈥檚 name as high as we can,鈥� Vitoria said of the meeting with Trudeau.
-- With files from Daniela Germano.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Month Date, 2021.
Steven Sandor, The Canadian Press
