It really couldn鈥檛 be any other way, could it? It just seems symmetrically destined to be. Four years after the 8-1 collapse in Honduras that ended sa国际传媒鈥檚 hopes for Brazil World Cup 2014, it again comes down to a sa国际传媒 at Honduras CONCACAF qualifying game today (2 p.m. PT on TSN) for Russia World Cup 2018.
Defender Adam Straith of Victoria wasn鈥檛 a part of that infamous game in 2012 but he will be today as part of the Canadian backline options for coach Benito Floro in the intimidating atmosphere of Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula.
Mexico has clinched the top spot in this semifinal group and has a berth awaiting in the final-round of CONCACAF qualifying, also known as the Hex. sa国际传媒 and Honduras are tied for the second and final qualifying position with the Hondurans holding the edge in the goals-for-and-against tiebreaker. sa国际传媒 closes out against also-ran El Salvador on Tuesday at sa国际传媒 Place, while Honduras travels to play a likely second-tier Mexican side in their final game Tuesday.
The Canadians appear ready and buoyant.
鈥淲e know how difficult it is to go down to Honduras and get a result, but the mentality of this team has gotten stronger and stronger since we鈥檝e first started and I feel like we are ready for the challenge,鈥� said Straith, the Bays United and Lower Island Metro product.
鈥淭his is a game that we have all been looking forward to for a long time now. When the schedule first came out last year, we knew this was going to be a crucial game. So for it to be so close now is very exciting and we just can't wait to get the game started.鈥�
The most important thing, added Straith, is that sa国际传媒 controls its own fate. Win out and sa国际传媒 advances to the Hex. It鈥檚 as simple as that.
鈥淲e鈥檝e put ourselves into a position where we do not have to rely on any other team to go through. We have control over what happens in this next five days,鈥� said Straith, who plays pro in Norway.
鈥淭hat is something that is positive in a group round like this.鈥�
But that was also the case four years ago when sa国际传媒 needed only a draw in its final group semifinal game in Honduras to advance to the Hex. What happened next became one of the embarrassing low points in Canadian soccer history.
But with a new group comes new hope. Players such as Cyle Larin and Junior Hoilett give the kind of opportunity for goals that sa国际传媒 never had before. The back line, with 35-time capped Straith starting most of the qualifying games, was relatively solid before being exposed brutally in the 3-0 and 2-0 losses to Mexico at sa国际传媒 Place and Azteca Stadium.
鈥淲e have, in my opinion, a good mix of experience with players that have been in these situations before, and a fresh attitude with some players that maybe have yet to experience it but bring a high level of energy and excitement to the team,鈥� said Straith.
Canadian coach Floro addressed the media in a national teleconference interview before today鈥檚 crucial match. He said he is not concerned about the intensity of the crowd, which is always an issue for Canadian teams playing in Latin America.
鈥淔ans don鈥檛 go on to the pitch to play. So it鈥檚 not important,鈥� said Floro.
Floro replaced Stephen Hart following the 8-1 qualifying debacle in 2012 in Honduras.
鈥淭he past is not for the present,鈥� said Floro. 鈥淭he players and staff are only focused on this game. We must realize we are playing a dangerous team. At the same time, sa国际传媒 is a good team.鈥�
sa国际传媒 is going to have to prove that today in the most difficult of enviornments.
CORNER KICKS: Maxime Crepeau of the MLS Montreal Impact has replaced Simon Thomas of Victoria as the third Canadian goalkeeper for the Honduras-El Salvador set. Thomas is recovering from injury.
