Taking Canada to its second World Cup, head coach John Herdman will, at the very least, be looking to go one better than the 1986 showing in Mexico of three losses, five goals against, and zero goals scored.
Luckily for Herdman and followers of the Les Rouges, this squad is far more talented. Headlined by Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, Cyle Larin, and talisman Atiba Hutchinson, Canada could disrupt a very tough Group F.
Canada’s 2022 World Cup Odds:
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To beat Belgium (+925)
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To beat Croatia (+370)
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To reach the Quarter-Finals (+900)
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To win Group F (+1,000)
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To win the World Cup (+20,000)
The odds are being stacked against Canada in Group F, surrounded by two of Europe’s elite teams as well as one of the best teams in Africa. Still, at the FIFA World Cup, a giant killer always emerges in the Group Stages.
Canada Soccer confirms that the #CanMNT will face Qatar on Friday, September 23rd and Uruguay on Tuesday, September 27th in Vienna, Austria in a pair of tune-up games ahead of the 2022 World Cup
— Michael Singh (@MichaelSingh94) July 13, 2022
Staring Down European Giants
The 2022 World Cup kicks off on November 21, with Canada’s first game being against Belgium on November 23 at the 50,000-seater Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
Simply put: you’ll struggle to find a tipster backing Canada to get anything out of this game. The Red Devils come to the game with odds of -333 to win, with Les Rouges out at +925 to win and +420 to tie.
Not to give false hope, but this is an old Belgium side that has failed to meet its world-beating potential. Now, instead of being among the favourites for the tournament, this Golden Generation is out at +11,000.
Add onto this that their UEFA Nations League results in June 2022 saw a 4-1 loss to the Netherlands, a 1-1 tie with Wales, and two of their three staple centre-backs (Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld) set to combine to be 69-years-old by the time of the Qatar World Cup, and you can see some cracks starting to show.
With immensely physical and athletic Canadians in David and Davies powering forward, Larin and Buchanan throwing themselves into the attack, and Stephen Eustáquio having a great eye for a pass, it doesn’t become so far-fetched to see Canada scoring against the European heavyweights.
It defies the odds, but Croatia looks like the more formidable force this far out from the World Cup. Sound in all phases of the game, ageless wonder Luka Modrić will continue to pop perfect plays from midfield.
Slightly mired by a 3-0 loss to Austria with many second-string players on the field, June then saw Croatia turn in a 1-1 tie with France, a 1-0 win over Denmark, and then a 1-0 win against the reigning World Cup champions in Saint-Denis.
The 2018 World Cup runners-up look to uphold their tough-to-beat persona, but the second game of the Group Stages might be a decisive one for Croatia and Canada.
With the meet set for November 27 at the Khalifa International Stadium, the scores from the first games will weigh heavily on both sides – especially for Croatia if Morocco gets a positive result.
In the eyes of the oddsmakers, Canada has a much better chance of getting something out of the Croatia game, coming in at +370 to win and +260 to tie, with Croatia the natural favourites at -133 to win.
Finally, if Belgium and Croatia don’t beat Canada and Morocco in their first two games, the North American and African sides could have something to play for on December 1 at Al Thumama Stadium.
While both Les Rouges and the Atlas Lions are stacked with young talents and coaches who impressed during qualifying, it is a huge ask for either to skim points from the European sides.
Regardless, this could make for an entertaining battle for third place.
Will Canada Do Better Than At 1986 World Cup?
At +1,000 to win Group F in the World Cup betting, it’s fair to say that the experts have pencilled Canada in as the absolute underdogs.
Given the might of Belgium and Croatia, as well as Morocco’s good tournament form and very talented squad, it doesn’t come as a surprise that Canada isn’t atop the odds and only comes in to +900 to get to the Quarter-Finals.
Should Canada escape Group F – almost certainly in second to either European team – they’d then likely need to face off against another elite from Europe in the Round of 16: Spain or Germany.
Still, Canada didn’t score, didn’t win, and conceded five goals at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. At the very least, Les Rouges should improve on this result before being a joint host in 2026.
There is simply too much talent on this roster, particularly for the attacking phases of the game, for Canada not to get a goal.
Morocco isn’t rock-solid at the back, having conceded a goal in recent games against South Africa and DR Congo on two occasions.
Belgium’s wing-backs will have their work cut out for them, too, especially with the ageing backline behind them.
Canada will arrive at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar already written off, but that gives the North American side the prime opportunity to disrupt Group F, be the banana skin, and potentially get the nation’s first points at the biggest single-sport competition on the planet.
*Credit for all images in this article belongs to AP Photo*
FIRST PUBLISHED: 21st July 2022
