Canada: Road to the FIFA World Cup


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Canada Calls 23

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Jason de Vos has announced the 23 men that will play for Canada in the 2018 World Cup Qualifier against Mexico at home and Honduras at Tegucigalpa. But Canada will have to play without some of their stars due to injury.

Junior Hoilett won't be with the team due to a thigh strain that will keep him out for 2 to 3 weeks. It will be a big lost to the team as Hoilett has been a key figure in the Canadian squad. In 9 appearance the QPR winger scored 4 goals.

"Its sucks" said Junior Hoilett "I want to be with the team and help them against a big team such as Mexico. But hopefully de Vos will do his magic and Canada will get a good result"

Another key member out is Steven Vitoria that is out with a virus. The defender has appeared in 8 games for Canada.

Other members that won't be joining are Lucas Cavallini, Issey Nakajima-Farran, Edson Edwards and Chris Mannella.

Newcomers to the Canada squad includes Adam Straith from Fredrikstad FK, Charlie Trafford from KuPS and Tosaint Ricketts from Boluspor.

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Adam Straith has appeared in 17 games for Canada but never featured in de Vos squad until now during to the great form in the Tippeligaen League. Also returning to the lineup is Tosaint Ricketts after appearing in 42 games for Canada while scoring 10 goals, he will get his chance to impress de Vos. Charlie Trafford will get his start international start for Canada after impressing de Vos during the Velkkausliiga.

The 23 man roster is:

Goalkeepers: Lars Hirschfeld (Valerenga), Milan Borjan (Ludogorets Razgrad), and David Monsalve (Millonarios);

Defenders: Nana Attakora (San Antonio Scorpions), Adam Straith (Fredrikstad FK), Marcel de Jong (Sporting Kansas City), Ashtone Morgan (Toronto FC), Wandrille Lefevre (Toronto FC), Mele Temguia (FC Montreal), Kofi Opare (DC United), and Atiba Hutchinson (Besiktas JK);

Midfielders: Patrice Bernier (Montreal Impacts), Will Johnson (Portland Timbers), Gershon Koffie (Vancouver Whitecaps), Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC), Russell Teibert (Vancouver Whitecaps), Julian De Guzman (Free Agent), Jay Chapman (Toronto FC), Charlie Trafford (KuPS), and Kianz Froese (Whitecaps FC 2):

Strikers: Tesho Akindele (Toronto FC), Cyle Larin (Orlando City SC), and Tosaint Ricketts (Boluspor)​
 

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Canada Loses

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Canada worked hard against Mexico but the Group 1 favourites were too strong as Mexico came storming back to win 3-1 in Canada. With the lost Canada still is in 2nd place with 6 points.

"We tried everything" said de Vos "But Mexico is the favourites for a reason. I can't be mad at the boys and we need to forget about the loss and focus on a positive result against Honduras."

Canada was without Junior Hoilett and Steven Vitoria due to injury. Attakora filled in for Vitoria while Teibert was in for Hoilett.

Canada began the game on a high after scoring the first goal of the game when Jonathan Osorio with a real poacher's effort from 11 metres. Giovani dos Santos tied the game after a close range effort that was impeccably timed. Carlos Vela gave Mexico the lead at the end of the 1st half after a placed shot from close range. Javier Hernandez sealed the deal for Mexico after a thumping header.

In the other game in Group 1, hated rivals Honduras and El Salvador both share a point in their 1-1 draw. After 3 rounds the standing for Group 1 is:

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Canada will go to Tegucigalpa to face Honduras.​
 

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Tesho Akindele Out, Olivier Occean In

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Tesho was injured against Mexico and will be out for 8 weeks with a Strained knee ligament. This will be a blow for Canada and Toronto FC as the Canadian stirker was in form for both teams. In international games, Akindele appeared in 13 games and scored 3 times.

Canada will call up Olivier Occean, who recently announced his retirement from the game at the end of the Bundesliga season. The veteran stirker has appeared in 32 game while scoring 6 times. In probably in his final appearance for Canada, Occean has stated that he to help Canada in anyway possible, whether he plays or gets a job within the national team.

Canada will face Honduras next.​
 

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Canada Lose Again

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The lost against Mexico was not forgotten by the Canadians as they lost to Honduras 1-0 at Tegucigalpa. Now with two games remaining, Canada will need to win at least one more game and hope Honduras doesn't win at least one of their two remaining games.

"I admit. We weren't good" said de Vos "We dropped the ball on this game. The Mexico game obviously affected us but we need to be better. We need to focus on our final two games in this stage if we want to go to the final round."

Tosaint Ricketts filled in for the injured Tesho Akindele but was poor in the game before being subbed out by Olivier Occean. Occean appeared in what most likely to be his final game for the national side after announcing his retirement earlier in the year.

Jerry Bengtson scored the only goal of the game after a tidy finish from 15 metres.

In the other Group 1 action, Mexico had an easy 2-0 win over El Salvador and also qualifying to the final stage of the 2018 World Cup Qualifier. After 4 games, the standing for Group 1 are:

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Canada will return home when they host El Salvador on September 2nd.​
 
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