2019-2020 CONCACAF Nations League

Discussion in 'Canada' started by Polygong, Mar 28, 2019.

  1. Polygong

    Polygong Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 8, 2007
    Toronto
    Club:
    Toronto FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    Now that the draw has been made, might as well have its own thread.

    So we've drawn into Group A with the USA and Cuba (interesting combo...).

    I think we're pretty good for second place. I don't think that we will dominate Cuba the way we might have dominated the other Pot C teams, and they could quite honestly upset us in a match or two. That said, I think that we could also just as much upset the US.
     
  2. Kingston

    Kingston Member+

    Oct 6, 2005
    I don't see Cuba surprising us. I think (though it will take a few more good results like beating Cuba) that we are done with the era where minnows upset us.

    I think it comes down to can we upset the US when we play at home. I suspect not but we'll see.

    Does anyone know what the tie breakers are?
     
  3. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    Goal differential then Away goals I think
     
  4. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    I think we beat the US 1 out of 2 if everyone's healthy. The talented firepower and the midfield will take the US by surprise but they will have found an answer on the second leg.

    The attack is too good to be silenced, comes down to how defense performs
     
    Polygong repped this.
  5. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    1st draft of the squad that Herdman could use

    Cuba
    (Offense oriented for Goal differential)

    --------------Cavallini---------David

    Hoillett---------‐-------------------------Davies
    -------------Arfield----------Osorio
    ‐---------------------Eustaquio

    Adekugbe--------James--------Godinho

    -----------------------Borjan

    USA
    (More balanced)

    ------------------------Cavallini---------------

    --------------------------David-------------------
    Hoillett------------------------------------Davies
    --------------------------Arfield-----------

    ---‐--------------------Eustaquio---------------

    Adekugbe----------------------------------Godinho
    ---------------------James----Henry------------

    ----------------------------Borjan

    Bench:
    Larin, Millar, Tabla, Osorio, Kaye, Piette, Cornelius, Crepeau, Thomas, Wotherspoon, Zachary Brault Guillard
     
  6. Polygong

    Polygong Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 8, 2007
    Toronto
    Club:
    Toronto FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    I like that we can actually think about having a strategy against the US that's got an attack element to it.
     
  7. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    I think Herdman already figured it out but we need to completely annihilate Cuba in both legs hence my attack oriented formation.

    If we have an identical scorecard as the US does, goal differential could be a major factor
     
  8. Kingston

    Kingston Member+

    Oct 6, 2005
    I like the ideas. I just don't think we've got the talent yet to beat the US. The Americans are also enjoying a bit of upswing and confidence coming back from their failure to qualify for the last World Cup.

    I think we can crush Cuba but I think we're looking more like a draw (home) and a loss (away) versus the US unfortunately. Of course, we could always get an upset but I think it would truly be an upset at this point.
     
  9. Polygong

    Polygong Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 8, 2007
    Toronto
    Club:
    Toronto FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    Possible just not probable. That said, it's still worth playing for the win rather than just trying to not lose. That's a big step for us.
     
  10. Kingston

    Kingston Member+

    Oct 6, 2005
    A big step and one that makes things a lot more fun.
     
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  11. EvanJ

    EvanJ Member+

    Manchester United
    United States
    Mar 30, 2004
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Davies and Cornelius made Concacaf's team of the qualifiers. You, Haiti, and Curacao led with two players, and five teams had one player.
     
  12. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    CNL multiplier will be (X25) instead of (X15)
    For the FIFA Men’s World Ranking, all 2019-2020 Concacaf Nations League matches will be granted a coefficient score which corresponds to qualification matches to a Confederations final competition, rather than friendly international matches played during FIFA International Match Calendar window.

    ***In theory, Canada making the finals could be enough to get into the Hex.
     
  13. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    Roster against the USA
    GK- Milan Borjan | SRB / FK Crvena zvezda (Red Star Belgrade)
    GK- Maxime Crépeau | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
    GK- Jayson Leutwiler | ENG / Blackburn Rovers
    CB- Derek Cornelius | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
    CB- Amer Didić | CAN / FC Edmonton
    CB- Doneil Henry | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
    CB- Steven Vitória | POR / Moreirense FC
    FB- Samuel Adekugbe | NOR / Vålerenga Fotball
    FB- Juan Córdova | CHI / CD Huachipato
    FB- Richie Laryea | CAN / Toronto FC
    FB- Kamal Miller | USA / Orlando City SC
    M- Scott Arfield | SCO / Glasgow Rangers FC
    M- Stephen Eustáquio | MEX / Cruz Azul FC
    M- Will Johnson | USA / Orlando City SC
    M- Mark-Anthony Kaye | USA / Los Angeles FC
    M- Jonathan Osorio | CAN / Toronto FC
    M- Samuel Piette | CAN / Impact de Montréal
    M- Russell Teibert | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
    F- Lucas Cavallini | MEX / Puebla FC
    F- Jonathan David | BEL / KAA Gent
    F- Alphonso Davies | GER / FC Bayern München
    F- David Junior Hoilett | WAL / Cardiff City FC
    F- Liam Millar | SCO / Kilmarnock FC
     
  14. Kingston

    Kingston Member+

    Oct 6, 2005
    I'm surprised to see Doneil Henry since he's suspended with a red card. Or do they have to pick the roster for both upcoming games against the Americans?
     
  15. Kingston

    Kingston Member+

    Oct 6, 2005
    Also interesting that Cyle Larin didn't make the roster. He's played in all nine games for Zulte Waregem so far this season and scored twice. Considering that a couple of years ago he was hailed as the future of Canadian scoring it says a lot about how quickly our team is improving that he isn't even on this list. (Although I do expect to see him again in the future.)

    And Davies as a forward. Has he now clocked in at every position except keeper? :)
     
  16. EvanJ

    EvanJ Member+

    Manchester United
    United States
    Mar 30, 2004
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You play once in October and once in November. In both months, you have one matchday off while USA plays Cuba.
     
  17. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    Must be for training only.
     
  18. Robert Borden

    Robert Borden Member+

    Chelsea
    Canada
    Apr 19, 2017
    Toronto, Ontario
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    He's getting his confidence and flow back, best not to mess with that

    He'll most likely play LW like against Cuba
     
  19. EvanJ

    EvanJ Member+

    Manchester United
    United States
    Mar 30, 2004
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    USA scored 4 goals in the first 13 minutes including a hat trick by Weston McKennie. Broadcaster and former player Stuart Holden said the USA could and should score 10. They led 6-0 at halftime and won 7-0 to come up short of the team record margin of victory, which was 8-0 hosting Barbados on June 15, 2008 in their first WCQ for 2010. The margin guarantees that if USA and Canada have a 0 goal differential against each other, which could be from wins by the same margin or from two draws, USA would win the group on goal differential with a win over Cuba in the Cayman Islands. If you beat USA by 1, USA would go into November able to win the group with two wins by any scores. It also guarantees that if you and USA win one game each with you winning by more, USA would win the group on goals scored if goal differential is tied. Both teams have 7 scored and 0 allowed. For example, if you win 2-0 and USA wins 1-0, you will finish with 9 scored and 1 allowed, and USA will have 8 scored and 2 allowed with one game left. If USA beats Cuba by exactly 2 to tie goal differential at +8, USA would have more goals scored. For USA, the only downside could be if they get overconfident. USA probably didn't anticipate trailing 2-0 at Trinidad and Tobago in their last WCQ, and they lost 2-1. Both teams should prepare for different situations and know that one mistake could cost their team the game.

    USA used 35-year-old Brad Guzan over 24-year-old Zack Steffen and 30-year-old Sean Johnson. Guzan is third among active players with 61 caps and spent a while as Tim Howard's backup. Steffen debuted last year and is up to 16 caps. Johnson debuted in 2011, but has only 8 caps. His first career start was a 1-0 win over Costa Rica in East Hartford, CT in Gold Cup 2013, which was the only USMNT game I've gone to.
     
  20. big spaniel

    big spaniel Member

    Nov 18, 1999
    Arlington, Virginia
    Hello, hope somebody can help. Looking for used ticket and program (if any) for the Canada v U.S.A. match later this week. Please PM me if you can help. Thanks, and good luck......
     
  21. Polygong

    Polygong Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 8, 2007
    Toronto
    Club:
    Toronto FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    A good show last night, our first win against the USA in 34 years!

    We put up some great attacks and really had the US on their heels more than a few times. Davies' goal was less than spectacular but a nice product of persistence. That said, Davies was a monster on the pitch, a whole new class of player for Canada if you ask me. Cavallini's goal was brilliant, a nice way to finish the game.

    What did concern me though was the back line, it was very soft and they were very underconfident with the ball. They were passing back to Borjan far too much, I was sure it was only a matter of time before the US capitalised on that.

    That was a game that really could have gone either way, Borjan had to make a couple of big saves to ensure the win. Overall though I still think that we were the better team out there.
     
    jagum repped this.
  22. Kingston

    Kingston Member+

    Oct 6, 2005
    The US could have scored a couple and would have on other nights. By the same standard, though, we could have had a couple more. Either way, a two goal Canadian win seems to accurately represent the game. I'd like to see more of it.
     
  23. Ciro Di Marzio

    Ciro Di Marzio Member+

    SSC Napoli
    Canada
    Jun 28, 2019
    Scampia
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    We're gonna win the world cup
     
  24. Kingston

    Kingston Member+

    Oct 6, 2005
    This is going to be an interesting game on Friday.

    We are entering with our best squad and with most players on it in solid form. Confidence is high after beating the US last month but probably tempered by the idea that we don't want it to be a one time thing. And then, of course, there's the chance to win the Nations League group and grab valuable FIFA ranking points. So a tremendous amount to play for.

    The US enters the game with most of its first choice roster (although they are a team in transition right now so there are some questions about what their first choice roster should be). They are still a more talented team than we are overall and they are playing at home coming off a smarting loss. A big question will be their mentality. Do they play full out or do they still believe that losing to Canada was a fluke and all they have to do is show up and wait for the "natural order of things" to reassert itself?
     
    Ciro Di Marzio repped this.
  25. Ciro Di Marzio

    Ciro Di Marzio Member+

    SSC Napoli
    Canada
    Jun 28, 2019
    Scampia
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    My bet is on them coming off hot in the opening 30minutes. We need to hold them off and be strong for the opening waves of pressure.

    If we get an early goal and unsettle them and the fans, we can be in for a historic night on Friday.
     

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