Canadian Soccer Part VI; O CANADA O BABY

[xtra]

On the same topic.

assuming we qualify in the first game or two are there any players worth capping in the final game

 

[crobro]

Flores for sure

 

[robertmac43]

If Flores is willing to report you CAP him as soon as you can!

 

[al secord]

Even if Flores decided he wanted to play for Canada, would he have the balls to jump ship at this point? Mexicans would lose their minds.

 

[PanniniClaus]

Even if Flores decided he wanted to play for Canada, would he have the balls to jump ship at this point? Mexicans would lose their minds.

Hard to say how deep the blood runs... There is probably room in both teams for an attacking midfielder of the future..,Big decision

 

[Pink Mist]

Stefan Mitrovic is another young player I can see them realistically try to cap tie since he's already indicated interest

Jebbison like Flores is another long shot one

Really hoping some center back somewhere out there discovers Canadian citizenship since that's what we really need

EDIT: In terms of one to watch at center back in the future, there is Justin Smith who just turned 19 and signed a pro contract with Nice last summer, came up through the PSG system. Plays for Nice's b team right now. Obviously more likely a player for the 2026 cycle

 

[robertmac43]

EDIT: In terms of one to watch at center back in the future, there is Justin Smith who just turned 19 and signed a pro contract with Nice last summer, came up through the PSG system. Plays for Nice's b team right now. Obviously more likely a player for the 2026 cycle

The one thing to keep in mind about Smith is he is not a natural CB. He was a CM in his younger days and still plays a good amount of CDM. Ways off from being a mainstay on the backline. Great on the ball though, I could see Herman looking at him as an option as early as the 2023 GC. Would provide coverage at 2 positions.

Going to be interesting to see what position he ends up playing as he progresses professionally.

 

[Pink Mist]

The one thing to keep in mind about Smith is he is not a natural CB. He was a CM in his younger days and still plays a good amount of CDM. Ways off from being a mainstay on the backline. Great on the ball though, I could see Herman looking at him as an option as early as the 2023 GC. Would provide coverage at 2 positions.

Going to be interesting to see what position he ends up playing as he progresses professionally.

Yeah I should have clarified that he also plays defensive mid in a Piette type role too. We definitely need some friendlies scheduled soon to see what we have with a few of these potential next world cup cycle players

 

[Tuggy]

Up to #33

Men's Ranking

 

[robertmac43]

Wildly exciting times. I don't put much stock into FIFA rankings but it's exciting to see us at 33

 

[Scandale du Jour]

Wildly exciting times. I don't put much stock into FIFA rankings but it's exciting to see us at 33

Much better than when we were in the 100s

 

[robertmac43]

Crazy how times change;

 

[luiginb]

122 is Zimbabwe's slot now, to put things into perspective.

 

[tank44]

IF the rest of qualifying plays out with the favorites winning & advancing, Canada will be the 3rd highest ranked team in pot 4 based on today's rankings. Right now I see #25 Serbia as the lowest ranked Pot 3 team. There is a tight grouping in the rankings with Canada as they're farther in points from 32 than they are 37.

To get to POT 3, Canada will need to have 3 teams in favorable position and ahead of them in the rankings to not qualify and not have another team near them leap them. Here are some of the scenarios that could happen. Come on chaos!!

• USA (#13) to not qualify. Very possible with games at Panama & Costa Rica still. This then has 2 of Panama, Costa Rica & OFC team who will all be below Canada to qualify.
• Scotland (#40) to qualify from their UEFA bracket and not leap Canada in rankings
• Russia (#35) to qualify from their UEFA bracket and not leap Canada in rankings
• Neither Italy nor Portugal qualify from their UEFA bracket and Turkey (#39) to not leap Canada in rankings
• Japan (#23) doesn't get auto-qualifier and fails in AFC4th or vs Inter-confed playoff. If so, then Australia (#37) also not to leap Canada.
  
• Egypt (#34) to beat Senegal (#18) in CAF playoff and not leap Canada in rankings. Assume winner of this will be above Canada though
  
• Ghana (#61) to beat Nigeria (#32) in CAF playoff
• Congo (#66) to beat Morocco (#21) in CAF playoff
• South Korea (#29) who already qualified to lose remaining matches and drop in rankings

Also assuming POT 4 would already have the following teams and all remain below Canada.

• Tunisia #36 vs Mali #48 winner in CAF playoff
  
• Cameroon #38 vs #43 Algeria winner in CAF playoff
• Ecuador #44
• Saudi Arabia #53
• Panama #63/ Costa Rica #42 / OFC winner

 

[robertmac43]

Also assuming POT 4 would already have the following teams and all remain below Canada.

Great breakdown! It's going to be interesting watching all of the other scored boards from around the world in the next window.

 

[al secord]

122 is Zimbabwe's slot now, to put things into perspective.

Suck it Bruce Grobbelaar!

 

[Tuggy]

Sounding like BMO field for the Jamaica match. Nothing official, but seems to be the hot rumor.

 

[theaub]

I will fly everyone in this topic to Qatar if its not at BMO (think its out online anyways)

 

[gary69]

Suck it Bruce Grobbelaar!

Loved Peter Ndlovy at Coventry.

 

[Javaman]

IF the rest of qualifying plays out with the favorites winning & advancing, Canada will be the 3rd highest ranked team in pot 4 based on today's rankings. Right now I see #25 Serbia as the lowest ranked Pot 3 team. There is a tight grouping in the rankings with Canada as they're farther in points from 32 than they are 37.

To get to POT 3, Canada will need to have 3 teams in favorable position and ahead of them in the rankings to not qualify and not have another team near them leap them. Here are some of the scenarios that could happen. Come on chaos!!

• USA (#13) to not qualify. Very possible with games at Panama & Costa Rica still. This then has 2 of Panama, Costa Rica & OFC team who will all be below Canada to qualify.
• Scotland (#40) to qualify from their UEFA bracket and not leap Canada in rankings
• Russia (#35) to qualify from their UEFA bracket and not leap Canada in rankings
• Neither Italy nor Portugal qualify from their UEFA bracket and Turkey (#39) to not leap Canada in rankings
• Japan (#23) doesn't get auto-qualifier and fails in AFC4th or vs Inter-confed playoff. If so, then Australia (#37) also not to leap Canada.
  
• Egypt (#34) to beat Senegal (#18) in CAF playoff and not leap Canada in rankings. Assume winner of this will be above Canada though
  
• Ghana (#61) to beat Nigeria (#32) in CAF playoff
• Congo (#66) to beat Morocco (#21) in CAF playoff
• South Korea (#29) who already qualified to lose remaining matches and drop in rankings

Also assuming POT 4 would already have the following teams and all remain below Canada.

• Tunisia #36 vs Mali #48 winner in CAF playoff
  
• Cameroon #38 vs #43 Algeria winner in CAF playoff
• Ecuador #44
• Saudi Arabia #53
• Panama #63/ Costa Rica #42 / OFC winner

I'm sort of torn on this. On the one hand, it frustrating to think that Canada could end up in Pot 4 while Mexico and the USA end up in Pot 2, should they qualify.

On the other hand, it basically means that Canada is more of a Pot 2 team than a Pot 4 team, which could set up some potentially fantastic upsets in the round robin. I wonder if the higher ranked nations would prefer to face the US or Mexico instead of Canada in the opening round.

Either way, I'm going to enjoy the hell out of Canada's games in Qatar.

 

[maclean]

I will fly everyone in this topic to Qatar if its not at BMO (think its out online anyways)

posting for updates

 

[koyvoo]

In the ELO rankings, which itself not perfect, but usually more accurate than the FIFA rankings IMO, Canada is currently ranked 21st.

 

[Sexy Necksy Garland]

In the ELO rankings, which itself not perfect, but usually more accurate than the FIFA rankings IMO, Canada is currently ranked 21st.

Wild.

 

[Scandale du Jour]

I'm sort of torn on this. On the one hand, it frustrating to think that Canada could end up in Pot 4 while Mexico and the USA end up in Pot 2, should they qualify.

On the other hand, it basically means that Canada is more of a Pot 2 team than a Pot 4 team, which could set up some potentially fantastic upsets in the round robin. I wonder if the higher ranked nations would prefer to face the US or Mexico instead of Canada in the opening round.

Either way, I'm going to enjoy the hell out of Canada's games in Qatar.

Let's book our ticket first

 

[robertmac43]

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