Inside Soccer: Canada set to play Mexico in CONCACAF semifinal

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With political tension at an all-time high between Canada and the United States, a sports rivalry can be the best distraction.

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While Canada took the hockey title weeks ago, the two countries are on a crash course to meet each other in men’s soccer Thursday.

Four teams remain in the hunt for the CONCACAF Nations League title. The semifinals and final will be played at Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles. Canada is set to face Mexico, while USA will play Panama on Wednesday. The winners will meet Sunday.

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Although we are a hockey nation, our men’s soccer team has been on an upwards trajectory for years now. Many feel it’s time for Canada to lift a trophy, something they haven’t done since their shock Gold Cup victory in 2000.

The boys will have to first get past Mexico. While El Tri is positioned 19th in the world, betting websites slightly favour the 31st-ranked Canadians. According to TSN, it is the first time on record that Les Rouges have ever been the odds-on favourites in a head-to-head clash.

These two last played each other in a scrappy nil-nil draw back in September, a game in which Canada looked the better of the two sides.

In years past, Mexico was the most feared in the region. That no longer seems to be the case. Their offence lacks punch. There is no superstar to put the fear of God into their opponents. Regardless, it’s Mexico, football nation.

Plus, it’s southern California. Of the 50,000-plus expected, an overwhelming number will be in green. The Reds should have a few hundred in support, plus a small contingent from Saskatoon. The pro-Mexican crowd will make for a hostile environment.

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In the other semifinal, USA is heavily favoured to beat Panama, although nothing is a given in football. It was Panama who defeated and eliminated the States at last summer’s Copa America.

While our neighbours to the south have had our number over the past few decades, the most recent meeting had the Canucks handily defeat the Americans on their home soil last year for the first time since 1957. That previous win came at a time when we didn’t even have a maple leaf on our flag yet.

On paper, it’s the U.S. They are the three-time defending Nations League champions. No other side has lifted the trophy.

Canada has something special. Our men play the most attractive, dynamic football in the region, and that never could be said before. The players talk about a brotherhood that has been evident since the World Cup qualifiers four years ago.

We’ve seen a surge of Canadians in Europe. Not only are they overseas, they are having a major impact in big competitions. Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies each scored last week, while Alistair Johnson has arguably been Celtic FC’s best player in the Champions League.

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Canada is at its highest-ever ranking, and deservedly so. Head coach Jesse Marsch is quoted as saying, “I think this is the strongest the Canadian men’s national team has ever been.”

While a USA-Mexico final is always the desired matchup for CONCACAF, this time a USA-Canada final just seems fitting.

(Lee Kormish, a freelance writer, can be reached at [email protected] and you can follow Lee’s World Cup Channel on YouTube)

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