How do you prepare to compete against an opponent that hasn’t played a game in more than two years, and about which very little is known?
That’s the situation facing the Canadian men’s team as gets set to face the U.S. Virgin Islands on Sunday in its opening match of Concacaf Nations League qualifying.
The side from the U.S. Virgin Islands, an American territory consisting of a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 60 kilometres east of Puerto Rico, hasn’t played a match since June 7, 2016 when it lost 7-0 to Curacao in a Caribbean Cup qualifier. Three days earlier, they lost by the same score to Guyana.
Since then, the U.S. Virgin Islands, nicknamed The Dashing Eagles, have been out of action, dropping to No. 199 (out of 211 national teams) in the current FIFA world rankings, sandwiched between Samoa and Sri Lanka. Canada is ranked 79th.
Asked what he knows about Sunday’s opponent, veteran Canadian defender Dejan Jakovic admitted to Sportsnet, “To be honest, not a whole lot.”
It was a sentiment echoed by Canadian coach John Herdman, who noted the U.S. Virgin Islands team switched coaches last year and has brought in a lot of new players into this camp compared to its last active period of matches from 2015 to 2016.
This isn’t like going up against Mexico, one of the top soccer nations in the Concacaf region and a regular World Cup participant. But playing a minnow such as the U.S. Virgin Islands does present some potential hiccups, according to Herdman.
“It’s one of those tier-three matches that, when you frame this up for the players, it’s a different challenge than playing against a Mexico. We’re expected to really rack up [goals],” Herdman told reporters during a Friday conference call.
“When that sort of focus is in place it can breed a level of frustration. You go into a Mexico game and it can get the blood boiling playing against a bigger foe. [This is] the sort of game where you’re the Goliath and they’re the David, [and] you have to really get that mindset right.”
He later added: “We know [the U.S. Virgin Islands are] a very direct and physical team, so it’s one of those games where the mentality is one of the most important things.”
Known for its white sand beaches and tropical climate, the U.S. Virgin Islands has a population of just under 105,000 people, with a total land area of 346.36 square kilometres – smaller than the city of Montreal. Just over 18,000 people live in the capital city of Charlotte Amalie. Last September, Category 5 hurricanes Irma and Maria caused extensive damage on the island.
Technically, this is a road game for Canada even though it’s being played at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida due of a lack of a suitable venues in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Looking to book a spot in the inaugural 2019-20 Concacaf Nations League, Canada is in a qualifying group with the U.S. Virgin Islands, Dominica (No. 177 in the world), St. Kitts & Nevis (No. 135), and French Guiana (unranked, as it’s not a FIFA member). The Reds host Dominica in its first home game on Oct. 16 at BMO Field.
The Nations League will be used as the qualifying process for the Concacaf Gold Cup and it will also determine seeding for 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying. The top 10 teams from the single-table Nations League qualifiers will earn a berth at the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup, which will expand from 12 to 16 teams.
During some recent international windows, Canada has played just one game (and sometimes none at all). The hope is that by playing regular games in the Nations League, Canada will improve and be able to test itself ahead of next year’s Gold Cup and the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
“This is very different [for Canada], to go through an entire quadrennial where every international match has significant meaning to it in terms of ranking points, you can only say it’s a good thing,” Herdman stated.
One player who could feature for Canada on Sunday is Vancouver Whitecaps winger Alphonso Davies, one of five teenagers named to Herdman’s 23-man roster.
Davies, still only 17, recently made headlines when he signed with German outfit Bayern Munich as part of a transfer deal that could surpass $20 million when all is said and done. Davies will finish out the current Major League Soccer season before making the move to Germany later this year.
Davies was the top scorer at the 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup, scoring three goals for Canada. He also won the tournament’s best young player award. Davies has three goals in six appearance for the Reds since making his debut in an international friendly last summer in Montreal against Curacao.
Jakovic calls Davies a “special talent.”
“There’s not much to say about him when a giant club like Bayern Munich comes in for you. That says it all. He’s super athletic, very fast, and his knowledge of the game for his age is impressive, and the way he reads the game. His attacking ability, one-on-one – a very special player and very bright future ahead of him,” Jakovic offered.
Sunday will mark Herdman’s second game in charge of Canada since being appointed as Octavio Zambrano’s successor back in January. The Reds previously earned a 1-0 win over New Zealand in an international friendly on March 24 held in Murcia, Spain.
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