CANADA vs. DOMINICA
Thursday, June 11, 7 pm ET
Windsor Park, Roseau, Dominica
TV: Online Stream
Canada’s quest towards Russia 2018 is set to begin in the same way as its last few World Cup qualifying campaigns – in the early CONCACAF rounds, against an obscure and (almost certainly) overmatched opponent.
But Canadian fans are desperately hoping that this campaign will end a bit differently than the last few have.
It’s assumed that this home-and-away series (the second leg is at BMO Field on June 16) will be a cakewalk for Benito Floro’s side, with many observers already casting their gaze toward the semifinal round (Canada’s terminus in the last four qualifying cycles), set to kick off in November.
But Floro has been careful not to overlook this matchup with the tiny Caribbean island, currently ranked No. 168 in the world. He has named a nearly full-strength roster and said earlier this month that “we need to play both games with a lot of intensity and I hope my players understand the situation, because it would be very, very bad if we don’t play well.”
Indeed it would, given that Canada—who’ve recently moved up to No. 109 in the world—has found ways to slip up against minnows in the past. Under Floro, however, the team appears to be more organized and confident than in the past, which has some fans wondering whether he might be the one to lead them to the final round of CONCACAF qualifying (aka “the Hex”) for the first time since the 1998 World Cup cycle.
Before any of that, however, there is Dominica—and, beyond Dominica, another home-and-away series in September.
Roster notes: Atiba Hutchinson has been ruled out of both legs against Dominica with a leg injury. Meanwhile, FC Edmonton defender Mallan Roberts has replaced Dejan Jakovic, who is also dealing with an injury.
Broadcast note: The game will not be broadcast on Canadian television. There is the possibility of a web stream, but the logistics will not be known until matchday. The Canadian Soccer Association will provide updates via Twitter, @CanadaSoccerEN.
HISTORY
In terms of history between the two teams, there is none. This series will be the first two matches between Canada and Dominica.
Now, if you’re talking World Cup history – well, there’s also close to none. Canada’s only appearance in the FIFA World Cup was in 1986, though they came agonizingly close to qualifying for USA ’94 (losing to Australia on penalty kicks in an intercontinental play-off). In their most recent qualifying campaign, heading into Brazil 2014… well, let’s just agree not to talk about that, shall we?
As for Dominica, this will be just their sixth World Cup qualifying campaign. The second round of CONCACAF qualifying is the farthest they’ve ever gone, posting an all-time record of three wins, four draws and 11 losses in World Cup qualifying.
CANADA OUTLOOK
With a new cycle comes new hope. And while Canada has spent much of the last two and a half years fumbling in the wilderness, after unceremoniously crashing out of their last World Cup qualifying campaign, things actually appear to be coming together at the right time for Floro and company.
After an unconscionably abysmal 2013, in which Canada had zero wins and just one goal in 13 games, things began turning around in 2014, when Canada lost just once in five friendlies. So far in 2015, Canada has turned in a pair of creditable performances against Iceland (a 1-1 draw and a 2-1 loss) and posted victories over Guatemala and Puerto Rico.
If the Canadians can, as expected, earn two more wins against Dominica, they’ll ride into this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup on their first four-game winning streak since 2009. (Cosmic coincidence: Part of that streak came during the 2009 Gold Cup, in which Canada finished first in a group that included Costa Rica, Jamaica and El Salvador—the exact same teams they’ll be lined up against in the 2015 tournament).
Spirits have also been boosted by two fresh faces appearing on the roster: Will Johnson, who hasn’t been with the Canadian team in nearly two years, and Tesho Akindele, the Calgary-born FC Dallas striker who has just now committed to represent the nation of his birth.
DOMINICA OUTLOOK
Dominica—whose all-time high in the FIFA rankings was No. 128, back in February 2011—actually comes into this match with a bit of momentum.
After defeating the British Virgin Islands (ranked No. 194) 3-2 on aggregate in the first round of CONCACAF qualifying back in March, Dominica played a trio of friendlies against fellow Caribbean teams in order to prepare for the Canadian showdown. They ended up with a 2-1 win over Grenada (No. 160), a 1-1 draw with Saint Lucia (No. 136) and a 1-0 loss to St. Vincent and the Grenadines (No. 112).
All of this being said, the team’s outlook for World Cup qualification is exceedingly bleak; barring one of the most monumental upsets in soccer history, this is where the road will end for Dominica.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Canada – Tesho Akindele – Who else? The 2014 MLS Rookie of the Year bucked the trend and, when faced with a decision of whether to play for Canada or a higher-ranked country (in this case, the US), he actually chose Canada!
His commitment couldn’t have come at a better time, as the recent retirement of all-time leading scorer Dwayne De Rosario has opened the door for someone to step up and put the ball in the back of the net for Canada. Against Dominica, Akindele will get his first chance to show whether or not he’ll live up to the hype.
Dominica – Julian Wade– One of just two members of this roster to be playing professionally outside of Dominica at the moment, the 24-year-old striker has four goals in 12 appearances for his national team.
ROSTERS
Canada
GOALKEEPERS (3): Milan Borjan (Radnički Nis/Serbia); Lars Hirschfeld (Vålerenga/Norway); Kenny Stamatopoulos (AIK/Sweden)
DEFENDERS (7): Nana Attakora (San Antonio Scorpions); Manjrekar James (Pécsi MFC/Hungary); Mallan Roberts (FC Edmonton); Ashtone Morgan (Toronto FC); Karl W. Ouimette (New York Red Bulls); David Edgar (Birmingham City FC/England); Nik Ledgerwood (Energie Cottbus/Germany)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Adam Straith (Fredrikstad FK/Norway);
Maxim Tissot
(Impact de Montréal); Julian de Guzman (Ottawa Fury FC);
Atiba Hutchinson (Besiktas/Turkey)
;
Will Johnson
(Portland Timbers);
Jonathan Osorio
(Toronto FC); Samuel Piette (Deportivo la Coruña; Spain);
Russell Teibert
(Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
FORWARDS (5): Tosaint Ricketts (Hapoel Haifa/Israel); Tesho Akindele (FC Dallas); Randy Edwini-Bonsu (Stuttgarter Kickers/Germany); Marcus Haber (Crewe Alexandra/England); Cyle Larin (Orlando City SC)
Dominica
GOALKEEPERS (3): Glenson Prince (San Juan Jabloteh/Trinidad); Owen Oscar (Kensbro FC/Dominica); Raleighson Pascal (unattached)
DEFENDERS (8): Aldrin Lawrence (Portsmouth Bombers/Dominica); Darlton Bannis (unattached); Kervin Lawrence (unattached); Kurtney Mckenzie (unattached); Malcolm Joseph (Club Old Fort Road/Dominica); Malyan Philip (Southeast SC/Dominica); Hubert Prince (Centre Bath Estate/Dominica); Egbert Walsh (unattached)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Joslyn Prince (Southeast FC/Dominica); Naielle Lee (Centre Bath Estate/Dominica); Chad Bertrand (Dublanc FC/Dominica); Glensworth Elizee (Portsmouth Bombers/Dominica); Scottie Phillip (Southeast FC/Dominica); Sidney Lockhart (Southeast SC/Dominica); Travis Joseph (Dublanc FC/Dominica); Briel Thomas (Dublanc FC/Dominica); Anfernee Frederick (unattached)
FORWARDS (4): Mitchell Joseph (Centre Bath Estate/Dominica); Julian Wade (Slingerz FC/Guyana); Randolph Peltier (Pointe Michel FC/Dominica); Bert Casimir (unattached)
