Canada to get off to winning start in final stage
The last stage of the COVID-hit CONCACAF section of the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers finally gets underway late on Thursday evening local time, and Canada will be gunning for third place behind long-standing zone favourites Mexico and the USMNT in reaching Qatar late next year. Honduras are the visitors to the BMO Field in Toronto, and will be hoping to take a draw back down south with them. Read our preview here:
Alphonso's ripe
Despite missing some of their exciting attacking talents on top of injuries to key men, John Herdman led his charges to within a whisker of the Gold Cup final earlier in the summer, and only a Héctor Herrera winner in the eighth minute of injury time for El Tri prevented Canada from taking Mexico all the way. On Thursday, Alphonso Davies will be back in the squad after missing the prior tournament due to injury. Already a regular for world giants Bayern Munich at the age of 20, the extremely quick left-sided player will have Tajon Buchanan for company on the opposite flank, and together, they will dictate much of the tempo. Lille striker Jonathan David has fired 15 goals in 16 caps for the senior side, and will be a grateful recipient of the chances created for him.
General Romell
If there is a major weakness for the hosts, it's the centre of defence, and given that Los Catrachos will be looking to break periods of sustained pressure, it could be one that Fabián Coito's men can exploit at least once. Striker Romell Quioto is very familiar to Canadian fans, turning out for CF Montréal in the MLS since 2020, where he had acquitted himself well, reaching 10 goals in his first year after more profligate seasons for Houston Dynamo. He'll be partnered by Anthony Lozano, which should ensure that Honduras have more than one focal point to aim to beat the press.
No hex on them
Heardman has targetted maximum points (21) from their seven home games in the rejigged 'Octagon', and the first three fixtures will come in under a week. The depth they have in attacking areas should allow them to get off to the right start, but it won't all be plain sailing, and they will doubtlessly have one eye on their trip to Nashville just three days later. betway have odds of 4.33 for a home win and both teams to score.
