No, usually Canada does not participate in the Copa América. For its 2024 edition, this South American continental competition, organized by CONMEBOL, invited six CONCACAF teams to participate for the second time in its history. But Canada still had to qualify, in this exceptionally competitive competition in the United States. To do this, the Reds only had to beat Jamaica on total goals last November to advance to the semi-finals of the Nations League. Under the orders of Mauro Biello, the selection failed in this task. A play-off match against Trinidad and Tobago was required in March, a match which Canada won 2-0. With the reward of Group A of the Copa, and a clash with Lionel Messi at the curtain-raiser.
Canada demonstrated, in a friendly against France (0-0) at the beginning of the month, that it had what it took to hold on to the powers. But the risk of being completely downgraded is very real. We’re still talking about the reigning Copa and world champions here. There is obviously Messi, the captain, always motivated and in good shape in the selection. But midfielder Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), striker Julian Alvarez (Manchester City) and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa) are other big players who will want to make the difference for the Albiceleste. On the other hand, it is not impossible that Argentina is not quite ready this early in the competition. In this sense, Saudi Arabia’s victory against these same Argentines at the start of the 2022 World Cup could be inspiring.
So, among Canadians, who could stand up? Alphonso Davies is their highest profile player. Not only is he considered one of the best left-backs in the world – a position he took over under Jesse Marsch with Canada – but he was also named captain of the team by Marsch on Monday. A great battle is emerging against Ángel Di Maria in this corridor. The return of the speedy Davies on the left leaves the offensive task in the hands of scorers Cyle Larin, Jonathan David and Tajon Buchanan… with more than mixed success in the last matches. In the middle, Stephen Eustáquio is the metronome of this team, and was even in the running to become captain. The defenders will perhaps be the most in demand against Argentina…
… Which leads us to talk about Moïse Bombito, and the Quebec contingent among the Reds. Bombito, a former CS Saint-Laurent player in Montreal, is blossoming with the Colorado Rapids, at a time when he is entrusted with Canadian central defense. He is accompanied by Derek Cornelius: the duo’s brilliance helped the Canadians keep France in check in Bordeaux. Behind, Maxime Crépeau solidified his status as starting goalkeeper after his good performance with the French. Midfielders Mathieu Choinière and Samuel Piette are in the team, but they find themselves behind Eustáquio and the excellent Ismaël Koné on the board. With Crépeau, Bombito and Koné starting, Canada finds itself with a beautiful Quebec backbone.
Barring an exploit against Argentina, if Canada wants to do well at the Copa, it is against Peru (June 25) and Chile (June 29) that it has an imperative to achieve results. These two teams, ranked 32nd and 42nd respectively, are far from being weak teams. Chile, above all, won the Copa in 2015 and 2016: the second of these trophies was lifted in the United States, in fact. But the Chileans are at the end of their cycle. Argentina may be too big to swallow, but Peru and Chile, while tough, are takeable. The kind of opponents that Canada must beat to confirm its aspirations to become a great football nation.
