Are the Maple Leafs marching on towards the World Cup?
2026 the World Cup will be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada. By then at the latest, the Canadians will be back in the mix for the title matches as hosts. The longing will come to an end after 40 years at the latest. But perhaps Team Canada will succeed in returning to the world stage in Qatar in 2022.
From the final group of eight in the CONCACAF zone in North and Central America, the top three teams will qualify directly for the World Cup. Fourth place still offers the backdoor of intercontinental play-offs. At the moment, things are not looking bad for the Canadians, as John Herdman’s team is in third place behind Mexico and the USA.
But everything is still close together. Panama and Costa Rica in particular are still hot on the Canadians’ heels.
However, Costa Rica, who have competed in four of the last five World Cups, can close the gap on the Canadians with an away win. On current form, however, we see the home side ahead in Edmonton and therefore we tend to place a tip on a clear home win between Canada and Costa Rica.
Canada – Statistics & current form
The Canadian national team has made a huge surge in recent months. Two pieces of the puzzle from the junior ranks have helped. FC Bayern’s Alphonso Davies and OSC Lille’s Jonathan David have taken Canada’s selection to a new level and all of a sudden the Maple Leafs believe in their own strength and a successful World Cup qualification.
Home Strong Maple Leafs
The Canadians are currently unbeaten in a total of twelve qualifying matches. Most recently, they have not lost six times in a row. Team Canada has already come through the difficult away games in the USA and Mexico. Ahead of the kick-off between Canada and Costa Rica, we dare to predict that the Canadians’ prospects of competing in Qatar are dazzling.
The Maple Leafs are an absolute power, especially at home. The Canadians have been unbeaten at home since March 2016, i.e. for more than five years. In October, for example, they followed up a 0-0 draw in Jamaica with a convincing 4-1 home win over Panama. An own goal, Alphonso Davies, Tajon Buchanan and Jonathan David were on the scoreboard at the end.
Apart from Junior Hoilett and Tosaint Ricketts, John Herdman has all his regulars on board. We therefore expect the Canadians to play Costa Rica with a very similar team, both in terms of tactics, i.e. full speed ahead, and in terms of personnel.
Predicted Canada line-up:
Borjan – Laryea, Miller Vitoria, Johnston – Eustaquio, Hutchinson – Davies, Wotherspoon, Buchanan – David – coach: Herdman
Last matches played by Canada:
World Cup Qualifiers CONCACAF Finals
10/14 2021 – Canada 4 – 1 Panama
10/11 2021 – Jamaica 0 – 0 Canada
10/08 2021 – Mexico 1 – 1 Canada
09/09 2021 – Canada 3 – 0 El Salvador
09/06 2021 – USA 1 – 1 Canada
Costa Rica – Statistics & current form
The great days of the Cafeteros seem to be over. Many of the key players who were responsible for Costa Rica’s great success in world football over the last 20 years are now getting on in years. In addition, most of the national players are now back at home. Hardly any Costa Rican players are still under contract with major European clubs.
Few victories for the Cafeteros
It would be an outstanding achievement if the Costa Ricans qualified for the World Cup in Qatar. However, their current form gives little cause for hope. Luis Fernando Suarez’s team has only won one of its last eight matches. Therefore, the odds on an away win in the duel between Canada and Costa Rica should be left alone.
After all, there was a 2-1 home victory over El Salvador in October. However, the fragile upswing fizzled out three days later when they lost 2-1 in the United States. Keysher Fuller had given the Cafeteros the lead after just one minute. In the end, however, the Costa Rican team came away empty-handed.
In terms of personnel, two absences weighed heavily. Paris Saint-Germain’s Keylor Navas has been a reliable back-up for the Cafeteros for years. He will be absent due to injury, as will Cristian Gamboa from Bochum. Marco Urena, David Guzman and Giancarlo Gonzalez are also missing. The absences will certainly not make the match any easier for Costa Rica.
Predicted line-up of Costa Rica:
Moreira – Matarrita, Calvo, Duarte, Blanco – Borges, Tejeda – Venegas, Ruiz, Fuller – Moya – Coach: Suarez
Last matches played by Costa Rica:
World Cup Qualifiers CONCACAF Finals
10/14 2021 – USA 2 – 1 Costa Rica
10/11 2021 – Costa Rica 2 – 1 El Salvador
10/08 2021 – Honduras 0 – 0 Costa Rica
09/09 2021 – Costa Rica 1 – 1 Jamaica
09/06 2021 – Costa Rica 0 – 1 Mexico
Canada – Costa Rica Direct Comparison / H2H Balance
To date, the selection teams from Canada and Costa Rica have crossed paths a total of 22 times. In the direct comparison, the Cafeteros are ahead with 8:5 victories. Nine duels have ended in a draw. There is no series worth mentioning between the two teams. In the current qualifiers, it is the first leg between the two teams.
Nevertheless, the last encounter was only four months ago. At the Gold Cup, the Canadians won 2-0 in the quarter-finals after goals from Junior Hoilett and Stephen Eustaquio, but the Maple Leafs were without Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David at the time, so the difference may be more pronounced on Saturday night.
Canada – Costa Rica Tip
For most of the last 20 years, Costa Rica have been among the top nations in the CONCACA zone, alongside Mexico and the USA. The Canadians could overtake the Cafeteros in the next few years. While Costa Rica has a team that is getting on in years, the Maple Leafs’ best days are yet to come.
Don’t bet on Team Canada losing at home, as the Canadians have not lost a home game in over five years. In addition, John Herdman’s team is in great shape and is currently unbeaten in six games.
In addition, the Cafeteros’ superstar Keylor Navas is injured and Costa Rica have only won one of their last eight matches. The signs are mounting that the Maple Leafs can take a big step towards Qatar in this duel. That is why we are playing the odds on a handicap win (-1.5) for the home side between Canada and Costa Rica.
