Canada can defend their top spot in the group?
Canada are on course for the 2022 World Cup. Just a few matchdays before the end of the qualifying phase in the CONCACAF zone, the “Canucks” are at the top of the table, thanks in part to the results of the last international break. Among other things, Canada beat the Mexican group favourites to claim pole position in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
Nevertheless, anything is still possible in the current CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers. It is therefore all the more important for Canada to master the upcoming compulsory task against last-place Honduras.
Honduras surprisingly earned a point against Canada in the first leg. If “Los Catrachos” take at least a point this time as well, Honduras vs. Canada will pay decent odds for a bet on a point win for the host nation.
The Hondurans’ recent record against Canada is particularly encouraging. Since November 2015, the Honduran national team has not lost a single international match against Canada. In the meantime, Honduras has gone unbeaten against the Canucks for three international matches in a row – will it stay that way?
Honduras – Statistics & current form
Honduras have their backs to the wall six matchdays before the end of the qualifying phase and need a small miracle to still have a chance of reaching the 2022 World Cup. As was the case in the last World Cup qualification, the Hondurans are likely to make an early exit from the qualifying phase and thus miss out on a place in the World Cup for the second time in a row.
Los Catrachos” are currently in last place in the table and have only three points after eight match days. The recent form curve of the Hondurans speaks against a comeback in the second half of the season. Honduras have not won any of their last eleven international matches.
The last time the Hondurans won an international match was in July 2021, at the 2021 Gold Cup. Since then, the Honduran national team has lost eight international matches and three others ended in a draw. This includes the first-round match against the Canadian national team in the ongoing 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
Shooting gallery of the 2022 World Cup Quali
Surprisingly, the first-round draw against Canada was one of the few international matches in which Honduras recorded a goal. In total, “Los Catrachos” are on five goals in eight group matches, making them the second-worst offensive team in the current qualifying phase.
The defensive situation is even worse. With 15 goals conceded on eight match days, Honduras were the shooting gallery of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, scoring on average almost twice per group match. Nevertheless, the Hondurans are confident going into the group match against Canada.
Los Catrachos” have never conceded more than one goal per international match in their last six international matches against Canada. It is therefore not at all unreasonable to predict that Honduras will score less than 2.5 goals against Canada.
National coach Hernán Dario Gómez has dispensed with numerous “oldies” in his nomination for the current international break. Instead, there are four players who will make their debut for the Honduran national team.
Predicted Honduras line-up:
Lopez; Elvir, Figueroa, Maldonado, Vargas; Moya, Acosta, Mejia, Arriaga; Elis, Quioto
Last matches played by Honduras:
Friendly
01/16 2022 – Colombia 2 – 1 Honduras
World Cup qualifier CONCACAF finals
11/17 2021 – Costa Rica 2 – 1 Honduras
11/13 2021 – Honduras 2 – 3 Panama
10/14 2021 – Honduras 0 – 2 Jamaica
10/11 2021 – Mexico 3 – 0 Honduras
Canada – Statistics & current form
The last time Canada participated in a World Cup was almost 36 years ago. Since then, the “Canucks” have failed eight times in a row in the qualification phase. This year, for the first time since the 1986 World Cup, they have a realistic chance of making it to the prestigious World Cup. Canada has already set the course for this in the first round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
The Canadians want to continue their successful trend on the last six match days of the World Cup qualifiers. Although the “Canucks” are at the top of the table after eight match days, anything is still possible in terms of the standings. Especially since fourth-placed Panama, currently in the play-offs, is only two points away.
Canada are the only unbeaten team in the current CONCACAF qualifying phase. Most recently, the Canadians have won three in a row, including a surprise coup against the Mexican national team.
Strongest offence in World Cup qualifying
One of the factors for success in the ongoing 2022 World Cup qualifiers is the Canucks’ offence. Canada has already scored 13 goals in eight group games – seven of which were netted by Larin (4 goals) and David (3 goals). In the last three group games, the Canadian national team even scored seven goals, which means an average of more than two goals per match.
In addition, Canada has lost only two of its last 19 international matches since January 2020. It would therefore be more than surprising if Canada were to lose its World Cup ticket after a strong first half. Especially as the Canadian national team has already mastered two acid tests in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers with the first- and second-round matches against Mexico.
In this international break, the Canadians are largely in their best line-up. Compared to last year’s international break, the Canucks will only be without one key player, Alphonso Davies. Meanwhile, if Honduras win their fourth qualifying match in a row, odds of up to 2.05 are paid on Honduras vs Canada for tip 2.
Predicted Canada line-up:
Borjan; Johnston, Vitoria, Miller; Laryea, Hutchinson, Osorio, Hoilett; Buchanan, Larin, David
Last matches played by Canada:
World Cup Qualifiers CONCACAF Finals
11/17 2021 – Canada 2 – 1 Mexico
11/13 2021 – Canada 1 – 0 Costa Rica
10/14 2021 – Canada 4 – 1 Panama
10/11 2021 – Jamaica 0 – 0 Canada
10/08 2021 – Mexico 1 – 1 Canada
Honduras – Canada Direct Comparison / H2H Balance
This is the 25th time the two nations have met. So far, the Hondurans lead the head-to-head comparison against Canada with a record of 11-6-7. Two of the six draws have come in the last two internationals. The Canadian national team has not won an international match against Honduras since November 2015.
In October 2012, Canada suffered the second-highest international defeat in the history of the association against the Hondurans. At the time, the Canadian national team lost 8-1 to “Los Catrachos” from Honduras in the 2012 World Cup qualifiers. The only other defeat for Canada was against Mexico (0-8) in July 1993.
Honduras – Canada Tip
Canada have yet to lose an international match in the current World Cup qualifying campaign and will therefore go into the upcoming away match with a broad chest. In contrast to the Canucks, who are currently leading the group in the CONCACAF 2022 World Cup qualifiers, Honduras got off to a bad start and will miss out on a place in the World Cup for the second time in a row.
Nevertheless, a point for the Hondurans in the upcoming group match cannot be ruled out. Los Catrachos” have already recorded a point against Canada in the first leg. At home, where Honduras have not lost to the Canadians since 1985, the next point win for the Honduran national team cannot be ruled out.
Tendentiously, we think it is not at all outlandish to place bets on a point win for the Honduran hosts on Thursday night (CET) – despite the recent form curve of the Canadians. Under new national coach Hernán Gómez, Honduras have at least shown good signs in recent international matches.
