by Gian-Luca
Mexico and Panama drew 1-1 in a match many are calling a disgrace, with 3 players and one coach getting ejected and with tons of debris being projected by Mexican fans at Panamanian players. But for Canada it is all good news as the tie means that Canada has clinched a quarter-final spot and can go into the final group match against Costa Rica knowing that they have already qualified. With three key players (Stalteri, Klukowski and De Guzman) carrying single yellows that I understand get wiped out after the first round, it will be interesting to see if all three are rested for the sake of protecting their availability for the quarter-final match (which is, unusually, more than a week after Canada's final group game). Perhaps a chance to give Smilin' Jamie Peters a chance at right back and Hainault at left back (where he has played for Houston this year)?
However, as FIFA rankings are used to help determine WCQ seeds and groups and these might be the last meaningful games Canada plays before the qualifying seeds are made (remember, the seeds for the 2010 qualifying were based on FIFA rankings before the 2007 Gold Cup took place) one hopes Canada doesn't start a "B" line-up and takes things too easy. And of course there is also the matter of their finish determining which team they will play. Finishing 3rd will get you a first place team in one of the other groups - currently held by US and Guadeloupe respectively. 1st place in group A gets a second place team in one of the other two groups. So does finishing second, so there's actually no reward for finishing first in Canada's group, other than FIFA points and pride (remember, the tournament is set up to favour the US and Mexico, so that if they finish first in their group, they get to play a 3rd place team. For the second year in a row, the Costa Rica/Canada group winner doesn't get that privilege. But it is what it is and its best to get on with it and win the games then to complain about it mid-tourney.
Costa Rica still has everything to play for, so this will be a difficult match for Canada. Our fate is assured, but we can possibly seal theirs with a win.