Mexico, very likely El Salvador and…sigh.
Honduras.
It was always going to be.
The kneejerk reaction of the Canadian supporter is to lament their life and consider giving up and becoming a massive junior hockey fan. It says here this is a good thing.
They have to eventually deal with the fall out of that day. They eventually have to face it full on. There was always going to be a next time in and it’s better to get it out of the way now than when there are greater expectations on the team.
So, bring it on. This particular group doesn’t seem likely to capitulate like the last one did and once the Band-Aid is ripped off the distraction of answering questions about a game they had little to do with will be over.
Honduran demons aside, the group offers a young group an opportunity to play competitive games in Central America. Getting past the…uniqueness…of that region is something Canada will one day need to overcome if it’s ever getting anywhere. You can’t do that hiding behind your shadow hoping for a weak draw.
Can Canada advance? Yes. Really. They could.
Now, it’s not likely – Honduras and Mexico are both more talented and El Salvador is about on par. But, the idea it’s impossible is silly.
For Canada to advance it probably needs Mexico to run the rest of the group and to hope El Salvador and Honduras take points off each other. It goes without saying that they would need to find a way to take care of home. But, if that happens and Canada stays solid at the back (put your e/goals math aside for a second – they aren’t allowing) it can maybe steal a draw on the road.
Maybe even in San Pedro Sula.