(Deep breath).
It could have been worse. Really. A 0-0 is a result and the point matters. They still control their own destiny, even if the path is more difficult. For the fatalistically inclined they realistically had to beat one of Jamaica or Costa Rica for the tournament to be a true success anyway.
So, take the point and look forward.
If you look back too hard you’ll become discouraged by a few things. The biggest thing you’ll be caught up on is the utter lack of invention from the midfield. Although you can tell yourself that it would have been different if Atiba and Johnson were there – and it might have been – the reality is that injuries are a part of the game and Benito Floro has been clear that he needs 30 plus players able to compete if we are to have any chance at going to a World Cup.
Last night suggests were a few off that yet.
Bekker in particular looks lost. He is a player that confounds observers. Despite having all the technical skills you would want (which is why teams and Floro keep taking a chance on him) his performance on the pitch has simply never added up.
Some on Social Media suggested to me that we should be happy with Bekker because, to them, he gave a hard effort. This ain’t house league. He needs to sit. When Russell Teibert and Johnathon Osorio came on for the very end of the game, Canada looked less vulnerable to El Salvador’s counter. They still didn’t produce a tonne going forward, but Teibert did have a good look (which was more than anything Bekker did in 80 minutes) in his 10 minutes.
Forget about Cyle Larin’s miss. It happens. If it happens again in this tournament then, sure, panic, but just chalk it up as one of those things for now. More troublesome was Tesho’s invisibility anyway.
The back-line was…ok. I liked how they adjusted in second half when El Salvador didn’t have a truly great chance. The first was a bit more dodgy, especially Marcel De Jong, who was consistently getting beat.
Kenny was fine, one brain fart that he got away with aside.
The bottom line though is this: Yes, they must be better. Much better, even. But, they did just enough that if they do get better then everything will be fine.
Four points will get them a quarterfinal appearance and a shot at the Copa. They can do that Saturday.
During most of the last few years – years we were reminded of at times yesterday – that’s a position most of us would have taken.
So take it. There’s little point dwelling on the past now, whether recent, or long past.