Canada vs Cuba
The CONCACAF Gold Cup group stages are reaching a climax and, with just one game to go, Group D has a rather odd look to it.
The minnows of Guadeloupe and Guatemala lead the group on four points each, with a win and a draw, while favourites Canada trail on two and Cuba has already exited the competition.
Hands up if you didn’t think Canada would win this group.
I certainly did, even though they have a weakened squad at the Gold Cup, and unrest off the field seems to have crept onto the grass. But surely they will beat the abject Cubans who come into the final game on the back of a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Guadeloupe. At 38th in the FIFA World Rankings, Canada is 139 places above Cuba in 177th and the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2023 betting odds say the Maple Leafs should finally get a win.
Talking Points
Under strength Canada have failed to deliver so far
Without their three best players Cyle Larin, Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies Canada have delivered two poor CONCACAF Gold Cup 2023 results and have stumbled to two draws. John Herdman’s side had a real battle with Guatemala on Saturday night, failing to break their opponents down and settling for a goalless stalemate. Without Larin and David the Maple Leafs looked toothless up front and they were outplayed for much of the game. A late rally almost brought a goal for Canada but Jacob Shaffelburg scuffed his shot before Zac McGraw fired over the bar.
My SBOTOP colleague rightly said that Canada’s opener against Guadeloupe should have resulted in a win for the Maple Leafs but on that occasion they failed to hold onto a lead. With a 2-1 advantage in injury time Canada gifted a point to Guadeloupe with a Jacen Russell-Rowe own goal. “We’re disappointed with the result at home,” said Herdman. “You definitely want to get three points off your first game and certainly do it at home for these fans that turned up tonight.”
To be fair, Canada performed better in their opener, winning the shot count by 17 to nine but they looked flat against Guatemala on Saturday and Herdman will try to lift his young squad in time for the Cuba clash.
All is not well in Canadian football where the soccer federation could file for bankruptcy in the coming weeks. The women’s team is heading to the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand while embroiled in a pay dispute, and now the men’s team faces a humiliating exit from the Gold Cup…unless they can do the business on Tuesday.
Things are getting worse for Cuba
Los Leones started their campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Guatemala as keeper Raiko Arozarena put in a fine performance to keep the score down to one. But there was little he could do as Cuba capitulated against Guadeloupe, going 4-0 down before Aricheell Hernandez scored a consolation, and then things got worse again as Aldair Ruiz was red carded with two minutes to play.
Cuban coach Pablo Sanchez is full of praise for his goalkeeper, who plays for Tampa Bay Rowdies, saying: “He is a keeper of super high quality. He gives a lot of life and energy to his team-mates, stimulates them.” Arozarena is one of three Cuban players who are in the MLS, Modesto Mendez playing for Inter Miami and Jorge Corraes for FC Tulsa.
Of course it is important for the coach to put his faith in his last line of defence but Cuba don’t have much else to threaten Canada, however lacklustre the Maple Leafs have been so far.
History
Canada are twice champions of the Gold Cup, in 1985 and 2000, while Cuba have appeared at the competition 12 times, achieving a fourth place finish back in 1971.
In terms of head to heads, the Maple Leafs have won six of their ten meetings with Cuba, drawing three and losing just once; and recent form favours Canada too. Herdman’s team have won three, drawn two and lost one in 2023, while Cuba have won two and lost four this year.
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