Coach John Herdman views Panama game as key for Canada in World Cup qualifying
CBC
Back home after picking up points via draws in Mexico and Jamaica, unbeaten Canada can move further up the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying standings when it hosts Panama on Wednesday night at BMO Field.
But it won't be easy. The 68th-ranked Canaleros currently sit third in the so-called Octagonal round-robin with eight points from five matches (2-1-2).
The 51st-ranked Canadian men (1-0-4) are one point behind.
Canada coach John Herdman sees Wednesday's matchup as a key step on his team's 14-game road in the final round of qualifying in North and Central America and the Caribbean.
"If there's any game we've got to win to really set the tone, it's this one," he said after training at the lakeshore stadium. "I feel like this is a six-point match given where the standings are but, more importantly, where I think Panama are going to be at the end of this journey. I think these are one of the genuine threats to a top-three place."
WATCH | Previewing Canada's pivotal World Cup qualifier vs. Panama:
Come March, the top three teams will book their ticket to Qatar 2022 while the fourth-place finisher takes part in an intercontinental playoff to see who joins them.
