Canada's win over Honduras just another step in Herdman's master plan

TORONTO – John Herdman sees the big picture at all times and never lets himself get distracted for a single second, remaining steadfastly focused on getting the Canadian men’s team to the next level.

Case in point: Canada’s 4-1 victory over Honduras on Tuesday at Toronto’s BMO Field, a result that clinched his side’s berth for the Concacaf Nations League finals in Las Vegas in June alongside the United States, Mexico and Panama.

There was a lot for Herdman to like about Canada’s effort against Honduras. Midfielder Stephen Eustáquio masterfully pulled the creative strings while ably being abetted by the industrious Jonathan Osorio, one of Canada’s goal scorers on the night. Centre back Scott Kennedy marshalled a sturdy back line that gave very little away, while Cyle Larin (a brace) and Jonathan David (one goal) combined to devastating effect as the main reference points in the Canadian attack.

Ismaël Koné, only 20, bossed things in the middle of the park with his excellent two-way play in what Herdman described as “one of the best midfield performances” he’s witnessed during his tenure in charge.

Canada had previously qualified for the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup, which comes right after the Nations League finals, so this is going to be an incredibly busy summer for Herdman’s team.

“If you want to be part of Concacaf’s elite, you have to be in these finals. You’ve got to get into these big events. It’s the first in our history to get to a Nations League final and I think this group believes it can win it,” Herdman said in the post-game press conference.

At the same time, Herdman used his pulpit to issue a challenge to Canada Soccer to arrange for his team to play more meaningful games against the world’s very best teams. He stressed the importance of Canada testing itself against top European and South Americans nations (what he likes to call “Tier-1” teams), essentially saying that it’s not enough for his young Canadian squad to just face Concacaf opponents in the next three years ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup that the country will co-host with the U.S. and Mexico.

Herdman’s side mostly played against countries from inside its region in the buildup to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and that came back to haunt them as they bowed out in the group stage after suffering losses to Belgium, Croatia and Morocco. In particular, the Croats and Moroccans outclassed the Canadians, and it’s only by facing such quality opponents on a regular basis that Canada can improve, according to Herdman.

“We need real experiences. We need proper, Tier-1 experiences. We went to (last year’s) World Cup with one match against a Tier-1 opponent in a decade. ... We have to take control of our destiny. If this team is not playing Tier-1 games (and) getting Tier-1 matches consistently, we are wasting our time,” Herdman bluntly stated.

He added: “We need Tier-1 experiences if we’re serious about really competing at a World Cup. As an organization and as a country, we've got to get after it. These next three years, those young players, if they’re going to play matches like this in Concacaf week-in and week-out, it’s not helping. ... It’s matches against Brazil, matches against France, matches against Croatia, Netherlands, England, Belgium. Those are the games that are going to set us up for real success.”

It’d be wonderful to think that all Canada Soccer has to do is call up the English FA to arrange a high-profile friendly between Canada and England at Wembley Stadium. Even in the best of times, that’d be a long shot. As it stands, a cash-strapped Canada Soccer, whose reputation has been bruised and battered over the last few years for reasons too numerous to list, simply doesn’t have the stroke to pull it off.

There’s also the small matter of the crowded international calendar. There are only so many FIFA windows every year, and each of them are dominated by European teams playing qualifiers for the European Champions, UEFA Nations League and World Cup, while South American nations go through a marathon qualifying process for the World Cup that lasts roughly 18 months. So when, exactly, are these countries supposed to fit Canada into their packed schedules?

If Herdman wants “Tier-1” games, it’ll likely be up to his team to make that happen. The top six teams at the 2023–24 Concacaf Nations League, which kicks off in September, will automatically qualify as guests for next summer’s Copa América. The South American championship, and the promise of playing Lionel Messi and Argentina, Neymar and Brazil, Darwin Núñez and Uruguay, and the very best that the continent has to offer would provide the ultra-competitive fixtures Herdman so desperately craves.

In the meantime, the final four of the Concacaf Nations League looms large for Canada. A semifinal showdown with Panama on June 15 awaits the Canadians, with the winner to take on either the U.S. or Mexico three days later in the final. More than 23 years have passed since Canada lifted the Concacaf Gold Cup, but the team has never been better positioned to win its second major international trophy.

“It’s something that’s missing for us. We need to start showing we’re a dominant force here in Concacaf,” captain Atiba Hutchinson said.

John Molinaro is one of the leading soccer journalists in Canada, having covered the game for over 20 years for several media outlets, including Sportsnet, CBC Sports and Sun Media. He is currently the editor-in-chief of TFC Republic, a website dedicated to in-depth coverage of Toronto FC and Canadian soccer.