The Canadian Men’s National Team has now opened their training camp ahead of two huge fixtures against Panama in World Cup qualifying and national team stalwart Julian de Guzman likes the state of his national side heading into the crucial matches. According to the 57 times capped midfielder, the Canadian team is currently in a good place, with everyone healthy, fit and ready to go on Friday in what he has termed as Canada’s biggest match in years.

“You can see that a lot of the guys have done well at their clubs and have been getting a lot of playing time with their teams. Everyone is here to compete and wants to be involved with the national team. I think it is an honour and an achievement for every guy that has been called up for this camp. Friday is probably one of the most important games in national team history, so it’s good to see that the guys look ready and seem sharp and it’s also good to have everyone healthy,” said De Guzman today from the Canadian national team training camp in Alliston, Ontario.

In De Guzman’s estimation, Friday’s home match against Panama ahead of an away fixture in Panama City a few days later is nothing less than a must win game for Canada. And key to achieving that goal will be scoring first and building on the attack-minded form the team showed in their friendly against Trinidad and Tobago last month.

“What is on our minds is getting that first goal. I think we can guarantee that we will score goals in this next game. With the amount of hunger that we have, we really showed that in the Trinidad and Tobago game. We got forward a lot in that game and score some goals. The game could have finished 6-0. That was something that we needed to work on, just getting that confidence in front of the goal. I think that playing at home at BMO Field in such an important game, this will be the changing point in terms of us scoring goals. We know what we can bring to the table with our defensive side, where we have been sharp in recent games. It’s important that it remains that way, especially at home. Now it is just a matter of getting goals and winning at home. Friday is a must win for us playing at home against Panama. I think this game could be the big turning point for this group stage for us,” said De Guzman.

The veteran midfielder has been a constant starter for Canada over the last several years, but competition for minutes in the Canadian midfield has never been more intense than it is right now leading up to the Panama fixtures. According to De Guzman, the depth that Canada now possesses not only gives Head Coach Hart plenty of options, it also benefits the squad in terms of tactical flexibility, bringing out the best in all the players via competition and with respect to cover for the injuries that will undoubtedly occur with some players on the team.

“It’s great to have that type of depth in the squad. We haven’t had this in a long time and having players not only in the midfield, but also at the offensive positions and defensive roles, it’s really good and useful. I think it is important that we have this balance coming into two back to back games against Panama. Depending on how things go, if we get the three points we need at home, we could then change things around tactically going into Panama, with the conditions there and what they will come up with. We have players that you can slot into different roles. They have been doing well with their clubs and are also capable of doing what is expected from Stephen Hart.”

While even Stephen Hart probably does not yet know his starting eleven for Canada’s match on September 7th against Panama, De Guzman believes that regardless of the players who get the call to start, Canada must be focused on playing their game rather than adjusting their approach completely based on the strengths and tactics their opponents will bring to the proceedings.

“It’s important that we play our game. We know what Panama can bring to the table. We played them in the States. The situation will be different when we play them at BMO Field, where we will have our fans behind us and the field is tighter. We can’t allow them to play their game. Most importantly, when we get chances, it is a matter of putting them away. We had chances against Honduras where we could have won the game and we came out with a draw. So we don’t want to experience that same situation again against Panama, where we get chances and don’t put them away. Basically, we have to put away our chances and keep them off the scoreboard.”

De Guzman and his teammates have played against Panama recently and, thus, they are much more familiar opponents compared the Cuban team that Canada kicked off this round of World Cup qualifying against back in June. Furthermore, the 31 year old midfielder recently became a club teammate of one of Panama’s key players, Blas Perez, so he could likely have a little more of an edge protecting the Canadian back four against one of Panama’s prime threats.

“You can see that Perez is one of their impact players who has done a great deal for Panama and scored a lot of goals for them. He hasn’t played much since their last qualifying matches and he has been getting a lot of treatment while he has been with Dallas. He finally got ninety minutes just three days ago against Seattle. It was his first ninety minutes in some time, so he might not even be in game shape for the Panama games. But he is only one player and Panama has a lot of players that also play important roles in the midfield, at the back and up front, so it important that we spend our time doing our research on this team with the days that we have ahead of us. And that we continue to use these training sessions to find our own spark and rhythm.”

According to De Guzman, one of the most important variables for Canada in terms of earning all three points on home turf will be the twelfth man that has given the Canadian team a boost via a genuine home field advantage at BMO Field in Toronto.

“I think it is really important for us to have the home support. I think Canadian fans are dying for the team to do well. Not just a Women’s team that has been showing success, but also a men’s side. They haven’t seen a lot of success coming from the club sides as of late and I think that given that the stage is World Cup qualifying, they are going to be looking for the Canadian team to have some success. The fans have definitely shown their support. It feels good to come home here and to finally feel like you are playing at home in these football games. Whether it has been a friendly or a World Cup qualifier, the fans have been showing their support and it has done a great deal for the Canadian Men’s National Team.”

Interestingly, Friday’s match in Toronto will also mark the first game that De Guzman has played in Toronto since being traded by Toronto FC to FC Dallas back in mid-July. The former TFC midfielder admitted that he is always excited to represent Canada and that it is even that much more special to be doing so in his home town.

“I’m looking forward to being back and to finally play with a team that wants to win and that has a good chance to win as well. I’m definitely excited. Being part of the Canadian national team has always been a huge honour for me. Now is no different than the first time I suited up for Canada. I think being involved in World Cup qualifying is any Canadian player’s dream come true and I’m just happy and blessed to be able to do this,” finished De Guzman.