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It feels a bit like a broken record with the CMNT as once again they put in a performance on Friday that had highs and very lows, so much so that it is very difficult to accurately frame the state of the side. A 2-1 loss to Japan played out with a poor first half that was undone by a positive second forty five minutes, but the winning goal ultimately left the team knowing there was a gap needed to overcome if they were ever going to earn a result. Monday that gap will be significantly reduced, mostly by about fifty spots in the FIFA rankings, as Canada takes on Belarus.
The billionaire weekend continues for Canada in Qatar, as they will be enjoying perfect weather and immaculate surroundings heading into their second match over four days. Having already tested themselves against Belarus almost two years ago to the date, a 1-0 victory for Canada, there should be a degree of confidence heading into the game they can finish this break with a win. Belarus has a few dangerous players competing in the Russian Premier League, however, if Tony Fonseca puts out a side geared towards learning from the mistakes against Japan and pushing forward, it should be enough to leave Qatar with a victory.
Canada looks back on Japan match and towards Belarus:
Keep thinking
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Unfortunately for the Canadian team, there was only a few things from the Japan game one could definitively say wasn't 'broke'. If we look through the roster, aside from Atiba Hutchinson and Randy Edwini-Bonsu, Tony Fonseca could probably be forgiven for switching things up with any of the remaining players. From Milan Borjan between the posts, to Marcel De Jong, to even goal scorer Marcus Haber, there were few players you could say stood out against Japan.
Belarus are notably coming off a 1-0 loss to FIFA's 90th ranked country, Jordan, on Thursday. Even with recent wins against Israel and Georgia, there is little indication that this shouldn't be a team if Canada comes in focused, should be able to overcome. There are a few names to be mindful of, most obviously Alania Vladikavkaz's Brazilian-born attacker Renan Bressan. The 24-year old attacker recently left top Belarusian side FC Bate, with nearly a goal every other game scoring ratio, to join the recently promoted team into the Russian Premier League. His midfield partners, Yan Tsiharaw, now with Lokomotiv Moscow, has plenty of experience in Belarus, Ukraine and Russian leagues, as well as Syarhey Kislyak and Anton Putsila, who all form Belarus' real strength, which is their midfield.
With this in mind, if Tony Fonseca can address their strength and find a way to overcome it, this could be were Canada comes out on top. With Hutchinson and Edwini-Bonsu looking to be in good form, he might feature someone with a bit more grit such as Will Johnson and perhaps brining in Andre Hainault from the start to allow Marcel De Jong, who has experience in a technical, yet physical league, to push forward and become more of an attacking option.
Between the sticks will be another question for Canada as Milan Borjan had many supporters hearts in their throats on several occasions. Borjan looks to be having a tough time transitioning from his side in Turkey where he routinely is let down by his defenders and having to do it all himself way out of his 6-yard box. While it might be tempting to give Tomer Chencinski a shot, Borjan is really the only keeper playing week in week out and should be allowed to show if he can adapt to another style of play, and most importantly, better defending.
Much like the two friendlies in January, Canada has been given a solid opportunity to redeem themselves, but against a much easier opponent than the United States. With no permanent head coach on the horizon, these games become about short term goals rather than building towards a bigger goal or picture. Coming out of World Cup Qualifying, rebuilding confidence is paramount and Belarus present themselves as a side where if Canada approaches them with the right determination, could leave this international break having accomplished something. Most importantly winning a game and using that to carry them forward into their next friendlies and towards the Gold Cup.
As always this will rest on a few players shoulders, especially Atiba Hutchinson, whose class in the midfield has been essential to Canada's performances over the last two years. Hutchinson can be used as the holding mid, but also as a creative attacking option who is able to slot the ball accurately onto his forwards. Randy Edwini-Bonsu also looks to be in good form, despite limited time with Eintracht Braunschweig in 2.Bundesliga. If Fonseca can find the key in the attack, which could be Marcus Haber, Canada will be one step closer to securing a result. Haber would be useful in battling strong defenders from Belarus, but the pace of Simeon Jackson might be a better option to open up the field and catch the backline a step off.
In the End
It's a bit like deja vu for Canada as they are in a similar position to January where they came up short in their first friendly and have an opportunity to set it right in the following game. However, they appear to have closed the gap in quality in looking much better against Japan than they did against Denmark, and now face a significantly easier opponent than the United States. The US brings out the best in Canada and they will need to transfer that against an opponent in Belarus who they do not have the same history with. Canada needs to approach this game with some urgency to leave this international break with a victory, and convincing at that. A change needs to happen with this team to move away from World Cup Qualifiers and it can take a small step with a win over Belarus.
Prediction
Canada 2 – 1 Belarus
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