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It's another round of matches for Canada on the international break as they are in the Middle East to face off against Japan on Friday and Belarus on Monday. Both opponents provide tough competition as Japan have been mainstays in the World Cup for the last four tournaments, but Canada does hold a victory over Belarus from their meeting almost two years ago to the day.
Up first are the Japanese who will without question will be another high level opponent near the same FIFA ranking as Denmark. However, this time Canada will not be up against a domestic league team, but very close to the best players Japan has to offer. Save for a few notable names, most of Japan's top players are in camp. Canada will be lead by Tony Fonseca through this camp and he will need to build on Colin Miller's redeeming draw against the US in January. It will all come down to the approach and homework done against such a formidable side and Canada will need to get it right or they run the risk of being routed.
Canada trains ahead of clash with Japan:
Keep thinking
While it is what it is, sitting out of the Hex and aside from the Gold Cup there being no critical competitions, the CSA looks to be holding off until looking for their next head coach. In 2008-09 there was a long break before any matches were played and this time around, while everything might not be in order to move forward, the National Team is keeping busy and looking to integrate some younger players into the pool of available talent.
With the match being held in Qatar, there are of course the usual issues with putting together Canada's strongest roster. As has been the case over the last few years, games played across the Atlantic have been supplemented by Canadians competing in Europe, with a few MLS players rounding out the roster, and these friendlies are no exception.
As there are no critical games on the horizon, there are some notable absences, but also some players that might get an opportunity to play despite limited chances so far. Both Milan Borjan and Tomer Chencinski are options in goal, while Kyle Bekker and Stefan Cebara all could benefit from time in the midfield alongside the likes of Atiba Hutchinson, Julian De Guzman or Will Johnson. Up top, Marcus Haber has had a good season with Stevenage in England and against a speedy, technical side in Japan, his size could be an asset that could be balanced out with Simeon Jackson, or even Randy Edwini Bonsu.
The names of players currently competing for Canada truthfully pales in comparison to some of Japan's talent. The midfield and attack will be particularly difficult to contain as some of their best players could be on hand. Most notable is former Borussia Dortmund, and now Manchester United, attacking midfielder Shinji Kagawa. The rest are all experienced professionals either in Japan, or most commonly, Germany and the side has a good balance between veterans and youth.
New recruits Cebara and Chencinski:
What is the other factor in this match will of course be coaching. Canada will have Tony Fonseca leading the team, but with him locked into the Technical Director role and no long term vision in place with regards to how the team needs to train or what to get out of these games, the real benefit of this match becomes limited.
Japan of course is led by Alberto Zaccheroni, and his appointment as manager is intriguing and should give the CSA pause for thought in how they approach their next coach. Zaccheroni had no experience in Japan's region whatsoever, but had success as a manager at the club level in Serie A, and has done very well in two and a half years spell with the team. In the midst of a heavy schedule through 2013 with AFC fourth round qualifiers, the Confederations Cup and East Asian Cup, this friendly has real purpose and should prove to be serious preparation for what lies ahead for Japan.
Much like the game against Denmark, Canada needs to look beyond simply using this game as an opportunity to stretch their legs and get their younger players some time on the pitch. The team needs to avoid a humbling loss in order to motivate, as seen against the United States, and do the due diligence necessary ahead of time to begin at the very least a culture of competitiveness regardless of the situation. There are some weapons at Canada's disposal in a physical backline and decent pace up top, with the added size and strength of Marcus Haber.
Japan has traditionally been playing with three at the back and this is where Canada can try and test their tactical proficiency by brining in extra attackers to find advantages in the match ups. This of course will depend on getthing through the midfield, which will be no easy task ,but do have technically strong players in Atiba Hutchinson and Julian De Guzman alongside possibly Will Johnson who has endless stamina. Winning battles in the midfield and finding ways to spring loose enough players in the attack might be Canada's best way to find chances on goal against a Japan side that are in fine form at the moment.
In the End
While it is important that Canada is keeping active through all the international breaks, they have a much bigger task ahead of them Friday than simply getting a run in and playing ninety minutes. Japan are a technically strong side with players competiting at very high levels in Japan and Europe. There is an opportunity for Canada to show what they are made of, but it will depend on the approach and strategy imparted by Tony Fonseca. It seems unlikely though, both from a coaching perspective, and talent level, that Canada will be able to match up. For Canada to keep it close, they will need to make it a gritty affair and for a side with little combined experience or cohesion that might be too tall an order.
Prediction
Japan 3 – 0 Canada
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