Canada is set to play South Africa on Sunday in its first-ever World Cup knockout match. This upcoming game marks a significant moment for the team as its path forward in the tournament begins to clarify.
South Africa should not be underestimated, having maintained their World Cup aspirations with a late equalizer against Czechia and then upsetting South Korea to secure second place in Group A. Despite this, Canada enters Sunday’s match as a favourite.
Canada’s Tournament Journey and Player Status
Canada entered the World Cup ranked 31st by FIFA, 30 spots ahead of South Africa, who were ranked 60th. Before the tournament, one ranking placed South Africa 46th among 48 nations, with Canada at 25th.
Canada’s journey to the Round of 32 included a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina in their opening match, followed by a 6-0 victory over a nine-man Qatar side. Their most recent group stage game was a 2-1 loss to Switzerland on Wednesday.
During the match against Switzerland, Canada pushed for an equalizer after falling behind 2-0 early in the second half. A draw would have secured Canada the top spot in Group B, moving their Round of 32 match to Thursday in Vancouver against a third-place finisher.
Striker Jonathan David described stoppage time as intense, noting the team’s efforts to secure a better group position. He emphasized the need to attack the box, get crosses in, create chances, and take shots on target.
South Africa’s World Cup campaign began with a 2-0 loss to Mexico, during which they received two red cards. They then secured a crucial point against Czechia with a penalty converted by Teboho Mokoena. In their 1-0 victory over South Korea, Thapelo Maseko scored the decisive goal, despite the team maintaining only 31 percent possession.
A significant factor for Canada against South Africa is the status of captain Alphonso Davies, who has not yet played in the tournament due to a hamstring injury. Head coach Jesse Marsch stated that Davies was used as a decoy in the group stage and was not ready to play. Marsch indicated that Davies will be ready for the upcoming match.
Canada had stopped providing injury updates before the Qatar match, so details about Davies’ progress over the past two weeks are limited. Marsch commented that he wanted Switzerland to consider Davies’ potential involvement, and that Davies was never ready for the recent match but would be ready for the next one.
Stephen Eustáquio, a midfielder, is hoped to return to the starting lineup against South Africa after coming on as a substitute in the 58th minute against Switzerland. Centre-back Moise Bombito could also potentially start for the first time in the tournament if he is deemed fit.
Potential Future Opponents
The winner of the Canada-South Africa match will advance to the Round of 16. This winner will face either the Netherlands, the Group F winner, or Morocco, the Group C runner-up. Both the Netherlands and Morocco enter their match on Tuesday with undefeated 2-0-1 records and were ranked among the top eight teams globally.
Morocco was ranked seventh in FIFA rankings before the World Cup, with the Netherlands ranked eighth. Morocco reached the semifinals in Qatar 2022, while the Netherlands were eliminated by Argentina in the quarter-finals on penalties.
The Netherlands have a history of being a formidable opponent in the World Cup, having not lost in regulation since a 1-0 defeat against Spain in the 2010 final.
Morocco’s group stage performance included a 1-1 draw against Brazil, a 1-0 win over Scotland, and a 4-2 victory against Haiti. The Netherlands showcased their offensive capabilities in Group F with a 2-2 draw against Japan, a 5-1 win over Sweden, and a 3-1 win against Tunisia.
The upper section of the bracket presents further challenges in the quarter-finals, where Germany or France are likely to await the team that emerges from Canada, Morocco, the Netherlands, and South Africa. Germany has secured its spot as the winner of Group E, while France is on track to win Group I with a favourable result against Norway on Friday. This would set up a potential Round of 16 match between third-ranked France and tenth-ranked Germany.
For now, Canada’s focus remains on the immediate challenge. The team has already achieved its first World Cup point, first win, and first advancement out of the group stage in this year’s tournament. Marsch stated after the loss to Switzerland that the team is exactly where they want to be.
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Source: tsn.ca
