TORONTO.- It’s a 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup group stage rematch for Canada and Cuba, who meet at BMO Field in Toronto on Saturday looking to start Nations League play successfully.
Cuba hopes it goes better than the teams’ last meeting, with coach John Herdman’s squad putting seven past them in a 7-0 win for the North Americans. Belgium-based forward Jonathan David and Puebla forward Lucas Cavallini each had hat tricks, so it will be no comfort for Cuba to see those players back in Herdman’s squad.
There is room too for Bayern Munich winger Alphonso Davies and Cardiff City attacker Junior Hoilett, who scored against Cuba as well. Plus there is the return of forward Tesho Akindele and defenders Juan Cordova and Steven Vitoria after those players were left out of the Gold Cup squad. Veteran midfielders Atiba Hutchinson and Scott Arfield miss out as both get over injuries.
Many of the Cuba team weren’t part of that loss to Canada with manager Pablo Elier Sanchez involved in the setup before that game as well but not in the head coach position. Eiler has called in a young group, though goalkeeper Sandy Sanchez and midfielder Andy Baquero are among the returnees from the Gold Cup squad.
The goal this time around will be to keep it closer than it was in Charlotte, while Canada is targeting a perfect Nations League campaign to push into the World Cup qualification Hexagonal. Both teams have work to do to achieve their goals.
