Guatemala vs. Canada – Prediction, Team News, Lineups
In a highly anticipated match at Shell Energy Stadium, Guatemala has the opportunity to secure a spot in the knockout stage of the Gold Cup for the first time since 2011 by defeating Canada on Saturday.
Canada’s opening match against Guadeloupe ended in a 2-2 draw, with an unfortunate own goal in stoppage time denying them a victory. On the other hand, Guatemala put an end to their six-match winless streak in the group stage by defeating Cuba 1-0.
Guatemala’s victory over Cuba showcased their defensive discipline and effectiveness in possession, marking the first time since 2011 that they have won a group stage fixture in the Gold Cup. They successfully limited Cuba’s chances and conceded only one shot on target. While Guatemala has struggled to score goals in recent international fixtures, their solid defensive performance was enough to secure the win.
If Guatemala manages to defeat Canada, it would not only guarantee their place in the quarter-finals but also mark the first time they have won two matches in a single Gold Cup. Historically, Guatemala has struggled against North American teams in this competition, although they did manage to hold Mexico to a goalless draw in a friendly last year.
Canada, under coach John Herdman, had a disappointing start to the tournament, dropping points against Guadeloupe. Several key players, including Alphonso Davies, Stephen Eustaquio, and Jonathan David, are absent from the squad, leading to a lack of cohesion among the new faces in the team. The draw against Guadeloupe was the first time in nearly four years that Canada failed to hold onto a second-half advantage.
Despite missing some star players, Canada is still expected to perform well in the tournament. A loss against Guatemala, combined with a win for Guadeloupe against Cuba, would put Canada three points behind second place with only one match remaining. It would be a disappointing result for Canada and could impact their chances of meeting the high expectations set for the team in the tournament.
Canada has a favorable record against Guatemala, having won their last four encounters and scoring eight goals without conceding. However, they have often started slowly in recent group stage matches, conceding the opening goal in three of their last four outings.
In terms of team news, Guatemala made significant changes to their starting lineup for the match against Cuba compared to their previous fixture against Ecuador. Players like Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Esteban Garcia made their mark, while Aaron Herrera, who plays for CF Montreal in Canada, also featured. Canada introduced several new faces in their opening match, with five players making their first appearance for the senior team.
Possible Lineups:
Guatemala: Hagen; Herrera, Pinto, Samayoa, Morales; Castellanos, Saravia; Mendez-Laing, Sequen, Mejia; Rubin
Canada: Borjan; McGraw, Kennedy, Brault-Guillard; Laryea, Bombito, Osorio, Ahmed; Nelson, Cavallini, Hoilett
The Guatemala vs. Canada match promises to be an exciting encounter, with Guatemala aiming to secure their spot in the knockout stage and Canada looking to bounce back from their disappointing draw.