Honduras vs Canada
EDMONTON, CANADA – NOVEMBER 16: Cyle Larin of Canada celebrates 2-0 with Kamal Miller of Canada during the World Cup Qualifier match between Canada v Mexico at the Commonwealth Stadium on November 16, 2021 in Edmonton Canada (Photo by Dale MacMillan/Soccrates/Getty Images)
With off-field disputes at least on ice, for now, Canada’s World Cup preparations can get underway.
The Canucks returned to action on Thursday night, commencing this Nations League campaign by hammering Curaçao 4-0 in Vancouver.
Alphonso Davies bagged a brace as he returned to BC Place while Steven Vitória and then Lucas Cavallini were also on target.
This means, including qualifiers, Canada have now won eight of nine Nations League matches, scoring 32 goals and conceding just five.
Three years ago, les Rouges missed out on the Nations League Finals, finishing below the United States on goal difference.
This time, having already qualified for Canada’s first World Cup since 1986, John Herdman’s team are confident of topping this section.
Honduras did compete in the inaugural Nations League Finals in Denver last summer, losing 1-0 to the U.S. in the semis.
They’ve already played twice in this group, first beating Curaçao in Willemstad but then suffering a 2-1 home defeat against the group minnows.
La H qualified for the World Cups of 2010 and 2014 but, in this cycle, finished rock bottom of the Octagonal, losing 14 of 18 games, winning none.
Given that the home side have only won one of their last 22 competitive outings, Canada are big favourites to leave Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano victorious.
Guatemala vs Dominican Republic
Guatemala’s Luis Martínez (L) celebrates after scoring a goal during the Gold Cup Prelims football match between Guatemala and Guadeloupe at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on July 6, 2021. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP) (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)
Can either of these two teams keep pace with run-away group leaders French Guinea?
Guatemala were forced to compete in the Nations League’s bottom-tier in 2019, duly winning all four games, scoring 25 and conceding none.
Thus, Luis Fernando Tena’s team were targeting back-to-back promotions but, at the halfway mark, this isn’t quite going to plan.
Los Chapines lost 2-0 to French Guinea in their group opener before bouncing back by beating Belize 2-0 three days later.
However, on Friday night, Guatemala lost further ground in the race for top spot, only drawing 1-1 in the Dominican Republic.
Nowend Lorenzo put the hosts ahead at Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez with Oscar Santis equalising shortly after.
With those two teams going head-to-head again, will there be a winner this time?
Dominican Republic, similarly, beat strugglers Belize before losing to French Guinea ahead of this double-header with Guatemala.
Los Quisqueyanos finished third in their League B group three years ago, meaning they’ve never qualified for a Gold Cup in 13 attempts.
The winners of this group will qualify for the 2023 edition while the runners-up go into the preliminary round.
With promotion and Gold Cup qualification up for grabs, who will claim three vitally important points at Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores?
Trinidad & Tobago vs Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – JULY 06: Andre Fortune #14 of Trinidad & Tobago celebrates with his teammates after winning in penalties shootout against French Guiana as part of CONCACAF Gold Cup 2021 preliminaries at DRV PNK Stadium on July 6, 2021 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)
Will Trinidad & Tobago continue their push for Nations League promotion with a second victory in four days over Saint Vincent and the Grenadines?
On Friday night, these two teams clashed in Arnos Vale with T&T prevailing 2-0; Neveal Hackshaw and then Levi García on target.
This means the Soca Warriors have six points to their name, following a surprising 2-1 defeat to Nicaragua and a 1-0 victory over Bahamas.
Trinidad & Tobago were relegated from the Nations League’s top-tier in 2019, failing to win any of their games against Honduras and Martinique.
Subsequently, this former CONCACAF powerhouse were eliminated in the first round of World Cup qualifying by St. Kitts & Nevis.
So, Angus Eve’s task is to take T&T back to the region’s top-table, starting with promotion and Gold Cup qualification.
With Nicaragua one point ahead, those two meet on the final matchday in March, this is simply must win for the hosts.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines meantime are very much in a relegation battle given that they have just a solitary point to their name.
Although this did come against Nicaragua a week ago with Azinho Solomon and Oalex Anderson on target in a 2-2 draw.
The Vincy Heat haven’t qualified for a Gold Cup since 1996, losing in last summer’s preliminary round to Haiti in Fort Lauderdale.
Despite winning three of six League B fixtures in 2019, losing just once, Kendale Mercury’s team are finding victories much harder to come-by this year.
The home side should get the required victory at Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Nicaragua vs Bahamas
DENVER, CO – JUNE 06: The Trophy of Championship is displayed during the CONCACAF Nations League Championship Final between United States and Mexico at Empower Field At Mile High on June 6, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)
Just three days on from their clash in Nassau, Nicaragua and Bahamas reconvene in Managua.
In the first instalment on Friday night, Nicaragua were simply too strong, winning 2-0 thanks to goals from Jaime Moreno and Matías Moldskred.
Will this one witness a similar outcome?
Overall, La Azul y Blanco will be very content with how the first half of this campaign has panned out.
They beat group heavyweights Trinidad & Tobago 2-1 before a disappointing 2-2 draw against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Nevertheless, Marco Antonio Figueroa’s side currently sit top of Group C, targeting promotion to League A and guaranteed Gold Cup qualification.
Bahamas meanwhile are just looking to stay in the Nations League’s second-tier.
Since beating St. Vincent 1-0 on matchday one, Lesly St. Fleur converting a penalty, they’ve lost both games, 1-0 in Trinidad and then 2-0 on Friday.
The Baha Boyz were unbeaten in this competition in 2019, gaining promotion from League C, so will be delighted to end up in their current position of third.
The hosts should have far too much quality at Estadio Nacional de fútbol de Nicaragua.
