Canada aim to end trophy wait in CONCACAF final with USA
For over three decades, Canada went into clashes with the United States as the clear underdog against their bigger and better resourced neighbor.
Not any longer. On Sunday, the pair meet in the final of the CONCACAF Nations League at Allegiant Stadium with the Canadians looking to follow-up their top spot in the region's World Cup qualifying with their first trophy in 23 years.
The US lineup turned in one of its most impressive displays in recent years with a 3-0 dismantling of Mexico in Thursday's semi-final, which saw two red cards for each side, while Canada had little trouble in getting past Panama 2-0.
On paper, the Americans still look to have a stronger squad but the last time they met, in a World Cup qualifier last January, the Canadians ran out 2-0 winners in Hamilton, having drawn on the road in Nashville in September 2021.
Canada right-back Alistair Johnston, who plays for Scottish club Celtic, says John Herdman's side are happy if some still consider them outsiders despite ending a 36-year wait to get to the World Cup with last year's appearance in Qatar.
"For me, it's perfectly fine sticking with the underdog story. Do we truly feel like underdogs? I don't think so. On paper, yeah, maybe. But at the same time, I think that we've earned the respect of everyone in this region," he said.
"They don't view us potentially how they previously viewed us. But (being underdog) does help. We probably don't have the same media pressure as Mexico or the US. We'll get there eventually. So while we're still at that lower level of pressure, to a degree, we're going to enjoy it."
Englishman Herdman has injected a refreshing self-belief into the Canada squad and that, says Johnston, means they generate their own high expectations. "We put that pressure internally on ourselves," he said. "We expect ourselves to go out there and win every match. And we do believe that we have the talent and the system to beat anyone."