Canada hope to put their slip against Curacao in the rear view mirror as they hope to secure qualification to the knockout stage with their group finale against El Salvador on Tuesday.
Les Rouges drew with the 90th-ranked Caribbean nation 1-1 on Saturday, leaving them short of mathematical qualification to the knockout phase. However, a win or draw against El Salvador would do the trick, while victory would ensure them of the group’s top spot.
Head coach Jesse Marsch will be back on the touchline after suspension sidelined him for the first two games, but he will be without one of his up-and-coming midfielders thanks to injury.
El Salvador, ranked 81st in the world, need a miracle to qualify. Sitting bottom of Group B with just one point, they are still technically in contention, but would need to beat Canada and have Honduras and Curacao draw if they are to advance.
The Sporting News runs through the latest team news and injury updates for both sides as the match draws nearer.
Canada vs. El Salvador predicted lineups, team news
Head coach Jesse Marsch will return to the sidelines after missing the first two games of the tournament due to suspension, although he is now under a new investigation for his actions during the opener against Honduras.
Marsch announced midfielder Ali Ahmed will not participate in the rest of the tournament after injuring his ankle against Curacao. Injured players cannot be replaced on the roster due to this year’s edition of the rules.
Not with the team is star Alphonso Davies, who tore his ACL back in mid-March and will be out of action for considerable time. Also missing is injured defender Moise Bombito, who has been given the summer off with his club Nice starting next season a bit early thanks to Champions League qualifying. Stephen Eustaquio is on the Canada roster but is not with the team, instead participating with Porto in the Club World Cup.
Defender Luc de Fougerolles has emerged as a budding young star at the back, while Tani Oluwaseyi was exceptional up front keeping Cyle Larin on the bench. Alistair Johnston is back from his wedding and could slide in at right-back after appearing off the bench against Curacao.
Canada predicted XI (4-4-2, right to left): St. Clair (GK) — Johnston, Waterman, de Fougerolles, Laryea — Kone, Choiniere, Saliba, Buchanan — J. David, Oluwaseyi.
Injured: Ahmed (ankle), Davies (ACL), Bombito (shoulder/fitness).
Suspended: None.
On a yellow card: Miller.
Full Canada squad
Goalkeepers: Dayne St. Clair, Maxime Crepeau
Defenders: Sam Adekugbe, Zorhan Bassong, Derek Cornelius, Luc de Fougerolles, Alistair Johnston, Jamie Knight-Lebel, Richie Laryea, Joel Waterman
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed, Tajon Buchanan, Mathieu Choiniere, Stephen Eustaquio, Ismael Kone, Nathan Saliba, Niko Sigur, Jacob Shaffelburg
Forwards: Jonathan David, Promise David, Daniel Jebbison, Cyle Larin, Jayden Nelson, Tani Oluwaseyi.
El Salvador saw veteran midfielder Narciso Orellana withdraw from the squad due to injury before the Gold Cup began, while centurian Darwin Ceren has also not been called in for the tournament.
That leaves only three players on the roster with over 50 caps — defenders Alex Larin and Roberto Dominguez, and midfielder Jairo Henriquez who only just reached the mark earlier this summer. They do not have a forward with over 20 international caps, and the squad’s top international goal scorer is Larin with seven.
El Salvador predicted XI (4-3-3, right to left): M. Gonzalez (GK) — Tamacas, Sibrian, Cruz, Flores — Landaverde, Cartagena, J. Hernandez — Henriquez, Gil, Osorio.
Injured: Orellana.
Suspended: None.
On a yellow card: Cruz, Cartagena, Gil.
Full El Salvador squad
Goalkeepers: Kevin Carabantes, Mario Gonzalez, Benji Villalobos.
Defenders: Jorge Cruz, Roberto Dominguez, Diego Flores, Alexander Larin, Henry Romero, Julio Sibrian, Bryan Tamacas.
Midfielders: Elvin Alvarado, Melvin Cartagena, Enrico Duenas, Jairo Henriquez, Bryan Landaverde, Harold Osorio, Jefferson Valladares.
Forwards: Brayan Gil, Emerson Mauricio, Nathan Ordaz, Santos Ortiz, Brandon Ramirez, Rafael Tejada.
Canada vs. El Salvador score prediction
This Canada team has proven defensively stout in recent weeks under Jesse Marsch, and they are capable of scoring goals when required as well, even without Alphonso Davies aboard.
El Salvador, who have not scored a goal yet at this tournament, will find it tough to breach the Canada back line, and one or two goals for Les Rouges will be more than enough to see this through.
Prediction: Canada 2-0 El Salvador
How to watch Canada vs. El Salvador: Live stream, TV channel
- TV channel (USA):
- English: FS1
- Spanish: UniMas
- Streaming (USA): Fubo
- TV channel (Canada):
- English: OneSoccer, TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, TSN5, TLN
- French: RDS
- Streaming (Canada): Fubo
This CONCACAF Gold Cup group stage match will be televised in the United States on FS1, with a Spanish-language broadcast on TUDN and Univision. All channels are available to stream on Fubo, who offer a free trial with new users.
In Canada, the match will be televised in English by both OneSoccer and TSN, with a French broadcast available on RDS. Like in the US, those options are both available to stream on Fubo Canada.
