(08-17-2020 08:21 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(08-15-2020 05:01 PM)BrooklynRocket Wrote:  

(08-15-2020 01:46 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(08-15-2020 12:34 AM)Memphis Yankee Wrote:  Davies assist is as good as I've ever seen. Epic!

Shame he'll never see a WC competition without an expanded field.

I disagree. I don't think it's unreasonable for Canada to get 4th in Concacaf for 2022 and maybe even 3rd down the line.

Notice the "without an expanded field" part of my statement. When CONCACAF goes to 4 they have a shot...but they haven't even made the Hex in the last 5 qualifying draws, and he is one player, who at the moment plays LB. Ask Austria how having an elite LB and a below average rest of the roster helped them out for years.

I just noticed that the 2022 inter-continental WC play-off now includes a South American team, which likely guarantees CONMEBOL a 5th team. Nevertheless, even Canada getting 3rd in CONCACAF this cycle isn't a pipe dream. Davies can play up at LW as he did in the 2-0 win over USA and make Canada a much more threatening attacking team (even with him at LB they're still poor in defense). The talent gap between Costa Rica (the presumed 3rd CONCACAF team) and Canada is as small as its ever been.

Austria also has a much more talented squad than you give credit for. Sabitzer, Arnautovic, Hinteregger, and Laimer are all really good players. Qualifying in Europe is just much more competitive than any other continent and really good teams will get left out each cycle.