Canada vs. El Salvador Gold Cup 2015: Preview, Predictions, Schedule, Stream, Lineups
Canada and El Salvador know they are the minnows of Group B. Fortunately for both sides, the United States and Mexico are not a part of the group.
The other good news? Two third-place sides make it to the knockout round, and the two sides at the top of the group are not among the elite.
This affords both sides and opportunity to steal some points along the way and slide into a top eight spot in the knockout rounds.
Canada is the worst ranked team in the group and is expected to see elimination in round one. Canada enters the tournament on a four-game winning streak, but the four wins came against Dominica, Puerto Rico and Guatemala; the two recents wins over Dominica came as part of the World Cup qualifiers with Canada pulling off an aggregate 6-0 win.
Prior to that the team incurred a woeful run of just two wins in 23 games. The two wins in that span, which dates back to 2012, were against Cuba and Jamaica. The major lowlights included a blowout defeat at the hands of Honduras in the World Cup qualifiers, a 4-0 blowout against Denmark and a 3-0 defeat against Australia that ended a painful run of futility for the Socceroos.
El Salvador enters the tournament on a run of two wins, three defeats and two draws. The wins have come against St. Kitts and Nevis in the World Cup Qualifiers and Nicaragua in a friendly. Defeats have come against Argentina, Honduras and Chile.
This game could be the easiest either side plays in the group round, which makes it all the more vital to their tournament success. Neither side wants to start its tournament without the vital three points it might need to get to the knockout rounds.
Prediction: Canada wins 1-0.
The game can be viewed on FoxSoccer2Go at 10:30 p.m. EST.
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