Canada shouldn't be favourite heading into Gold Cup, captain says
VANCOUVER — One of Canada's brightest soccer stars doesn't believe the country should be the favourite heading into the Gold Cup.
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Canada is a solid squad, striker Jonathan David said, but it has only won the tournament once — and that was 25 years ago.
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'I think to be favourites in a tournament, you have to be the one that maybe has won it the most times,' David told reporters on Monday.
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'Of course, I know we have a strong team and we can challenge, for sure, to win it. To be favourites isn't something I would say, personally. But I know we can achieve it.'
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The 30th-ranked Canadians will kick off their Gold Cup quest Tuesday when they host No. 75 Honduras at Vancouver's B.C. Place.
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The two sides last met during CONCACAF Nations League play in March, where Canada recorded a 4-1 victory.
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That doesn't mean much, though, said Canada head coach Jesse Marsch.
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'We have to make sure that in no way we take anything for granted or assume we are better than anyone. We have to fight for everything on the pitch,' Marsch said.
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'That has to be the first thing in our mentality for what this is going to take. And to earn the right to play the football that we think we can play, we have to be up for the challenge, up for the fight, and make sure that we are first when it comes to duels, when it comes to foot races, when it comes to physically being in the match.'
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Following Tuesday's game, the Canadians will shift to Houston to face No. 90 Curacao on June 21 before wrapping Group B play against No. 81 El Salvador on June 24.
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Canada is coming off a trophy-winning performance at the inaugural Canadian Shield last week, and is confident heading into the Gold Cup.
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'I think we're the best team in the tournament,' said veteran forward Cyle Larin. 'Each game, we have to take it step by step. You never know in football what could happen. The first game against Honduras will be a good test to go out there and win.'
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The Canadian Shield ended with Canada falling to Ivory Coast in a penalty shootout after neither side scored in regulation.
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