Thereâs no blaming Cyle Larin for being confident. The Orlando City SC forward just set an MLS rookie record with 17 goals and has become a regular with the Canadian senior national team.
Now that heâs shifting gears to the Canucksâ upcoming World Cup qualifiers, that confidence hasnât wavered.
In an interview with Honduran sports daily Diez, Larin proclaimed that Canada are the second best team to Mexico in their CONCACAF qualifying group that also includes Honduras and El Salvador. Canada will take on Honduras on Nov. 13 and then El Salvador on Nov. 17.
âWe have a good chance [to qualify from the group] as much as our other rivals in the group,â he said. âWe all want to advance to the next round. We have many soccer players who play in MLS and this in a way is an advantage and we can have a greater chance to advance.â
Canada advanced to the current semifinal round of qualifying with a 4-1 aggregate victory in a two-leg series against Belize in September, with Larin starting both matches. Since debuting for Canada last year, Larin has three goals and been capped 12 times.
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âI think weâve improved a lot and now we have a different style of play,â Larin said. âWe know what we need to do."
Next weekâs matchup vs. Honduras is a chance for redemption for Canada after they fell 8-1 in World Cup qualifying that ended the Canucksâ hopes for Brazil 2014.
âI think itâs going to be a great game, we will be playing at home and I think we have the right team and weâre going to win the game,â Larin said. âWeâve played pretty well in the friendlies that weâve had, and Iâm sure weâre going to do well.â
It will also be a chance for Larin to go up against Orlando teammate and fellow rookie Bryan Rochez, who is a Honduran national teamer.
âI spoke a bit with him about the game, and weâve joked that Iâm going to win the game,â Larin said. âI tell him Iâm going to score and weâre going to win."
