CF Montréal’s Sirois and Waterman join Canadian national team

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Canada will face Suriname in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Nations League Nov. 15 and 19.

Published Nov 08, 2024 • 3 minute read

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CF Montréal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois stretches for a save during the first half of an MLS soccer game against the New England Revolution, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. Photo by Charles Krupa /AP

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Goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois and defenceman Joel Waterman have been selected by the Canadian men’s national team for the November international break.

Canada ranked 35th in the world, will face 136th-ranked Suriname in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Nations League.

The first leg of this confrontation will take place on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo, Suriname. Canada will then host the return match in Toronto on Nov. 19.

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The winners of the quarterfinals will advance to the Nations League final at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, and qualify for the 2025 Gold Cup. Both semifinals are scheduled for March 20, while the final and third-place match on March 23.

Sirois and Waterman were part of a group of CF Montréal players invited to a Canada preparatory camp in Toronto on Nov. 4.

It’s Sirois’s third call-up to the national team. The 23-year-old goalkeeper was also selected for a CONCACAF Nations League duel against Trinidad and Tobago in March.

In his last selection, Waterman came on late in Canada’s victory over Panama. The defender also played 20 minutes in a 2-0 win over the United States, his first call-up since the Copa America in June.

Quebecer and Olympique de Marseille midfielder Ismaël Koné will return to Jesse Marsch’s team. The former CF Montréal player injured his ankle in France and missed Canada’s last three games since the fourth-place Copa América match against Uruguay in July.

Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, and 34-year-old veteran Junior Hoilett, who did not play for Canada from a 4-0 defeat to the Netherlands in June, will also be back.

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Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after what was initially thought to be a broken rib. Tests subsequently showed he had a broken piece of cartilage between his ribs, meaning he will be sidelined for several weeks.

“It shouldn’t be too long but it removes him as a possibility for us in this (international) window,” said Marsch.

Waterman is a possible option to fill in for Cornelius alongside Moise Bombito.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

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The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Canada RosterGoalkeepers:Maxime Crépeau, Portland Timbers (MLS);Jonathan Sirois, CF Montréal (MLS);Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).Defenders:Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France);Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany);Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS);Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland);Jamie Knight-Lebel, Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England);Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS);Joel Waterman, CF Montréal (MLS).Midfielders:Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS);Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy);Mathieu Choinière, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland);Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal);Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland);Ismaël Koné, Olympique Marseille (France);Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS);Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS);Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).Forwards:Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France);Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France);Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain);Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

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