'No messing around': John Herdman's Canada must be ruthless not only in word, but in action

Before the Canadian men took the field against Honduras in Toronto on Tuesday, head coach John Herdman made clear his strategy not only for the match, but for the next three years: He will play his best players, try to win relentlessly and convincingly, and hope his team will surge into the 2026 World Cup filled with venom and self-belief.

"It's not, look, we're gonna test the waters, try lots of new players, experiment for two years," he said. "It's the same path, the same mindset: What can we be first at? What do we need to do to make sure that, as a group, the confidence is there to go into a World Cup and really compete at it?

"Winning things is going to be important."

The dominant 4-1 victory that followed will give Herdman's team the chance to win something: the CONCACAF Nations League finals in Las Vegas in June.

But if the Canadian men are serious about lifting a trophy—sacrificing the development of young players or new tactics in favour of hard, present-day results—then they must be ruthless not only in word, but in action. They need to be clinical.

Jonathan David, one of the most in-form strikers in the world and a penalty specialist for French side Lille, must start taking their spot kicks.

"I can't promise you anything," Herdman said after Tuesday's game, when David watched a teammate take a penalty for a third consecutive time and miss for a second. "I wish I could."

Toward the end of the first half, a Honduran handball gave the hosts a kick from the spot. David stood in brief consultation with Cyle Larin.

"I'm looking down the sideline with one eye going, Go on, Jonny, take it," Herdman said. "But at the same time, Go on, give it to Cyle."

Larin had already scored twice. He wanted his hat trick, and part