CF Montreal midfielder Mathieu Choinière waited for many years before finally being able to realize one of his childhood dreams.
Choinière and teammate Samuel Piette were selected by the Canadian national team on Thursday for the next international break, which will take place from October 9 to 17.
The interim head coach of the Canadian selection, Mauro Biello, retained their services for a friendly match against Japan. This duel will take place at Denka Big Swan Stadium in Niigata, Japan on October 13.
Invited to Canada’s preparatory camp in Bahrain for the Soccer World Cup last November, Choinière failed to secure a position on the team. But after going from substitute in the Bleu-blanc-noir’s first match of the season to representing the team at the MLS All-Star match, the 24-year-old Quebecer will now be able to add a first senior national selection to his resume.
“I’ve been waiting for it for a long time and now that it’s happened, I’m going to try to seize my chance,” Choinière said Thursday after CF Montreal training at the Nutrilait Center. It’s a goal that I set for myself and that I wanted to achieve. I started thinking about this when I was about 15 or 17. I’m having one of the best seasons of my career, so I’m trying to enjoy it. This is very high on my list of career accomplishments. »
Choinière will not arrive in Japan in unknown territory. Well, almost, even though he has never set foot in this Asian country. On the pitch, however, he will find players and staff that he knows and whom he wants to impress.
“I’m really excited. I’m going to try to get there with as much confidence as possible. I will try to create a connection with the players and perform well during training. If I get minutes, then I will try to take advantage of them,” he said.
If there is one person who does not doubt Choinière’s abilities, it is his head coach in Montreal, Hernan Losada.
The Argentinian gradually discovered Choinière’s qualities, both on and off the field, and he did not hesitate to make him one of the most important cogs in Montreal’s eleven. Losada not only believes that Choinière deserves this Canadian selection, but that he also represents a great example of determination for his teammates and the youngest hopes of the organization.
“I’m very happy for Mathieu. It’s the work of the whole team, but he had a great season for us. He is a versatile player who always puts the team first. I love his qualities, his mentality and his fighting spirit. “It’s a very good example for the Academy players,” insisted the head coach.
For Piette, it will be a return to the maple leaf squad. Injured at the start of the season, the midfielder has not joined a national team camp since his call-up to the 2022 World Cup.
“I’m very happy and very honored to be back. It’s been a while since I’ve been part of the national team. I will be able to find my teammates and very good friends. I’m looking forward to being there, and I’ll have Mathieu to accompany me on this long flight,” said Piette, who has been capped 66 times by Canada since his debut in 2012.
Piette was not used by head coach John Herdman in Canada’s three matches at the World Cup in Qatar. The 28-year-old Quebecer will try to regain his place in midfield, while serving as a sort of big brother to Choinière.
“I hope I can get a few minutes. Every time you are selected for a match like this, you hope to start or at least be used. In my case, being called up to the national team is a victory in itself, expressed Piette. As a veteran of the team, my role is also to ensure that Mathieu feels as comfortable as possible in this environment. »
As a good captain, Piette preached a little for his parish by declaring that defender Joel Waterman and goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois would have deserved to be part of the Canadian selections, but he admitted that Biello perhaps wanted to present a squad that he knows , in his first selection as interim head coach.
“It’s not make or break for Mauro, but he obviously wants to do well to solidify his chances of remaining as head coach. For a first selection, you don’t want to upset the locker room or the team too much,” he observed.
Canada will use the October window to fine-tune its preparations for the 2023-2024 CONCACAF Nations League, which will serve as a qualifying tournament for CONCACAF teams ahead of the CONMEBOL Copa America tournament in 2024.
Canada will begin its CONCACAF Nations League journey in the quarter-finals, which will be played in a home-and-away format during the FIFA international window in November.
