(Canada’s original starting XI photo provided by Richard Scott, Canada Soccer)
COSTA RICA — Freshman Matthew Constant of The University of New Mexico men’s soccer team made his international debut on Thursday starting for Canada’s U-20 team in the first of two friendly competitions vs. Costa Rica as the team looks to qualify for the World Cup.
Constant, who started both of the Lobos’ opening matches against Indiana and Notre Dame as a true freshman to kick off 2016, played all 180 minutes for the Lobos and was one of just 15 players to feature in Canada’s first match. The squad features players currently playing in Canada, USA, England, France, Germany, Greece, Netherlands and Scotland.
“It was a tough game on their home turf [against Costa Rica],” Constant said, “But we played really well. Playing a full 90 minutes was really exciting, and I feel I played well throughout the game. In the end it was a tough loss on an own goal deflection, but overall I’m happy with the team’s performance!”
Constant will miss Friday’s Lobo home opener against CSU Northridge due to his trip, but is excited about the opportunity to play for both teams.
“The opportunity to be able to go from one setting to the other and using my experiences from each to better my play is not something a lot of people get, and I’m very grateful for that opportunity.”
Canada will play a pair of international matches this week during an away Men’s U-20 camp in Costa Rica, the host country for next year’s 2017 CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 Championship. Canada fell in the opening match by a score of 2-1 and will face Costa Rica again on Saturday. The starting XI for Saturday’s match has not yet been announced but Constant will remain with the team throughout the weekend and looks to represent the team again before returning to the U.S.
“This was my first camp with Canada,” Constant said, “…with the World Cup Qualifying around the corner in February, hopefully I’ll be able to help Canada qualify!”
“This camp gives us an opportunity to assess some players that have been in a European environment,” said Canada Soccer’s Men’s National U-20 Team Coach Robert Gale. The camp will help the team prepare for next year’s CONCACAF youth competition, but also “assess the players long term for our Men’s National Team program.”
Constant is expected to return from his trip prior to New Mexico’s second match up of the TLC Plumbing and Utility Invitational on Sunday. He is expected to resume is position against Cal Poly at 6 p.m. at the UNM Soccer Complex.