VANCOUVER – Canadian national team head coach Benito Floro said his squad needs to be at its most concentrated to earn a result against Honduras.

Canada is effectively in a ‘must-win’ situation against its Central American foes, with the BC Place clash being one of three crucial home games in this four-nation, six-match stage of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying for Russia 2018.

With a difficult trip to El Salvador to come on Tuesday, followed by a home-and-home versus regional powerhouse Mexico next March, Floro is under no illusions as to what The Red and White need to do in downtown Vancouver on Friday night.

“In this qualifying round, there are only six games, so the first game is very important, which means that the mentality needs to be different,” the Spaniard said at Thursday’s pre-match press conference. “We need to be more concentrated and to be more competitive in order to win the game, or at least, not lose the game.

“For two years, we have prepared our players and team to think that friendly games are not friendly games, but that they are competitive games. I think now we are a difficult team for other teams.”

With Mexico widely expected to advance from semifinal Group A next September, the battle for the second qualifying spot to the final-round hexagonal group in CONCACAF is expected to be between Canada and Honduras. Floro knows his side will face a tough test from Los Catrachos.

“I know the level of their team and how they like to play and attack,” Floro said through an interpreter. “They are a very good team and they have experience to know what they need to do.”

Unsurprisingly, Floro was coy on what his starting XI will look like against the Hondurans, though he hopes Junior Hoilett can shake off an injury knock that has seen him miss the last couple of training sessions and be ready to make his competitive debut at BC Place.

“If we feel that Junior is OK to play, then tomorrow, he will be a starter player,” Floro revealed. “As for the rest, you will know tomorrow.”

The CONCACAF semifinal group stage has been the stumbling block for Canada in the last four World Cup qualifying cycles. The last time the Canadians appeared in the hex was in qualifying for the 1998 World Cup in France.

For veteran Julian de Guzman, making inroads this time around may not only build hope that Canada can reach a second World Cup in its history, but help provide significant growth in the domestic game.

“It’s a lot more pressure on our shoulders to do well, but we feel bringing results at the international level will hopefully open doors and finally build a proper foundation, which is obviously having a (Canadian) league,” said the Ottawa Fury midfielder.

“This is one way of trying to change things around and we strongly believe the team that we have today, and what we have been able to produce until now, we’re heading in the right direction.

“It now just comes down to getting results, and if we get results, do well, and make it to the hex, then that’s one step in the door to maybe have a league eventually and being higher in the (FIFA) rankings.”