Tactical breakdown: What's up with Jonathan David in World Cup qualifiers?

If there was one strength that the Canadian men’s team could always rely on, it was the attack.

Instead, there are serious questions being asked regarding the side’s finishing during October’s Concacaf World Cup qualifiers, and the overall quality of the attack after playing two consecutive draws away to Mexico and Jamaica.

Without its top scorer for the year in Cyle Larin (12 goals in 11 appearances in 2021), Jonathan David has operated as the lone No. 9, which has been a rarity for him over his past few appearances. Through both October qualifiers, David has registered two shots, only one of which has hit the target, with an expected goals (xG) total of 0.1.

Considering David entered these qualifiers with five goals in his last four games for Lille, Canadian supporters are left scratching their heads as to why he hasn’t picked up where he left off in Ligue 1.