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Derek Cornelius has been used to getting on a plane — usually multiple planes — to fly from Serbia to camp with the Canadian national soccer team.

This week, he can just take a cab.

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“The other camps I was travelling more than a day to get into camp, and this time it’s just down the street,” said the 6-foot-1 centre-back, who joined the Vancouver Whitecaps from Serbian side Javor-Matis before the season.

He and three other Caps have been called up to the national team for Canada’s CONCACAF Nations League qualifying game against French Guiana at B.C. Place on March 24.

“It’s nice playing at home, and knowing the stadium we’re going to be in,” said Cornelius, who, it should be noted, has only played once in the Dome.

On the line two weeks from now is a spot in the Nations League top tier and guaranteed berth in the 2019 Gold Cup. Canada’s 23-man roster is full of some ballyhooed offensive talent, but Cornelius is part of a defensive corps that didn’t surrender a single goal in 2018, as Canada outscored its opponents 14-0.