Critics gave Canada little chance of advancing beyond this World Cup qualifying stage.

A colleague suggested it would collect just four points through six Group A games against Mexico, Honduras and El Salvador. Another predicted a single point from these first two qualifying dates.

Full disclosure: I predicted Canada would finish bottom of Group A, that they'd crash out at this stage.

Granted, that was before El Salvador's starting lineup went on strike. Nevertheless, this Canadians men's team is exceeding expectations.

"We have potential," Canadian midfielder Julian de Guzman said when asked to answer those critics, adding throughout our post-game conversation Tuesday night that four points is "OK, for now."

LARSON: Canada settles for hard-fought draw in El Salvador

It's how they got those points that has de Guzman full of optimism heading into 2016.

"It was all about suffering (Tuesday night)," he said. "The guys did that. They had a lot of heart.

"The guys learned a lot in a game like this. Playing in El Salvador was never going to be easy for us. We showed a lot of character and we left it on the pitch."

Canada's most-capped player also tipped his hat to Canada's defence, who were only exposed one time over the course of 90 minutes.

Even then, Canadian 'keeper Milan Borjan came up with a massive first-half save to preserve another clean sheet.

"They were warriors today," de Guzman said of Canada's back four and goalkeeper. "They kept us in the game. They battled and won every ball."

"It's good for now. It's a good start. There's still a lot to work on. It's important the guys come in fit for March and ready for a tougher battle going against Mexico."

Back in T.O. 24 hours after leaving San Salvador. Brutal but, hey, here's today's stuff https://t.co/pRLTyipGE8pic.twitter.com/Dw7v3LcOFX — Kurtis Larson (@KurtLarSUN) November 19, 2015

DE GUZMAN SETS MARK

Nobody has appeared more times for Canada's men's national team than Julian de Guzman.

The 34-year-old midfielder appeared in his 85th senior international fixture Tuesday night, breaking Paul Stalteri's record.

"It's great. I'm happy to be there that many times for my country," de Guzman said post-game. "I would have loved the three points (in El Salvador) but I can still celebrate in a nice way.

"I'm honoured and want to play for at least another year or so to get to 90 or 100. Who knows."

Another year would take the Toronto native through the end of CONCACAF's fourth round. Should Canada earn a top-two finish in Group A it would play 10 more games in CONCACAF's final round of World Cup qualifying.

De Guzman told the Toronto Sun this week that playing for the Ottawa Fury has helped preserve him for this round of qualifying. The travel hasn't been as heavy on him.

"The goal is to set the bar high for a lot of the young guys to break," de Guzman added. "If they do it then it shows Canada is taking steps forward by achieving something and getting on the big stage."

MEXICO AND MEXICO

The reason Canada's first two World Cup qualifiers were crucial is because of what lies ahead in March.

Canada hosts Mexico, the best team in the confederation, before traveling to the 100,000-seat Estadio Azteca in Mexico City days later.

Considering Mexico's form -- El Tri just won in San Pedro Sula, Honduras for he first time in 50 years -- the Canadians certainly won't be expected to pick up more than a point through that home and away.

One positive, though, is the fact Canada hosts the Mexicans before playing away. That's a lot better than having you confidence shattered in Mexico City before having to host a return game.

"We generally put in good performances at home," Canadian defender Adam Straith said. "We don't really lose at home. Getting that game at home first builds our confidence. It did this camp.

"Mexico is a bit of a different beast. That's a team that, it's quite obvious to say, is the best team in the group. We really need to be a lot better at home. Hopefully we can do that and that will lead into the big one away."

The way this Canadian team defended in two clean sheet performances to open fourth-round qualifying has some believing that picking up a point against Mexico isn't out of the question.

The Mexicans aren't nearly as dominant when playing north of Los Angeles.

As for the match at Azteca, well, prepare to board up the windows and batten down the hatches.

GEIGER THE GOOD

There's no press box at San Salvador's Estadio Cuscatlan.

Media sit among the fans.

In such close proximity it's easy to gauge reaction in the bleachers to each and every whistle.

It's safe to say the guy in back of me who yelled "you're s---" in Spanish didn't think much of Tuesday night's officiating.

Neither did El Salvador's players, who chased Mike Geiger post-game despite the American referee being spot-on most of the night.

As Straith told the Toronto Sun post-game, Geiger didn't let a boisterous audience decide the calls.

"I personally was very satisfied with the referee," Straith said. "You never know what you're going to get. Obviously this was an American referee and I think he did a fantastic job.

"I think overall we have to be satisfied with him because it hasn't always been like that."

This part of the world is notorious for producing horrendous officials who change games in the blink of an eye.

Considering Geiger took immense scrutiny for his handling of a recent CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal, Major League Soccer's best official showed why he's undoubtedly one of the best officials in CONCACAF.

Don't forget, this is the same American referee who was commended for his handling of a pair of FIFA World Cup matches in Brazil last summer.

Geiger gets blasted whenever -- like every single referee in the world -- he produces a gaffe.

It's time to give credit where credit's due, too.

WORLD CUP OUTLOOK

The worst case scenario for Canada would be if Honduras grabs consecutive wins over El Salvador in March.

Assuming Canada gets nothing more than a point in the aforementioned home and away with Mexico, that would put it in a must-not-lose situation in San Pedro Sula next September.

It's safe to say the Canadians are hoping things will be a bit less complicated.

The dream scenario, of course, is for Honduras and El Salvador to draw back-to-back games.

That would mean Canada could lose in Honduras and still advance on the final Matchday, when it hosts El Salvador.

Something to keep an eye on is whether El Salvador's first-team players resolve a strike that saw many regular starters miss Tuesday night's match with Canada.

If El Salvador has all of its guns back a few months from now it will be more difficult for them to lose consecutively.