Here We Go! – Canada’s Group is Set

There will likely be mixed emotions from Canadian soccer fans at home and abroad seeing the Men’s National team drawn against Belgium, Croatia, and Morocco in the upcoming world cup. I have seen many comments so far ranging from Canada has ‘no chance’, ‘at least we made it to the world cup’, ‘lucky to even score a goal’ all the way to ‘we can get out of this group’, ‘you never know what can happen’, ‘we have some great young players ready to give it their all’ and numerous other comments in between this. Yes, they are playing strong teams and at the World Cup level and there no easy games regardless of who you play. Indeed, I remember being 10 years old and watching Canada play in their first, and only, World Cup in 1986 where they squared off in their first game against a powerhouse France team and the legend Michel Platini. They did themselves and Canada proud even though they lost 1-0. Let’s speed up to the present and soccer in Canada has come light years since then in terms of the development of the game and the players that Canada is currently producing. One only need to look at our Women’s National team and the success they have had for several years now, notwithstanding an Olympic Gold Medal in 2021, to know that Canada has become a well-recognized and respected country on the international soccer scene. The results will be determined on the field for Canada and the rest is just speculation and while it may be fun to do this there is one thing, we know for sure is John Herdman will have the team and a whole country energized to see them do well.

Jonathan