TORONTO | Canada has been waiting since 1986 and it is now done: it will return to the Soccer World Cup.
• Read also: Canada at the World Cup: What they said
The Men’s National Team secured a ticket to Qatar next November by easily defeating Jamaica 4-0 at BMO Field in Toronto today.
With the win, Canada is almost certain to finish first in the Octagon Qualifiers with the final game to be played in Panama on Wednesday.
This will only be Canada’s second appearance at the World Cup, and the first in 36 years. The Canadians were never in doubt with a dominant performance after a first loss in the tournament in Costa Rica on Thursday.
Celebration
Despite the cold, the party dragged on at BMO Field after the game. While the players were gathered in the center of the field, head coach John Herdman led a session of thunderclap to the sound of a drum in which the supporters, almost all of whom were still there, participated.
The players were exulting under light snow, as if to add to the magic of the moment.
We also released a video of Alphonso Davies, who is not with the team at the moment, recovering from myocarditis following his COVID infection.
Quick Goal
The Canadians took control from the very start of the game and never looked back.
It’s at the 13e minute that Cyle Larin opened the scoring by accepting a ball from Stephen Eustaquio, who had slipped between the two central Jamaicans.
In a first half completely dominated by Canada, Tajon Buchanan doubled the lead at the 44e minute receiving a cross from Jonathan David after a free kick.
Junior Hoilett made sure to put the lid on the encounter by scoring in the 83e minute and Adrian Mariappa scored in his own net in the 88e minute.
Domination
As we said, Canada clearly dominated the match. In fact, with just a little more precision in the finish, the Maple Leaf could have led by four or even five goals before returning to the locker room for halftime.
Cyle Larin, Jonathan David and Tajon Buchanan all missed very clear chances.
Canada were continually first on the ball, giving up very little possession to the Reggae Boyz, who were unable to close their box.
In the left lane, Sam Adekugbe was dominant, giving Javain Brown a very bad game.
Ambiance
It was cold today in Toronto, -5°C with a feeling of -14°C at kick-off, but that didn’t dampen the 30,000 fans gathered at BMO Field.
The atmosphere was infernal even before the meeting began. Hundreds of fans formed a guard of honor at the bus carrying the Canadian players with smoke, confetti and chants.
And as if to mark the occasion, a little snow began to fall for a few minutes, just to make it look even more Canadian.
The pride of a nation
More than a place in the World Cup, the national team has achieved another feat, that of uniting a nation behind it.
“I think the country didn’t believe in us because we never gave them a reason to,” coach John Herdman said. People believe it now.
“Now is the time for everyone to unite behind football because we can become a power. The time has come. »
The native Englishman and Canadian by adoption now hopes that this is something solid for Canadian soccer that is being built.
Achieve the impossible
There was a steep climb because the heart of this team is young and yet players who are under 30 thought that the World Cup was unattainable.
“We thought it was impossible for Canada to participate in the World Cup,” said Lucas Cavallini. I hope we will unite this nation and convince young people to keep believing in their dreams. »
“You have to believe that as a young Canadian, you can be the best football player in the world,” added Jonathan Osorio, citing one of his teammates as an example.
“We already have one of the best in Alphoso Davies and if he can’t convince the youngsters that they can become the best, I don’t know who could. »
A family
On Saturday, Stephen Eustaquio referred to his teammates as brothers, professing his love for them saying he would invite them all to his wedding.
“It’s not just words or nice quotes, it’s really a feeling that we have and that’s what made us manage to qualify for the World Cup, something that the people thought impossible a few years ago or even a year ago,” insisted Samuel Piette.
“I grew up with a lot of these guys in neighborhoods around Toronto and I don’t think a lot of us were very wealthy,” Osorio added. We had to fight and start at the bottom. »
At the Raptors
To motivate his troops, John Herdman invited his players to make a pilgrimage to the NBA Raptors locker room at Scotiabank Arena.
“I told them that there had been a group of men who had made the decision, in that locker room, to change the face of their sport. The guys made the same decision tonight.
“I wanted the guys to have a taste of what a championship is, we had a special moment, we had goosebumps. »