2022-11-23
Canada returned to participate in a World Cup after 36 years and this Wednesday made its debut in Qatar 2022 against Belgium. Although the North Americans lost by the minimum against the Belgians, the performance on the green grass was encouraging and their coach John Herdman was optimistic about the next game against Croatia.
However, the British-born strategist was at the center of various criticisms for a reprehensible statement about it. “We’re going to c… to Croatia,” he blurted out.
His words impact. No doubt. Not only because of its sexist tone, but because of his own cultural and personal baggage, since the British-born coach spent his entire career in women’s football: From 2006 to 2011 he tactically directed the New Zealand women’s team, while that from 2011 to 2018 he did it in Canada, where due to his great feats he was called to lead the men’s team.
The harangue, of course, caused a stir within the Canadian press. Above all, because of his past as technical director of the women’s soccer team of that country and of New Zealand at different stages.
Precisely, with the ladies of the North American country, he managed to win the respective bronze medals of the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games, which earned him the Canadian Federation to summon him to lead the men in the CONCACAF qualifiers. in which they finished first and qualify for this tournament.
About the end, he referred to what it is like to lead a female team in relation to the male one: “There may be older men who see it and think: ‘How is it possible?’ I don’t think there is a big difference between men and women. The training is similar. What’s more, I promised not to change anything and continue being me”.
At the time of being consulted about the penalty kick that his team missed. “We wanted to score that first goal. I am proud of Alphonso; it is a very big moment. We have the weight of a nation for the 36 years of waiting. I am very proud to see him catch that ball because you have to have a lot of courage”.
John Herdman is satisfied beyond the defeat he suffered in his debut. “We have shown that we deserve to be here. Our fans have also tried to win the battle; we can leave proud of what we have done. We are a soccer nation. We had objectives that we have not been able to achieve. The group stage is fully open after the result between Morocco and Croatia”.
Then he highlighted: “After a game like this I have told my players that I am very proud of what they have done. We have to stick together.”