The Canadian national team makes its second World Cup appearance in history
Eight cups have gone since their debut in 1986, but the wait is finally over. This Wednesday, after 36 years, Canada will take to the field for a World Cup match. At 4 p.m. (from Brasilia), the Canadian team will face Belgium, at the Al-Rayyan stadium, for the first round of group F.
Despite the enthusiasm for a return to a World Cup, Canada will not have it easy in Qatar. The draw simply pitted two of Europe’s top football teams against each other (Belgium It is Croatia), as well as one of the best teams in Africa (Morocco).
But Canada has reason to dream of qualifying for the knockout stage, which would be a record for the country. The Canadian national team boasts the most talented generation in history and boasts prominent names such as forwards Jonathan David and Cyle Larin, the team’s top scorers in qualifying, youngster Tajon Buchanan, midfielder experienced Atiba Hutchinson and big star Alphonso Davies, left-back at Bayern but playing more advanced for the national team.
Davies, in turn, is the Canadian fans’ big hope for this World Cup. His participation in the world was questioned in the last weeks due to an injurybut examinations did not show any serious bruising and the the player is allowed to enter the field.
In an interview with THROW!, Marissa Roberto, reporter for TSN, Canada, was keen to highlight the importance Davies has in the national team and how he helps his teammates on and off the field.
– It is extremely satisfying to be able to say that Alphonso is part of this Canadian team. He has the personality and class to match the skills he displays on the pitch. All of these things can be learned by anyone, making him an amazing teammate. He is a creative player who complicates the opposition a lot. He may still surprise some people in Qatar – he stressed.
The Canadian journalist also commented on the country’s expectations regarding the selection’s participation in the World Cup in Qatar. For her, the supporters know that the group is complicated, but that they believe in a classification for the next phase.
– I think most Canadians are optimistic, but they would be happy with a good performance from our team. We know the path will not be easy and, based on our last Cup campaign, there is only one way forward: up. I believe we have the pieces to move to the next phase – said Marissa.
Canada will soon have Belgium, third at the last World Cup and with stars like Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois, as their opponents in their debut on Wednesday. Despite the known difficulty that the Canadian team will have in taking points from Belgium, the European team must also keep an eye on the important points.
– Alphonso Davies is an international superstar, team captain Atiba Hutchinson has been waiting for this moment his whole life, and coach John Herdman couldn’t be more perfect for the job. The team has a lot of heart, racing, courage and motivation, and they want to prove to the world that they deserve to be there – concluded the journalist from TSN Sports.
After Belgium, Canada will face Croatia in the 2nd round of Group F, on the 27th, at 1:00 p.m. (Brasília time), and will end their participation in the group stage against Morocco, on December 1, at 12:00 p.m. (from Brasília) .
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