Canada’s Ismael Kone poses for a photograph with a volunteer. Reuters
Doha: Canada coach John Herdman has stressed Les Rouges’ loyalty, trust and brotherhood will be an ‘x-factor’ for their FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 campaign. The North Americans are in Group F alongside Belgium, Morocco and Croatia –their first match will be against Belgium on November 23 at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.
In an interview uploaded on Canada Soccer’s official Twitter, the 47-year-old former school teacher said he had selected players who know and trust each other.
“I think right at the core is loyalty, trust, brotherhood; this is going to be an X-Factor for Canada in this World Cup. We’ve got the right balance of players in different positions, but all of those men have somewhere somehow contributed to this journey. They’ve been part of those 20 games. They know each other inside out and trust each other,” Herdman said.
Canada’s Alistair Johnston with volunteers during a special event at Umm Salal Sport Club, yesterday. Reuters
The Englishman said the genuine care and love the players share would be essential for Canada as they take on big names in football on their first World Cup appearance in 36 years and only their second ever.
According to Herdman, the players will have the chance to express themselves on the pitch and show the ‘new Canada’ to the world.
“There’s a challenge ahead of us that we’re going to take on football giants, and we’re going to need to believe and trust in each other.
That’s where I went with my selection.”
“It’s a privilege to be in this position to share those good news stories. But, you know, each of those men who heard that story said they’d earned it. They had earned it in their own way. I think each man’s got a story to tell, and those selected can probably write a book -- but to be able to tell them, it’s just it’s a special part of this job,” he added.
Herdman announced his final list of 26 players on Sunday, including Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies. The 22-year-old Davies is recovering from a hamstring injury but is expected to be fit for the tournament. Club Brugge forward and Canada’s all-time top scorer Cyle Larin, Lille striker, Jonathan David, Reading FC’s Junior Hoilett and Troyes forward Ike Ugbo will lead the team’s forward charge.
Veteran and all-time appearance holder Atiba Hutchinson who could reach 100 caps for Canada if he plays all the group-stage matches, also made the list.
Herdman, who started his coaching career as New Zealand’s women’s football programme, became Canada’s women’s national coach in 2011, leading them to Pan American Games gold in 2011 and back-to-back Olympic women’s bronze medals in 2012 and 2016.
Since he was appointed men’s team coach in 2018, Herdman has been the pilot of a group of rising young Canadian footballers making a mark in Europe, blending them with veteran stars who have all bought into the system.
The team’s fast and thrilling football style soon generated results, improving their rankings from 72 to 41 today.
Meanwhile, Herdman said Qatar is ready to host the world, especially with the top facilities built for the tournament.
“Driving through Doha was like all of a stimulus, to be honest. The excitement of landing and being in those FIFA bubbles. But just seeing what this country has done to get and to bring a World Cup here, I mean, it was like Las Vegas on steroids. I have to say, I’ve never seen anything like it. This country is ready, I think, to bring the world here,” he said.
Canada will jointly host the first 48-team FIFA World Cup in 2026 with the USA and Mexico.
