Commentary
The man I met at the pub had tears in his eyes after hugging me. He spoke about the challenges of being a loyal fan of Canada’s national soccer team, facing ridicule and mockery from others. He looked at me, hoping for understanding, and found it.
Canada’s victory over Venezuela in the Copa America quarter-finals set up a semi-final match against Argentina, the reigning champions of both Copa America and the World Cup. As legendary sportscaster Andres Cantor said, Canada was now “in the mouth of the wolf.”
Regardless of the outcome, Canada’s men’s soccer team is back on the map, much to the disappointment of the failed American hosts of Copa America.
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The last time Canada’s men played in a major international competition’s knockout stage was at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, where they lost to Brazil on penalty kicks.
Most players on that team came from the North American Soccer League, which was in decline after featuring global superstars like Pele and Franz Beckenbauer.
Despite challenges, Canada qualified for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, with players like George Pakos, a 33-year-old amateur, scoring the winning goal to secure their spot.
Subsequent efforts to grow the game faltered without a stable professional league, and the promising generation of the 1980s faded away.
However, milestones like a tie with Brazil in 1994 and victories in the Gold Cup provided hope, but the national program eventually lost steam due to lack of resources and talent.
Recent successes under coach John Herdman led to Canada’s qualification for the 2022 World Cup, featuring players like Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David.
Despite challenges and setbacks, a new golden generation has revitalized Canadian soccer, paving the way for future success, including hosting the 2026 World Cup.
Thanks to this new generation, the team that many have always believed in, despite hardships, now stands on the brink of greatness.
Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
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