The eighth day of the FIFA World Cup brought more goals and crazy moments.
The city of Vancouver and the rest of Canada were ready for Canada’s matchup against the Qataris. Over 52,000 people jammed BC Place Vancouver, hoping to see Canada win their first-ever World Cup game.
Canada made history on Thursday in a massive way. Let’s go over that, then look at the rest of the games that were played.
Canada vs Qatar: Canadian Crusade
The Canadians wanted to set the tone early. They were pressing very actively and were looking to exploit Qatar on the wings. The overloads were something that lacked against Bosnia last week.
Qatar’s game plan was to sit back and counter. Derek Cornelius and Luc de Fougerolles were cautious at the back. Canada was buzzing early, and the crowd in Vancouver played a part. Jonathan David had a clear chance with the half volley from Ali Ahmed’s cross. But Qatari goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada shut the door. That was good, but they needed to create more and bury those chances.
It took about 16 minutes for Canada to get the breakthrough. Vancouver-born Alistair Johnston drove down the right side and made a cross that David struck. Abunada made the save, but Larin buried the rebound. The man from Brampton has goals in back-to-back World Cup games. Canada needed this. Maybe Larin had some schwarma before the game.
Canada continued to pounce on Qatar. Shortly after the abomination that is the hydration break, Tajon Buchanan’s shot was blocked. However, Qatar left David all alone, and he blasted the volley into the net. David proved his doubters wrong here! The rumours of his demise were greatly exaggerated.
It looked like Canada was awarded a penalty shortly after Buchanan was taken down in the box. But after a VAR check, Qatar’s Homam Elamin was sent off for taking Buchanan down. However, it was ruled as only a free kick, and Ahmed shot it over the bar. Canada had a massive opportunity to finish Qatar, Mortal Kombat-style.
Canada kept hitting the gas pedal. Buchanan was a menace down the right side, and so were Ahmed and Laryea on the left. Stephen Eustaquio and Ismaël Koné were slicing up Qatar with their passes.
Shortly before halftime, they got their third. After Abunada made an excellent save off Larin, David was there to pounce on the rebound. Canada were in dreamland, and BC Place Vancouver erupted.
Like the drums to a Rush song, Canada were pounding Qatar. Their press in and around the box was lethal, the passes were on point, and they were winning their duels. You couldn’t ask for a better start.
With Canada up 3-0 at halftime, Cornelius (who got a yellow card in the first half) was taken off for Moise Bombito. It was nice to see him, as he has battled a nasty tibia injury since October and has been fighting to stay healthy in time for the World Cup.
The second half started the same way as the first: A Canadian onslaught in the Qatari box. They were like an army of Canada Geese disrupting a peaceful picnic.
Just when things were looking great for Canada, Assim Madibo got booked for taking down Koné. He was down for a while, and it looked like he sustained a serious injury. VAR intervened, and Madibo got a red card. Koné had to be stretchered off, and he got some applause from the BC Place Vancouver crowd. The Canadian players and staff huddled around him, and Koné waved to the crowd as he got stretchered off. As a result, Nathan Saliba came on. Canada can’t have nice things.
Nothing but thoughts and prayers to Koné. The Canadian players and staff were visibly shaken up. It also sucked the life out of BC Place Vancouver.
But soon, the noise was back. Minutes after coming off the bench, Saliba scored a free kick that went off the post and in. To make things even more touching, he held up Koné’s jersey.
At this point, Canada were having a training session. They continued to move the ball well and overwhelmed Qatar. Substitute Jacob Shaffelburg ended up taking a shot, but it was blocked by Al Manai, and he put it into his own net. That summed up Qatar’s day. For Canada, the dream continued.
Maxime Crépeau barely touched the ball. He might as well have gotten out a chair and a Nintendo Switch and played Tomodachi Life or something.
Qatar had no answers other than being butchers. Canada wanted to rub more salt in the wound. Saliba played a nice through ball for David in stoppage time. The Juventus striker got his hat trick, and it was the 56th in World Cup history. Last week, people were doubting and roasting him. On Thursday afternoon, he silenced them in a big way.
It was belt to butt, one-way traffic, Jotaro Kujo beating Steely Dan, whatever you want to call it.
Canada got their first-ever win at a men’s World Cup. They did it in style. Canada were a runaway train. It’s been a long time for the men’s program in this country. A golden era of soccer is on. This win showed that Canada can compete on the world’s biggest stage. Sure, it is Qatar, and they were down to nine men, but the performance cannot be underestimated.
This was also Jesse Marsch soccer at its finest: Intense, quick and high pressing. What a day. O Canada, you have arrived on the soccer scene. Canada is a soccer country now. They are no longer a casualty of the soccer society.
Notes from the other games
The day started at Atlanta Stadium between Czechia and South Africa. Fresh off defeats, both teams were under pressure to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
The Czechs drew first blood six minutes in. It was Michal Sadilek who found a ton of space in behind the South African defenders to put Czechia ahead.
It looked like it was a physical game as well. Both teams also traded chances in the first half. But South Africa looked poised to get the equalizer.
Early in the second half, Czechia’s Patrick Schick delivered a bomb of a header, but South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams handled it easily. Schick’s header looked like a hot potato, but for Williams, it was anything but that.
The Czechs left rueing their missed chances. After a handball in the box in the 80th minute by Czechia’s Pavel Sulc, Teboho Mokoena stepped up and slotted the spot kick home. It was as cool as ice cream on a warm summer day.
Good on South Africa for getting a point at the World Cup; many didn’t have them getting one.
In Los Angeles, it looked like it was going to be a forgettable game between Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was, but during the last 10 minutes, it was absolute chaos.
Johan Manzambi scored a beauty of a volley to put the Swiss ahead in the 74th minute. It looked like it would be a close win for Switzerland.
But then Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemovic got sent off in the 80th minute, and then the chaos began.
Ruben Vargas rolled one past Bosnian goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj to make it 2-0 three minutes later, and then Manzambi and Granit Xhaka (from the penalty spot) added two more late. Bosnia broke Swiss keeper Gregor Kobel’s clean sheet bid with a worldie from Ermin Mahmic. That’s one of the best consolation goals you’ll see.
Can’t blame anyone for falling asleep for the first 80 minutes. But the last 10 and stoppage time minutes were nothing to sleep over.
The day ended with Mexico taking on the Republic of Korea at Guadalajara Stadium.
Unfortunately, this game wasn’t as exciting as the Canada and Qatar game. In the first half, both teams were barely creating any offence. El Tri got the breakthrough in the 50th minute courtesy of Luis Romo. This goal happened because Korean goalkeeper Seung-Gyu Kim let the ball slip through his fingers, and Romo capitalized. What on Earth happened here? For Romo, the goal was extra special because he plays his club soccer in the same stadium with Chivas.
From there it was a goalkeeper battle between Kim and Mexican goalkeeper Raul Rangel, who also plays his club soccer for Chivas. Both made great saves, but Rangel’s double save late in the game literally saved Mexico.
With the win, Mexico became the first team of the World Cup to qualify for the Round of 32.
Stat of the day
Lots to choose from, but it is surreal to see Canada in elite company.
Meme of the day
This is how Canadian soccer fans felt after the win over Qatar. Hopefully people can put music over Marsch’s moves.
WTF of the day
Imagine showing this to someone before the tournament began.
Masterclass of the day
David put on a masterclass 60 years in the making.
Disasterclass of the day
Qatar only managed two shots, none on target, and one touch in Canada’s box.
Wrap-up
All Canada needs is a draw against Switzerland to win Group B. That game takes place on Wednesday, June 24 at BC Place Vancouver.
Friday’s action begins with Folarin Balogun and the US taking on Australia and their deadly low block from Seattle Stadium at Noon Pacific. Then at 3:00 pm Pacific, John McGinn and Scotland take on Achraf Hakimi and Morocco at Boston Stadium. Brazil and Haiti get underway from Philadelphia Stadium at 5:00 pm Pacific. Finally, Türkiye and Paraguay end the day from San Francisco Bay Area Stadium at 8:00 pm Pacific.
More soccer stories will be told.
Discover more from A51
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
