Canada on Sunday qualified for the first Men’s World Cup since 1986 after thrashing Jamaica 4-0 in the on-going Qatar 2022 qualifier.
The triumph for Canada is a significant one because the team are assured of finishing in one of the top three places in the final stage of Concacaf qualifying for Qatar 2022, if they secure a win in Toronto.
Going memory lane, the year 1986 was the last time Canada appeared in the tournament without goals and ended at the bottom of the table.
Cyle Larin and Tajon Buchanan put Canada 2-0 up at half-time before Junior Hoilett and an Adrian Mariappa own goal sealed the victory.
With such result, happy moments and celebrations from the crowd at BMO Field, was triggered by everyone in the country.
Accolades has not only been given to the Canadian men’s national team players, but the English coach, John Herdman, for guiding the Les Rouges to Qatar in his first qualifying campaign in charge.
Herdman has also achieved the feat of leading the Canadian women’s team to successive Olympic bronze medals in 2012 and 2016.
In reaction to the achievement, he said, “We just qualified for the World Cup, this is a legit football country,” said Herdman, who last worked in England as an academy coach at Sunderland more than 20 years ago.
“When I first took over and I said, ‘We’re going to qualify for the World Cup’, I don’t think they believed us. I’m happy for them because all of these fans have waited and waited and waited, and hung in with us – and we’re going.
“I think this country never believed in us because we’ve given them nothing to believe in. They believe now.
“This is the time for everyone to get behind football and unite because we can be a powerhouse.”
