'We could do something special': Canadian veterans learn from World Cup experience

Canada's Alistair Johnston, left, challenges for the ball with Belgium's Eden Hazard during the World Cup group F soccer match between Belgium and Canada, at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Alistair Johnston remembers how it felt to line up in the tunnel ahead of his first World Cup game.

Canada was back at the tournament for the first time in 36 years and, as he prepared to step out onto the pitch at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, Johnston was struck by seeing some of Belgium’s biggest stars just feet away.

“You’re looking across at these world class players and it’s hard not to get caught up in the moment there,” said the Canadian right back. “But as soon as they blew that whistle and we got those jitters out of the way, you just remember that you are playing football.”

It’s a lesson Johnston is looking back on four years later, now that he and the rest of the national squad are preparing to return to the tournament.

Their quest begins Friday against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto.

Canada will then head to Vancouver where they’ll take on Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24.

Even with the stands packed with family, friends and boisterous hometown fans, the group will need to remember that their game remains the same, Johnston said.

“No matter how bright the lights are, how many people are watching, at the end of the day, as soon as the ref blows the whistle it’s still just football,” he said. “It’s still 11 men on the other side, the ball’s still the same size, the pitch is still the same size.”

Canada accomplished a major milestone in Qatar, with Alphonso Davies scoring the country’s first-ever World Cup goal in a 4-1 loss to Croatia.

Despite the tally, Canada lost all three of its group stage games and heads into this year still searching for its first win at the globe’s biggest soccer showcase.

Head coach Jesse Marsch has named a 26-man roster for the tournament that features 13 athletes who represented Canada in 2022 and 13 who are new to the World Cup.

Winger Tajon Buchanan is one of the veterans, and said the returnees gained a lot of confidence from their experience four years ago.

“I think just being there in Qatar, learning from it, taking away those positives and also those negatives. And just where we are as a team, I think it’s a roster that’s very confident,” he said. “I think we understand that if we play our game, we could do something special in this World Cup. So, I think we’re super excited.”

To make a mark in the tournament, though, the group needs to take one game at a time, Buchanan said, starting with a crucial game against Bosnia on Friday.

“Obviously, that opening match is so important to get a result. I think not getting a result against Belgium at the last World Cup really affected us a lot,” he said.

“I think, going into this World Cup, it’s taking each game one game at a time. And it starts with the most important one, which is the opening match.”

Midfielder Stephen Eustaquio also learned from the tournament’s pace back in 2022.

In Qatar, he thought about what the team needed to do long term. Now, he’s examining each match individually.

“I’m really focused on the first game, knowing that in that first game we have to get a result so that we don’t have a lot of pressure going into the second game and making a big result,” he said. “So those little things that I went through in Qatar were very beneficial for me and the team as well. Now we really understand what we need to do when and how.

“I think overall it was a good experience, Qatar. We didn’t do a point but I think we saved ourselves for this World Cup, I hope.”

Defender Derek Cornelius believes the team that will represent the Maple Leaf this summer is very different than the one that played in Qatar.

“It’s a different coach, it’s a different playing style, it’s different expectations that we have on ourselves now going into a World Cup,” he said. “There’s more pressure now. We’re expected to do well, you know? But that’s a good thing. That means the group is trending in the right direction.”

The expectations have evolved because of what the nation has accomplished over the past four years, Cornelius added.

The country finished fourth at the 2024 Copa America and now has athletes playing at some of the world’s top clubs, from Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga to Villarreal in Spain’s La Liga.

“I think the standard was set in Qatar in terms of getting to a World Cup after how many years,” Cornelius said. “Now we’re looking to push that standard and really make a statement at this World Cup at home.”

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Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press