If thereâs a reason for Canadaâs men to believe they can beat Morocco on Saturday, itâs most easily found in Promise Davidâs singular moment against Switzerland.
His goal, from inception to completion, was one of this World Cupâs great goals. It also came against a better, more organized side, in the game that provided Canada with its best preparation for the Round of 16.Â
If Davidâs achievement was diminished by the eventual loss, it should now be remembered for its wonder.
Thatâs what separates belief from hope: Belief has corroborating evidence.
The Canadians had held the Swiss scoreless until halftime. If they were offered the same against sixth-ranked Morocco, they would take it. Head coach Jesse Marsch had thought about starting the second half with five back but decided against it, another lesson to carry into Saturday.
Five back might be the wiser plan against Morocco.
Switzerland scored early in the second frame and then again, capitalizing on a pair of defensive breakdowns, two mental errors rather than physical ones. Those are correctable, too. The game seemed lost for Canada.
Thatâs when Luc de Fougerolles, the ascendant 20-year-old defender, picked up the ball inside his own half. He was in the game only because Moïse Bombito was injured, and he looked down the field and saw 22-year-old Nathan Saliba, in the game only because Ismaël Koné was injured, too.
Opportunity beckoned for both, and the young reserves connected on a 40-yard pass.
âThe centre back wasnât quite covered over, and Saliba ran into the space,â de Fougerolles remembered before Thursdayâs sweltering training session in Houston. âI think I overhit it a bit, but he managed to do unbelievably to take out his guy and then do another one touch to Promise.â
Salibaâs double touch was magnificent. The initial ball did travel over him, but he used his right foot to stop it and cut it back a little, shedding his momentum-doomed defender. He then delivered a pass with his left foot across to David, who began asking for the ball before Saliba even had chance to corral it.
âI see it coming pretty fast,â Saliba said, speaking about his defining moment in the present tense, as though he might never stop reliving it. âI see the defender tracking the ball at the same time as me. As soon as I felt it touch my foot, I just wanted to keep it close to me. It went up, and I had time to look at my options.â
Itâs as remarkable as it is instructive that Saliba felt he had time in that instant. The ball was in the air for less than a second.
âIf you donât think too much, and just play instinctively, then many things can happen,â he said.
âI saw Promise on the opposite side just waiting for the ball.â
David, who has been used only as a substitute but has made the most of his time on the field, accelerated toward the net, slipping behind his marker, who tried to intercept Salibaâs pass instead. The towering 24-year-old had predicted that heâd score in Vancouver, and now he saw the ball and his chance to make his prophecy come true.
âYou just know every opportunity youâre going to have, you might not have it twice,â Saliba said. âYou want to make sure you take all of them.â
David took his. The Swiss goalkeeper had been drawn toward Saliba, and before he could make his correction, David ran for daylight. He didnât have the time or space to take a touch, but he didnât need to. He lunged at the ball with his right foot and redirected it toward the open net.
His first touch of the game was a goal. Canada couldnât complete its miracle comeback, but after, David was reminded of his prediction and still managed to let out a loud laugh.
âI called it,â he said.
There, perhaps, lies the most important lesson of this young sideâs educational night.
Yes, Canadaâs men can withstand and frustrate a difficult attack. Yes, they might have to make some tactical adjustments against fearsome Morocco. Yes, they can still make their own opportunities if they play quickly and instinctively and decisively. Yes, they can score against anyone, so long as they let the ball lead them.
And yes, finally: Their destiny is up to them.
Only they donât need to imagine what they might do anymore. They just need to remember what theyâve already done.
