Canada has already made history at this summer’s FIFA World Cup.
The team doesn’t plan to stop any time soon.
An emotional 6-0 drubbing of Qatar on Thursday vastly improved Canada’s chance of not only advancing to the tournament’s knockout stage but winning Group B.
“I really feel like we’re a soccer country. We just have to push. We just have to show that united we can make things shine,” vice captain Stephen Eustaquio said after the victory, the country’s first ever in a men’s World Cup.
“We have to push this tournament, man. We can make this happen. I really trust this team.”
The Canadians opened their World Cup run with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto on June 12. They now sit atop the Group B standings after two games, tied on points (four) with Switzerland but ahead in goal differential (+6).
Canada and Switzerland will meet in a group-stage finale in Vancouver on Wednesday, and a win or a draw would give the co-host nation first place in the four-team standings.
“We just have to focus on the next game,” said striker Jonathan David, who scored three of Canada’s goals against Qatar. “I don’t think we have to do too many calculations, we just have to go out and play our game and do our best.”
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Toppling the Swiss won’t be an easy task.
Ranked No. 19 in FIFA’s latest official standings, Switzerland drew Qatar 1-1 to open the tournament, then rebounded with a decisive 4-1 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Thursday.
The 30th-ranked Canadians know what they’re up against, said goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau.
“We see that Switzerland is a very good, very organized European side,” he said. “Quality players as well. We respect them in their football ΓǪ I think it will be a great football game, where both teams can hurt one another.”
The top spot in Group B comes with a round-of-32 game in Vancouver against the third-place team from Group E, F, G, I or J on July 2. Group B’s second-place team will face the second-place team from Group A in Los Angeles on June 28.
“We have a big opportunity ahead of us to win the group, which I think really sets us up for success in the knockout rounds,” said Jesse Marsch, Canada’s head coach. “It’s been our motivation from the start to win the group, and it’s more so now than ever.”
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Finishing first is “a massive carrot” going into Wednesday’s game, said Canadian right back Alistair Johnston, especially if it keeps the squad on home soil.
“That was kind of the dream scenario, obviously, coming into this group stage,” he said. “But we put ourselves in a great position.
“We’re going to have to go out and play a really good Swiss team. We’re gonna be obviously very motivated because they want to take the group too. But it’s going to be an exciting match, and again, we have that crowd behind us. Anything’s going to be possible.”
A lively, red-clad throng of soccer fans packed BC Place for Thursday’s game against Qatar. With the retractable roof closed, the sellout crowd of 52,479 felt much bigger — and much louder.
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Support continued out on the streets not only around the stadium and Vancouver’s downtown core, but at multiple watch parties and events around the city where thousands gathered to cheer on Canada in bars, outdoor plazas and all manner of public spaces.
The team sees — and treasures — the support, Marsch said.
“We asked the crowd to be present, and it was probably the best sports crowd I’ve ever seen,” the coach said of Thursday’s game. “So that part was absolutely a boost, and it will be essential for us to continue to make a run. And I think after that experience, the guys are more motivated than ever to make sure that we stay here.”
