FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2022 CANADA 0 v 1 BELGIUM

AHMAD BIN ALI STADIUM, AL RAYYAN, QATAR ATTENDANCE 40,432

A 36-year wait finally came to end for Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team when they played Belgium for their opening game of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar. Despite leading in shot attempts, Canada lost 1:0 with the goal coming from Michy Batshuayi in the 44’ minute. After starting the game on the front foot, Canada was awarded a penalty early on. Unfortunately, Alphonso Davies' strike from the spot was saved by Thibaut Courtois. Canada had two more penalty shouts in the first half, when Axel Witsel stepped on Richie Layea's foot inside the penalty box and when Tajon Buchanan was taken down by a Belgium defender. Both challenges were deemed fair by the referee. It was 20 minutes into the game when Belgium got their first chance. Prior to that, Canada had all the attacking play. Alistair Johnston had one of the best chances of the match. He found himself in open space on the edge of the 18yard box. He had an option to his right and an option to his left, but the defender took a powerful strike that tested Courtois, a test the Belgium keeper passed with a parried shot. Moments later, Davies had split Eden Hazard and Youri Tielemans before playing a pass to Jonathan David for a give-and-go. Davies then laid off a pass for Atiba Hutchinson who took a strike that missed the target. The second was more of the same from Canada, but the team ran out of steam and time. Canada was searching for that equalizing goal, which gave up space in their defensive-third for Belgium to hit on the counter-attack. Attackers like Kevin De Bruyne and Batshuayi tried to take advantage of the extra space but were met by Canada’s back wall. Defender Kamal Miller pulled off multiple sliding tackles that stopped Belgium in its tracks. Steven Vitoria ventured forward and stepped up to take care of passes that beat the Canadian midfield. In one instance, Richie Laryea flew in with a hard slide tackle to Block a worrying Batshuyai's shot. Canada’s defensive work wasn’t in total vain. It wasn't for the lack of chances that Canada lost the game, but for the lack of time. Substitute Cyle Larin had two chances toward the end of the match. His header in the 80’ minute was saved by Courtois, five minutes later Larin’s second header flew over the bar.

Canada will take their positive performance from their opening match of the tournament into their next match against Croatia on Sunday.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2022 CANADA 1 v 4 CROATIA

KHALIFA INTERNATIONAL STADIUM, DOHA, QATAR ATTENDANCE 44,374

Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team lost 4:1 to Croatia in their second match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar which saw a record-breaking moment. The match marked the 100th appearance of team captain and veteran Atiba Hutchinson. Alphonso Davies also scored 67 seconds into play for Canada’s first-ever goal at a FIFA World Cup and Davies' 13th for Canada in 38 appearances. However, Croatia would respond with four unanswered goals: two from Andrej Kramarić in the 36’ minute and the 70’ minute, the go-ahead goal from Marko Livaja in the 44’ minute and Lovro Majer’s match closer in the 94’ minute. The loss means that Canada has been eliminated from the FIFA World Cup. Despite defeat, Canada will walk away with a lot of experience and success, precisely Davies’ record-breaking moment. It was a goal to remember. Canadian goalkeeper Milan Borjan caught Croatia off guard with a long ball downfield to Cyle Larin. Larin then played a pass to Buchanan who whipped in a curling cross that sailed over Croatia’s backline and into the danger area of Croatia’s 18-yard box. This was the moment every Canadian had been waiting for. Rushing in with full pace, Davies took flight to get on the end of Buchanan’s cross. As he flew in the air, it felt as if all of time stood still, it was like the laws and physics and science knew it would witness a record-breaking moment. Davies drilled his header into the ground and under the glove of Dominik Livaković. The ball bounced into the net and Davies, along with the rest of the Canadian side, ran off in celebration. The goal was an indicator of Canada’s strong start. Although they had adapted their formation from a 3-5-2 against Belgium to a 4-4-2 for today’s match, Canada surprised Croatia by coming out of the docks firing on all cylinders. It was an entertaining opening 20 minutes of attacking soccer from both sides. After the opening goal, Croatia responded with tactical modifications of their own. They convoluted the midfield that prevented Canada from operating in the middle of the park. Croatia’s midfield trio, Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić and Marcelo Brozović, operated more freely as time went on. The midfield trio was a key part of Croatia’s run to the 2018 World Cup Finals. Davies had an effective first half on the ball, especially when running at Croatian defenders. In the 23’ minute, Davies beat a Croatian midfielder with a nutmeg before sending Kovacic in the wrong direction with a shoulder drop. Canada was down 2:1 at the break but continued their hunt for an equalizer at the start of the second half. The next 15 minutes had many goal-scoring opportunities. In the 49’ minute, substitute Jonathan Osorio’s shot just curled wide of the post despite his shot appearing to be headed for the top-left corner. Milan Borjan was called into action when Modrić was played into space on the right side of Canada’s 18-yard box and whipped in a dangerous that was goal bound until Borjan stood tall to make the save. Moments later, Jonathan David came close when his one-time shot outside the box was tipped over the bar by the Croatian keeper. Canadian goalkeeper Milan Borjan came to Canada’s rescue on more than one occasion. In the 70’ minute Borjan made a double save. Ivan Perišić was dancing with Alistair Johnston before cutting the ball down the line and firing a shot that Borjan saved with his right foot. On the rebound, Kovačić attempted to slot his shot into the bottom left corner but Borjan got down to make a kick-save again. Canada tried to find a way back into the match but couldn’t find a way to break through in the attacking third.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2022 CANADA 1 v 2 MOROCCO

AL THUMAMA STADIUM, AL THUMAMA, QATAR ATTENDANCE 43,102

Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team lost 2:1 to Morocco in its third group-stage match at the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar. The match was Canada’s last game at the tournament, marking the end of their return to the World Cup after a 36-year hiatus. Morocco drew first blood in the game with two goals, one from Hakim Ziyech in the 4’ minute followed by En-Nesyri’s counterattacking strike in the 23’ minute. Canada got one back when a Sam Adekugbe cross resulted in a Nayef Aguerd own goal. Canada spent the entire second-half searching for its equalizer, dominating possession and creating goal-scoring chances, but ran out of time before it could level the game. Despite Canada’s shaky start, the team continued to fight their way back into the match. A close chance saw Cyle Larin skip past a Moroccan midfielder before curling in a low ball for Tajon Buchanan. Buchanan slid into the six-yard box, trying to get on the end of the cross, but he couldn’t direct his shot into the net. But the half-chance was a sign of things to come. In the 40’ minute, Buchanan played a short pass to Sam Adekugbe who took on Hakimi down the wing. After beating his defender, Adekugbe drilled in a low shot that took a deflection off Aguerd and directed the ball past the Moroccan keeper. The second half was more of the same from Canada. The team continued to fight its way back into the game. Canada fired warning shots in the first 15 minutes of the second half. A Canadian corner in the 70th minute saw substitute Atiba Hutchinson direct a power header that struck the bar and bounced down on the goal line. It took goal-line technology to rule the close chance as no goal. As Canada pushed to find its equalizer, Morocco awaited its opportunity to hit on the counterattack, but Canada’s defence was not troubled. On multiple occasions, Hutchinson played deeper in the midfield to break up Morocco’s play. The likes of Kamal Miller, Steven Vitoria and Alistair Johnston stepped up as a unit to shut down Morocco’s attack in the second half. Although this loss marks the end of Canada’s experience at the World Cup, the team will return in 2026 when the tournament heads to North America.