A saved penalty means waiting of Canada for a FIFA World Cup goal goes on, but they left a hugely positive impression in their first game on the biggest stage since 1986.
- Canada denied Thibaut Courtois’ penalty save from Alphonso Davies
- The performance of John Herdman’s team electrified the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium
- Next up for the Canucks in Group F are Croatia
It seemed written in the stars. Alphonso Davies, Canada’s star man, just back from a hamstring injury in time for his nation’s biggest match in 36 years, stood over the spot-kick. In the technical area, Canada players stood with arms draped over each other’s shoulders, expectant. John Herdman, their coach, watched alone. Canada had a golden opportunity to finally score their first World Cup goal – one that eluded them on their Mexican adventure in 1986. They had made a brave, bold, brilliant start, taking the game to Belgium, the 2018 semi-finalists. The penalty, awarded for a handball against Yannick Carrasco, was their golden opportunity. Yet it was weak, and Thibaut Courtois saved it. Heads were, briefly, in hands in the technical area.
In one sense it set the tone for a night of frustration in front of goal. Canada had 21 shots to Belgium’s nine. Seventeen of them were from inside the box. Just three were on target, though. Belgium had three on target too and made one of them count – and frustratingly for Canada, it wasn’t from a piece of magic by Kevin De Bruyne but a long ball that got the better of Steven Vitoria, allowing Michy Batshuayi a run on goal. He did not miss. Yet heads did not drop. Yes, a Belgium team with collective knowhow gained from 925 caps found a way to win, but it was Canada who electrified the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.
Their coach Herdman had arranged for an astronaut, Chris Hadfield, to address his players before this contest. He knows about reaching for the stars. His journey from youth coaching to women’s football and on to the men’s stage is well documented. Here he was making history as the first to have coached a team at the men’s and women’s FIFA World Cup™. Another history-maker was Atiba Hutchinson, who, at 39 years and 285 days old, is second only to the great Roger Milla on the list of the competition’s oldest outfield players. The youth and energy of Canada caught the eye, though. They were relentless in the first half, pressing high and pushing on. De Bruyne and Eden Hazard weren’t playing the cute combinations and driving over the dangerous low crosses. Full-back Alistair Johnson captured the spirit of adventure by getting forward to thrash in a shot that tested Courtois. Their fans were buoyant too, filling the night sky with their songs: Let’s go Canada indeed.