CANADA’S FINEST FOOTBALL CROP STALLS
HE’S ONE OF OUR OWN
More questions than answers following Tuesday’s lone goal defeat in Minnesota. Canada’s inadequacy in the final third is stalling the team’s growth. Stunting as we go.
The match statistics bare that out. Twice as many touches in the opponent’s penalty area, more shots too. Pochettino’s makeshift team scoring from their own shot on target. Which ironically came from a mis hit shot which had corner flag wrote all over it.
Just like at the 2026 World Cup - Canada are simply not clever, creative or clinical enough in that part of the pitch that always determines outcomes - the final third.
For those less than inspired by Canada’s loss in Minnesota, let’s though take a breath here. Briefly go back to the 2020 summer transfer window; a time an unknown 20-year old kid moved from Belgium’s Gent to Lille. Canada were ranked a lowly 73 by FIFA at the time.
A world coming to terms with Covid. The likes of Taylor Swift, Harry Styles and Taylor Swift were just getting going. Now look where they are?
Unbeknown to us at the time the Canadian Men’s National team would begin to finally emerge from a football cocoon twenty years in the making. Our 2000 Gold Cup triumph was dustier than even Spurs trophy cabinet.
Fast forward from Jonathan David’s first season at Lille; summer 2021’s Gold Cup ended with a bitter semi-final 2-1 defeat to Mexico. This would signify the men’s national team’s growing some wings and taking flight.
Plane to Qatar please. Then a surreal Copa America Semi Final two summers ago, followed up in the summer to the knock out stages of the World Cup.
A few silverware opportunities spurned through that time, an inability to raise their game versus superior opponents [England lead that particular international sub-species] aside – but it has been a meteoric like rise on the International stage.
There is bound to be dips, everything is cyclical.
The Canadian talent pool though continues to grow. These days of course Jonathan David ply’s his trade in quite likely the finest league in world football. Then throw in those three Canadian’s who played for their club in a Champion’s League match. The US ever managed that feat Poch?
Alphonso is back doing what he loves best. News unfortunately not at all good for Moïse Bombito, a second surgery on the horizon. Speaking to the injured, Ismaël Koné is not even halfway through what will be an extended and complicated recovery path following his horrific World Cup injury. Bombito and Koné far from alone on the long term injured list
Has Jesse had a finer crop of footballers at his disposal?
Not even close. Not at Leeds, no where he’s managed.
Success in any sport is made up by a series of marginal gains. That doesn’t mean beating inferior opponents who have traveled long haul and through time zones.
When these three fixtures were arranged, peak performance was needed for the final encounter in Minnesota. All planning should have been on that, not the first half last Saturday in Montreal.
Ever see Usain Bolt run his fastest in the heats? Didn’t think so.
Speaking of Montreal the stand out performer over these three matches was undoubtedly Nathan Saliba. When I first saw Saliba grace the Stade Saputo pitch back in spring 2023 I immediately observed a player with two very clever football feet.
My how Saliba coped against far more seasoned opponents and appeared to be doing it in an effortless manner. That speaks to a soccer savvy self at the tender age of 19.
Not at all a surprise to hear he was off to Europe just a few short seasons later signing for the legendry Anderlecht in summer 2025. Fallen off their heights, Anderlecht were one of Europe’s biggest clubs back in the mid 1970’s. They’ve won more European trophies than Arsenal and Tottenham combined. Imagine.
Saliba, has the football world at his feet. He and the ball made for each other in tight spaces. Cucumber cool, Salbia is reminiscent of how football used to be played. Courageous, unafraid and demanding. Looking for the ball constantly. A reader of the game, and stripper of the ball from the opponent.
It was Saliba’s Dad who played football back in his native Haiti that inspired his younger son to the beautiful game in the country of his birth.
Clear as daylight at the World Cup that it wasn’t superior playing opponents in Switzerland and Morocco who defeated us. It was ourselves. An inability to score.
In all the post world cup inquests this should have been on every page on every report. 3 months later and we are no further forward.
Risk taking is not in our football DNA, which you will always observe in a better opponent. Is that driven by a fear of failure? Maybe, but I’m not paid to make those observations.
It was over a century ago Canada first played their noisy neighbours to the south. A 1-0 victory back in June 1925, with the match played in Montreal. The one place in Canada they can refer to Saliba as one of their own.
The very place Nathan Saliba took his first professional steps on a journey which almost certainly will take him to one of the very biggest club sides in Europe. Hopefully Chelsea.
Cheers, Butler
X: @NoelPButler
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