WHO DO YOU CALL? GHOSTBUSTERS…
The Switzerland match was a masterclass in World Cup and Tactical Naivety.
Now don’t anyone jump to the incorrect conclusion nor accuse me of not joining in the celebration of reaching the knock-out stages of the Greatest Show on Earth.
The beautiful game across Canada has turned its most significant corner, one that will only become more apparent in the immediate years and decades to come. As soccer cements itself firmly, just like those shooting boots on display against Bosnia and Switzerland, into the hearts, minds and fabric of Canadian society.
There are questions, as glaring as the opportunity missed by losing to the Swiss, which have arisen that must be properly addressed after the world has come and gone.
No better time to lay them out than in the euphoria of what’s happened. Not just by reaching a very first knock out stage at only the third time of asking but the undoubted significant commercial successes which will result.
Tactics wise they were wrong from the kick off. Pressing on the front foot versus the highly technical superior Swiss an undoing. Playing that game needs not only players at the top of their game, but also a supreme fitness level. Remind me again of the injuries running through the entire squad. A lower block from the get go would have been far better.
That though would have required an admittance we were up against a superior team. Nothing wrong with that when you factor in Switzerland’s pedigree not just as players, as a team. As importantly their undoubted pedigree at football tournaments. Be it at a EURO or a World Cup. The Swiss qualify for knock out phases at a cantor.
Team selection wise significant questions surround stand in captain Stephen Eustáquio not starting but then coming on just before the hour mark to play a blinder. Then there’s Moïse Bombito, or more to the point his absence from the field. Bombito and to rapturous applause was introduced after the halftime break versus Qatar and played the entire 2nd half
Yes he was on the bench in the group decider; however at World Cups every squad member not named to the Starting XI is permitted to be named to the matchday squad. A fully fit Bombito would play a walk on roll into the vast majority of the Starting XI’s of these World Cup Finals.
Has Moïse reinjured himself? Having missed almost the entirety of the season with his club side Nice. Did he pick up a knock, feel a muscle strain in his 45 minutes that historical Vancouver evening.
More mystery than the colonel’s recipe surrounds Alphonso Davies and his continued absence from the football pitch. Surely in a most not lose encounter one of world footballs true greats would have played some part as Canada went in search of goals.
Decoy Davies as Canada’s Believer-In-Chief has monikered Fonzie now. Hardly a Decoy when you’ve now admitted how extremely unfit the captain is. Let alone the fact Jesse’s ruse failed. We lost.
Was it though a ruse, or was the game plan to lose? More on that a bit later…
Incredibly now, the last time Davies played for his nation it was so long ago Justin Trudeau was our Prime Minister and Mark Carney just freshly removed from his tenure as the Bank of England Governor.
Well before the World Cup kicked off I have been banging on about the utter significance of World Cup History in every facet. Argentina are not just playing opponents here they are up against World Cup History. Only twice has a nation repeated. The last time Brazil in 1962. Originally Italy way back in 1938. That is some barrier to entry. Then there’s France trying to reach a 3rd final. Not ever been done that.
World Cup History also tells us it only ends in tears when managers pick injured, and or unfit players in their squads.
What does Jesse do? Rather naively with nearly all of his top line players injured or lacking match fitness he picks them all. In doing so Canada’s Believer-In-Chief chose not to include any players banging on the #CanMNT team door.
Denying them invaluable time experiencing a World Cup. Where so much goes on off the pitch. Look again to World Cup history and the rite of passage of young kids breaking out. Time and time again.
Plus factor in with the outrageous volume of match demands on players today it is accepted and has been for a growing amount of World Cups now, sans Qatar as it was staged just a few months into the season, that players are more susceptible to injuries and reinjuring themselves as World Cups progress.
Getting back to a youngster who did make the #CanMNT cut and coming into the World Cup after an undeniably successful club season let’s look at a massive positive for now and the future. Stand up for the unbridled football talent Canada that is Nathan Saliba.
Fresh off a wonder goal and an assist versus Qatar much more of those clever Brazilian Samba like feet of Saliba’s assisting on the goal. He plays the game sans effort, with a smile in his heart much more of that moment and young Nathan will find himself parachuted into one of world football’s elite leagues, clubs.
When Canada’s Believer-In-Chief met the media Thursday afternoon after the Swiss afternoon before Jesse did his utmost to put a positive spin on things.
It was part Ted Lasso, part Saturday Night Live.
Trotting off down Pacific Coast Highway was a good thing. Providing the players with the ‘much needed calm’, after the ‘circus’ like atmosphere in Vancouver.
Not a word of course about the hazards of his banged-up squad having to go again exactly 4-days later. Go again they must against an emboldened South Africa, who themselves have made their own piece of World Cup knock out history.
Mourinho is the master of distraction but not at all sure the inventor of Parking the Bus or calling the football genius that is; Arsene Wenger a ‘Special 1 in Failure’ would have ventured where Jesse did Thursday afternoon with the media.
Here’s to Morocco or the Netherlands in the Round of 16. Plus an appearance from Decoy Davies.
Bonne Voyage Voyageurs. The absolute life blood and energy source of Canadian soccer.
Cheers, Noel
@NoelPButler / info@orangesathalfime.net
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