Soccer North: Underdog Canada ready to stun top-level competition in FIFA World Cup

The wait is almost over.

Only five days separate the Canadian men's national soccer team, ranked 41st in the world,from a matchagainst No. 2 Belgium (Wednesday,2 p.m. ET) to kickoff its campaignin theFIFAmen's World Cup.

Canada's last bit of action before its first game on soccer's biggest stage in 36 years, was a last-minute 2-1 win over No. 24 Japan on Thursday, and surely added confidence and momentum to theteam.

Now it's go time, and the 26 playersready to represent Canada in Qatar want to do it big.

"I think the players are clear that they want to go as far as they can and shock the world,"Canadahead coach John Herdmantold Andi Petrillo onthe latestepisode of CBC Sports'Soccer North.

"But at the same time, it's been very clear of the small steps. Can we get our first goal? Can we get our first clean sheet? Can we get our first result? Can we get our first win? Can we get out of the group stage?"

WATCH | Episode 4: coach John Herdmanjoins the show:

Previewing Canada at the World Cup & Sit-down with John Herdman

2 years ago

Duration 23:19

Host Andi Petrillo gets you caught up on the biggest storylines in Canadian soccer and sits down with John Herdman ahead of the World Cup

Soccer Northairs every Friday on CBC Gem, CBCSports.ca and the CBC Sports YouTube channel. During the World Cup, the show will air live following all of Canada's games for as long it remains in the tournament.

Given Canada's only World Cup appearance in 1986 finished with zero goals scored and three losses in three games, Herdman sees the tournament in Qatar as a huge opportunity for the men's national team to continue to make history following an unprecedented unbeaten run in CONCACAFqualifying play.

"I know if we score our first goal, this country is going to rock from East to West. It's going to be a huge cry across the whole country because we never celebrated a goal on this stage before," said Herdman, who managed Canada's women's national team from 2011 to 2018 before switching to the men's squad.

"We got so much opportunity to pioneer here. It's about keeping the team really connected and making sure some players are really pushing some personal bests. And,that at the end of it, we're proud of the memory that we've created here."

WATCH l1-on-1 with Herdmanahead of World Cup:

Canada Soccer head coach John Herdman 1-on-1 ahead of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

2 years ago

Duration 8:46

Host Andi Petrillo sits down with Canadian men's national team coach John Herdman to discuss legacy, the team's pioneering mentality and facing the best players in the world.

Former Canada's men's soccer team goalkeeper Craig Forrest also joined Soccer North,vouching for Milan Borjan, who now serves as Canada's starting goalkeeper, and to chat about the upcoming fixture with Belgium.

Forrest, a former Chelsea, West Ham and Ipswich Townplayer, won the 2000 Gold Cupfor Canada's only title in the competition and earnedMVP honours in the process. Hebelieves not shying away from attacking and trying to hurtthe likes ofBelgium and No. 12 Croatiais the way to do it.

"They don't knowother way to play. They don't put 11 people behind the ball. It's not what Canada has done, it's not what they're really good at. Why start doing it now?," said Forrest. "Keep playing to their strengths, the players are going to really appreciate it and they're going to get a chance to score some goals."

WATCH | 2000 Gold Cup winner,MVP CraigForrest discusses Belgium game:

Preview: Can Canada get a result against an aging Belgium?

2 years ago

Duration 6:15

Host Andi Petrillo sits down with Craig Forrest to preview Canada Soccer's opening World Cup match against Belgium.

Canada will also face 2018 runner-ups Croatia on Nov. 27 at 11 a.m. and No. 22 Morocco on Dec. 1at 10 a.m in group play. Belgium placed third in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The two top-ranked teams from each of the eight groups will advance to the round of 16.

Episode 4 closes with an interview with Canadian centre back Doneil Henry, who missed out on making the World Cup roster due to a late injury sustained in the warm up to a friendly match against Bahrainlast Friday.

WATCH l CBC Sports' Andi Petrillo sits down with Doneil Henry:

Canada Soccer's Doneil Henry on the brotherhood of the men's national team heading to Qatar

2 years ago

Duration 2:41

Host Andi Petrillo sits down with Canadian centre-back Doneil Henry before he was ruled out for the World Cup due to injury.

WATCH | Soccer North trailer:

There's a new Canada Soccer show coming to CBC Sports & CBC Gem

2 years ago

Duration 1:00

Soccer North is the new home for Canadian soccer hosted by Andi Petrillo launching on Friday October 28th on CBC Gem.