The Canadian Men's Soccer Team Thread

[shermanator]

Atiba gets his 100th cap today against Croatia. First men's player to get that honour.

[MegaErtz]

I’m gobsmacked by Herdman’s team selection. Hutchinson starting in the middle is a huge mistake. Herdman is really going for broke today.

Prediction Croatia 2 Canada 1.

Modric is the key to the whole game and this will just come down to how quickly Canada can close him down. He’s no spring chicken himself but tasking a 39 year old with pressing him is not a wise choice.

Quick releases down the flanks will do us in. Modric is possibly the greatest one touch passer since Pirlo. I highly doubt Hutchinson makes it past the half trying to keep up with him.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by MegaErtz

I’m gobsmacked by Herdman’s team selection. Hutchinson starting in the middle is a huge mistake. Herdman is really going for broke today.

Prediction Croatia 2 Canada 1.

Modric is the key to the whole game and this will just come down to how quickly Canada can close him down. He’s no spring chicken himself but tasking a 39 year old with pressing him is not a wise choice.

Quick releases down the flanks will do us in. Modric is possibly the greatest one touch passer since Pirlo. I highly doubt Hutchinson makes it past the half trying to keep up with him.

Prediction for the second half now?

[MegaErtz]

Canada will be lucky not to be beaten on the counter a few times in the second half. They have no choice but to commit men forward. Such a naive approach from Herdman.

[Scornfire]

Originally Posted by shermanator

Atiba gets his 100th cap today against Croatia. First men's player to get that honour.

And possibly his last after that performance. Unfortunate, bad system against croatia and left him in far too long

[Yoho]

Originally Posted by scornfire

and possibly his last after that performance. Unfortunate, bad system against croatia and left him in far too long

https://twitter.com/user/status/1596936351613521920

[Muta]

Perhaps Herdman should watch the game on TV, it might give him better perspective as to what actually was going on on the pitch.

[browna]

^
Yeah I get Herdman won't throw any of his players under the bus, ever, certainly not the capitan, after all they've gone through internally together and before they all go seperate ways in 6 days.

Estaquio going down factored in here too. And a bench he didn't trust to play significant minutes...

But, Hutchinson was beyond terrible out there in a 4-4-2. First goal left his man, second goal he had a chance for a tackle (along with three others) and the ball more, and they all let it slip past to the goal scorer. Third goal he outright gave it up at midfield and then defended nothing when he got back...Canada didn't touch it after his giveaway until they picked it up out of their net.

He should've been off at half regardless of Estaquio and Herdman should've gone back to 5-3-2 after the first Croatia goal. The third goal was the final nail after some ok Canada chances, and that was blatantly all on a labouring Atiba still being out there.

As for Herdman, just watching him post game, given the things learned about Herdman and his history and his self admitted mental ups and downs around needing that next "high", even after qualifying for the WC, through all these recent interviews, he's probably very upset. Not shaking the Croatian coach's hands, not taking back his remarks post game, he's gutted inside that all of what he's endured to get here, is now old news to him and he's once again left empty inside.

More and more IMO I think he is done with the MNT, he doesn't want another 4 years of dealing and pleading with the CSA to get basic support and resources, even with a WC here next and all the glory they goes with it.
Hope I am wrong but I just get a sense that this is his last stand with Canada and his intensity and building up these group of players to punch above their weight and adopt a us against them mentality and qualify and show well in a WC, is a one time thing that took a lot out of him and can't easily be replicated.

[cam_wmh]

Spot on browner. It should've been Kone beside Estaquio. He looked solid in the half he played, too bad it was a swap for who should've been his midfield partner.

Conversely, a proper 4-2-3-1, with Davies atop, and clogging the middle with a 3rd would've been the better structure for Herdman.

[MillerTime GFG]

It was always my concern going in...when you play 3 in the back, you need a dominant CB, as that's a ton of responsibility. Vitoria is not that.

It was just too easy for Croatia yesterday.

Agreed with Atiba...he looked his age unfortunately.

[Muta]

I'm sad today. It's really hitting.

[CroFlames]

I was super happy with Herdman throughout all of qualifying. He pulled all the right strings and pushed all the right buttons. Those matches in Edmonton are some of my all-time best memories. I literally handed Borjan my Canada flag.

But when the draw happened and Croatia & Belgium popped up, already then people were saying Atiba will be out of his league vs those midfields. It was a head scratcher that Herdman didn't adjust at all and kept betting on that horse. Then all the media shenanigans and it makes you wonder if the moment got the better of him. Hopefully he learned his lessons, but I get the same feeling as Browna... he might coach his last game for Canada on Thursday.

[EldrickOnIce]

Herdman made an entire nation believe the fairy tale, and should be fired. Soccer Canada should let him go immediately so we can start the comfortable plunge into of another 3 decades of darkness. Herdman should have constantly drilled the players (and us fans) that we had zero chance of actually competing against the big boys in this tournament with this roster.

Let's not kid ourselves, it's not like Herdman had a Foden (similar) on bench instead. Were tactical errors made regardless, as well as personnel errors? Probably. We know how far this program has come, and we now really see how far we are from actually competing at WC level. If it's someone other than Herdmans job to guide this team in 2026, that's fine. But it would be colossally stupid to make that decision now.

[TheIronMaiden]

You can't fart against thunder, Canada was never that good. They had a punchers chance at best. I'll give them credit for swinging, but it is hard to be down on this team for entering one of the toughest tournaments in sport. A draw against Morocco should be seen as a victory for the program.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Herdman made an entire nation believe the fairy tale, and should be fired. Soccer Canada should let him go immediately so we can start the comfortable plunge into of another 3 decades of darkness. Herdman should have constantly drilled the players (and us fans) that we had zero chance of actually competing against the big boys in this tournament with this roster.

Let's not kid ourselves, it's not like Herdman had a Foden (similar) on bench instead. Were tactical errors made regardless, as well as personnel errors? Probably. We know how far this program has come, and we now really see how far we are from actually competing at WC level. If it's someone other than Herdmans job to guide this team in 2026, that's fine. But it would be colossally stupid to make that decision now.

Note that no one said he should be fired. Browna suggested he might walk away after this on his own, and I think I agree with him.

He was EXACTLY what this team and country needed during qualifying. But his approach in Qatar was not the right one IMO. Croatia for example (since I'm familiar with them) go into every match with an underdog mentality. They constantly talk about being a tiny nation, but who believe in themselves and their abilities. A sort of quiet confidence. I think this approach would have benefitted Canada.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

We know how far this program has come, and we now really see how far we are from actually competing at WC level.

What?

We are competing just fine for a first-time, 40th ranked country and we're trying to find footing in a World Cup group that is insanely difficult. Croatia and Belgium were always tough competition, but we have had moments (especially getting our first WCG yesterday and dominating the #2 ranked team last week).

One could argue we didn't deserve to win those games but most certainly we didn't look out of place. This is a team that has wins over Mexico, US, Japan, Costa Rica and central American countries and gave Uruguay a run for their money. We should have tied or won against Belgium even, and even a tie would be a monumental milestone for Canadian soccer.

The table might look different in another group, but not WC material? And based on yesterday's game? Nope.

[MillerTime GFG]

^^I think he was saying "compete" at a WC level as in making the knockout stage. He didn't say we aren't WC material.

Definitely a tough group. I think Canada is better than they played yesterday too. They looked every bit like they were a squad that hadn't been there before. This core is only gonna get better as we head into 2026, and I hope we get a few additional pieces along the way.

[SuperMatt18]

I think they almost scored too early yesterday - really woke up Croatia and had them focused earlier on.

Belgium was the game to get three points from as they look out of sorts.

In reality Morocco and Canada should be going into the last game for a spot in the round of 16. Both deserved to beat Belgium - Morocoo got a bit of a lucky one to go up 1-0, Canada missed a penalty and was denied another shout.

Margins are that slim in the WC though and need to take the points when they are available.

[shermanator]

If true, and anything tweeted by Duane Rollins should be taken with a brick of salt, this would be massive.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1597296347778265088

[Ozy_Flame]

That would be absolutely incredible. Please yes!!