Canada won’t have the easiest road to the 2022 World Cup, being in Group F with Belgium, Morocco and Croatia.
• Read also: FIFA rankings: Canada fall
This is a difficult group since the Red Devils are second in the FIFA rankings. Croatia occupies the 16e rank and Morocco is 24e. Canada holds the 38th place in the world.
“This group is awesome. We wanted those kinds of matches. When you show up at the World Cup, there is no easy match, ”said coach John Herdman in a videoconference, a few minutes after the end of the draw.
“Of course it’s not an easy group, but at the World Cup there is no easy group,” added Samuel Piette later. Belgium, Croatia and Morocco are not Curaçao. »
Not easy
After the ecstasy, there is the reality of a not at all comfortable group with very good selections and especially a match against Belgium as a curtain raiser. But Canadians will not go to Qatar as tourists.
“The ambition is to get out of the group. We know it’s difficult, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t be feasible or possible,” insisted Piette.
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With a first participation in the World Cup since 1986, Canada is obviously not the favorite in this group F.
“Without saying that we have nothing to lose, it is sure that we will be the neglected team, and I have no problem with that, assured Piette. If people take us lightly, I have no problem with that.
“If we can create a surprise against Belgium in the first game, that can send a message for the rest of the tournament. »
Patience
We had to be patient to know the fate of Canada. First there were presentations that never ended, so that the first ball was revealed 48 minutes after the start of the draw.
The Canadian ball was the very last to come out of a hat, so Canada ended up in the only group where there was still a spot.
“We’ve been waiting since noon, we’ve been waiting a long time. It’s a bit crazy to be released last. We made the suspense last until the end, ”said Piette.
Canada will play its first game on November 23 against Belgium. He will continue against Croatia on November 27 and will finish the group stage against Morocco on November 1.is December.
Specifically
As a reminder, Canada qualified for the World Cup by defeating Jamaica 4-0 at BMO Field in Toronto last Sunday.
But it all remained a bit abstract in everyone’s mind. This draw changed everything.
“As a Canadian or a football fan, knowing that your country’s name is in one of the hats and waiting for it to come out is crazy,” Herdman said with his trademark enthusiasm.
“Seeing him come out makes it real. We are going to Qatar, we have a good team, and it’s a great opportunity for us and the country. »
Belgian sector
Canadian players from CF Montreal followed the draw in the amphitheater where the team meets for the video sessions.
With them, there was in particular the sports director Olivier Renard, a Belgian. In the coaching staff, there is also Laurent Ciman who, although a Canadian resident, is also Belgian.
“Laurent is a former player of the Belgian selection so he will not be so torn, it is sure that he will take for Belgium”, advanced Piette, pointing out that Ciman seemed to have respect for Canada.
“Before the draw, he told me he hoped we weren’t in the same group, so he knows our quality. »
Before hanging up, Piette allowed himself a joke about his sports director and his intentions for the meeting between Canada and Belgium.
“I don’t think Olivier will free us,” he said, laughing.
Groups at the 2022 World Cup
Group A:
- Qatar
- Ecuador
- Senegal
- Netherlands
Group B:
- England
- Iran
- United States
- European barrage (Wales, Ukraine or Scotland)
Group C:
- Argentine
- Saudi Arabia
- Mexico
- Poland
Group D:
- France
- Intercontinental Barrage 1 (Peru, Australia or United Arab Emirates)
- Denmark
- Tunisia
Group E:
- Spain
- Intercontinental Barrage 2 (Costa Rica or New Zealand)
- Germany
- Japan
Group F:
- Belgium
- Canada
- Morocco
- Croatia
Group G:
- Brazil
- Serbia
- Suisse
- Cameroon
Group H:
- Portugal
- Ghana
- Uruguay
- South Korea