Reflections from Canada’s loss to Croatia – 2022 World Cup

After taking a few days to reflect on Canada's disappointing loss against Croatia, I have been able to take away many positives from the performance. Kamal Miller won't get much in the way of praise after being hung out to dry at the end of the game, but he had another brilliant performance at the back. Alphonso Davies meanwhile bagged the nation's first goal at a Men's World Cup inside just two minutes of action, waking my neighbours up as I yelled of joy. But in dissecting the game further, it's clear to see that Croatia operated at a higher level, with their fanciful one-touch triangulations causing chaos for Canada every time they had the ball. For what feels like the first time ever, a few things will need to drastically change from a tactical standpoint heading into the next fixture from John Herdman's team. Here are my reflections on Canada's 4-1 defeat to Croatia.

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Belgium 1-0 Canada – World Cup 2022 – Match Analysis

Canada's much anticipated first World Cup match in 36 years lived up to the billing, with the Canadians dominating one of the best sides in the world in Belgium. The 1-0 loss will be a slight disappointment for Herdman and his men, but the Maple Leafs will take away the positives from the performance heading into their final two group games. Here is our analysis of Canada's 1-0 defeat to Belgium.

Costa Rica 1-0 Canada – Match Analysis

hursday night could have been the night that Canada clinched glory in World Cup Qualification, for the first time since 1986. But with a disastrous red card early on in the match and a few missing figureheads, it wasn't meant to be for the Maple Leafs, succumbing to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of a defensively robust Costa Rica. Here is our match analysis of the Canadian team against Costa Rica.

John Herdman – Canada – Tactical Analysis

After years of barely even being on the football map, Canada are suddenly thriving and well under the new leadership of John Herdman. The Canadian Men's National Team have won 71% of their matches since Herdman took over, following up from his personal successes with the Women's team, where he helped the nation claim two Olympic bronze medals in 2012 and 2016. His first mission as men's national team coach was to help the Canadians earn their first qualification to a World Cup since 1986, and they have now gone 13 matches unbeaten in qualifying, with 9 wins and 4 draws. With just a few games to go in the round robin, Canada look destined to qualify for their first major international tournament in thirty-five years. Here is an analysis of John Herdman's work with the Canadian Men's National Team.

2020-21: A year for Canadians in Europe to remember

As the major European football leagues draw to a close on the men’s side, this year will be a year for Canadian soccer fans to remember. In ways never seen before, Canadian footballers have been right up there with some of the world's best, even playing key roles in top European title races.

CONCACAF Qualifiers: What is the Best Formation for Canada’s Men’s National Team?

It’s early days for the Canadian Men’s National Team, but there is a lot to be optimistic about. After a 5-1 win to open their 2022 World Cup Qualifying campaign, here are some thoughts on the way that John Herdman is lining up players and moving them around the field. In a world where just a few years ago, the biggest club representative of Canada was Unattached FC™, it is nice to see some healthy competition and tough decisions for the coach.

Issues Facing Women In Sport

A 2017 survey of 25,000 girls and boys in England and Northern Ireland found that both boys and girls understood the importance of an active lifestyle but that girls still struggled to meet daily requirements. Painful periods, issues with confidence, lack of encouragement and the pressures of academic work all contribute to a lack of … Continue reading Issues Facing Women In Sport