Canada earns place on international men's soccer map: Grant Needham

The former Montreal Impact star says Canada has come a long way since he played for the national men's team in the early 1990s.

Despite Canada’s early exit from the World Cup in Qatar, Grant Needham is bullish on the future of Canadian men’s soccer. The former Montreal Impact star says Canada has come a long way since he played for the national men’s team in the early 1990s.

“We should be celebrating we are there, that the world saw Canada play on the biggest stage and we are only going to get better,” said Needham, who was inducted into the Montreal Impact Hall of Fame Builder’s Club in 2007 after a stellar pro career.

“It is not going to take 36 more years to qualify for World Cup again.”

Needham, 52, is now involved in soccer at the local level as the sporting director of the Pointe-Claire Soccer club.

Although Canada was eliminated from the World Cup following group stage losses to Belgium and Croatia, he says Canada has proven it deserves to be on soccer’s biggest stage.

“This is the best (men’s) team Canada has ever produced. Everyone can say anything they want. Canada’s other World Cup team in 1986 did well but this is the most talented team Canada has ever had. We have a guy on the team (Alphonso Davies) touted as the best left back on the planet. That’s never happened to Canada before.

“So there are positives. Like scoring a first goal. And playing the No. 2 country in the world (Belgium) and deserving a better result, that’s a positive.”

Needham said there is no shame in losing to an “outstanding” Croatian side, ranked 12th by FIFA. He said 41st ranked Canada was in a tough group. “We were the minnows of this group,” he said.

Canada closes out its World Cup on Thursday with a match against Morocco, ranked 21st. Needham said Canada needs to regroup to get a result before heading home.

“Against Morocco you have to go out and say, hey, there is no pressure, you’re not moving on. Now is the time to give some other people some experience of playing at this level. And play loose and play with some confidence. We’ve done enough to show the world we belong here and then you go at it.”

Needham said this young Canadian men’s side bodes well for the future.

“We forget how young they are. There are seven or eight players who are 24 years and under. Davies is 22. These are guys who are going to be there in four years.”

Although Canada carried the play for much of the opener against Belgium, Needham said Canada still has to close the gap to be able to win against the world’s best. Canada’s fitness level, tactics and finishing were not up to par, he noted.

“Croatia created four or five chances and scored four goals. Canada created chances against Belgium but did not have that killer instinct.”

Needham said Canadian coach John Herdman has put the men’s team on the international soccer map.

“Herdman turned it around. He’s now producing these players. But we need to put more players into a day-to-day environment in European leagues, in the highest level of competitiveness. I’m not taking away anything from the MLS, but  it’s not at the same level as (European football). Put them in those European leagues and you’ll see a huge improvement in our players.”

Needham is also seeing growth at the grassroots level in the West Island.

“I’ve seen a huge inscription of kids. Soccer is bouncing back from the pandemic,” he said. “Pointe-Claire has around 2,200 players.”

“There’s more structure and clubs are becoming more professional in how they conduct business. When it comes to player development, we’re developing a lot more players at higher levels. The recipe is how to develop an elite player? We’re still a work in progress at developing elite talent.”

jmeagher@postmedia.com

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