In Montreal, soccer fans look to the future as Canada exits World Cup

"There's a lot of positives to take into the next World Cup."

Local fans are disappointed Canada is leaving the World Cup with zero points, but it seems many are taking a glass-half-full view of a team that hadn’t made it to the world’s biggest soccer stage for 36 years.

“I think all across Canada we’re all proud,” said Kyle Graham, a physical-education teacher at St. John Fisher Elementary School who dropped by Kellys Orchard Pub on Donegani Ave. in Pointe-Claire to have lunch and catch a bit of Canada’s third and final match of the tournament on Thursday.

Canada lost 2-1 to Morocco for its third straight defeat. Even before the match began, Canada had been eliminated from moving forward to the Round of 16 after losing its first two games, 1-0 to Belgium and 4-1 to Croatia.

But many fans believe this team packed with young talent are likely to be more competitive at the 2026 World Cup, hosted by Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.

“There’s a lot of positives to take into the next World Cup,” Graham said. “A lot of these players are going to be in the next World Cup (if Canada qualifies) and they’ll have a lot of experience.

“I’m excited. I grew up watching England at the World Cup and now I have something closer to home to cheer.”

Sitting at the bar at Kellys, Ron Dunne said “it’s all Herdman” — referring to John Herdman, who took over as head coach of the men’s national soccer team in January 2018 and led them to the World Cup for the first time in nearly four decades.

“He instilled the confidence and the belief to move forward,” Dunne said. “I think we should be proud. And six of the 25 (players on the) squad are CF Montreal players.”

The consensus at the bar was that Canada had played a decent game Thursday. Morocco jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but that was cut in half by an own goal by Nayef Aguerd. Canada pressured big time in the second half, with Atiba Hutchinson’s header very nearly going in off the crossbar in the 71st minute, just failing to make it over the goal line.

Over at McKibbin’s Irish Pub in Pointe-Claire, there was almost no one there for the game, presumably turned off by the fact Canada couldn’t move on to the knockout round. But Kevin McManaman was happy to be on hand to cheer on Canada.

“It’s nice to bask on the world stage,” McManaman said. “(Most) of our best athletes play hockey whereas in Europe and all the other countries, their best are playing soccer. I think that’s part of why we lagged behind. … Even though they’re not doing as good as we thought, it’s still positive.

“The other thing that struck me was the Canadian fans (in Qatar) and how passionate they are.”

Brent Laderoute, co-owner of the three McKibbin’s restaurants in Montreal, said he wasn’t surprised few people turned up at 10 a.m. to see the final Canadian game.

“I think it’s quiet all around because of the timing of the game and where they’re at right now,” Laderoute said. “Because this game, win or lose, they’re out. If they would’ve won another game, this would’ve meant something in the tournament and there probably would’ve been more of a following.

“I think the timing is a big thing. If this was a 2 o’clock game, we definitely would’ve had more of a following. People would’ve left work early. But it’s tougher to get out of work at 9:30 in the morning and come watch a soccer game.”

bkelly@postmedia.com

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