Jonathan David and George Pakos are a generation apart in terms of World Cup appearances for sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½. But their aims are the same across the years — to grow the world’s game in a land of snow and ice.
David has done that with the current Canadian men’s soccer team, ending the 36-year drought since Pakos and the previous Canadian team to qualify.
“This is for the kids six-to-eight year olds. We’re working for the generations to come,” said David, the current standout Canadian team striker, who plays for Lille.
Pakos said the rise in Canadian soccer is already seeping down.
“Every juvenile soccer organization on the Island is full and loaded with kids now playing the game,” said Pakos, the Victoria product who scored two of sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½’s four goals in the final round of qualifying to propel the nation into its first World Cup in 1986 at Mexico.
“It’s been a long-time coming and I’m so happy the drought has ended.”
The final qualifying game for sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½, today in Panama (6 p.m. PT on Sportsnet), is all about the immediacy of seeding for World Cup 2022 in Qatar. sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ is already qualified, but is now concentrating on getting into Pot 3 for the World Cup draw on Friday in Doha. sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ needs a win tonight to stay out of Pot 4, which will mean having to play all three group games against higher-ranked teams. Pot 3 will mean playing two higher-ranked teams and one ranked lower. The out-of-country scoreboard yielded good results Tuesday with Ghana knocking off Nigeria, ranked one spot ahead of sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ at world No. 33, during African qualifying. So a win against Panama will land sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ into Pot 3. A draw or loss and sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ goes into Pot 4.
It doesn’t matter, said Pakos, predicting big things for sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ in World Cup 2022 Qatar, after his generation failed to win a game or score a goal in 1986 at Mexico.
“This Canadian team is talented enough that I believe it’s possible we can move on beyond the group stage, no matter who we play,” said Pakos.
Another Victoria product and sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ team alumni concurs.
“This is a talented group that is very exciting to watch. They are so athletic and technical. They have a bit of everything,” said Martin Nash, who earned 38 caps for the national side and a CONCACAF Gold Cup championship, and is now coach of York United in the CPL.
“It is a Canadian team that can cause some damage in the World Cup. They are not just going. They are going to compete. I believe they have the ability to get out of their group. This generation is really exciting.”
A draw tonight guarantees sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ top spot in CONCACAF. sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ can still top the pool with a loss and the right results in other games. But through the front door is the only way this group wants to enter Qatar.
“We said we were here to define a new sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ and new sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ is finishing top of CONCACAF … to really let this country celebrate,” said sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ head coach John Herdman.
But a draw won’t get sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ into Pot 3, so victory is the hard objective tonight against a Panamanian side desperately needing to win.
“We have to finish strong. That’s the message to these players. It’s a critical match,” said Herdman.
— With a file from the Canadian Press