‘I’m a bit conflicted’: London-area Croatian community celebrates win, but sad Canada eliminated
Dozens of soccer fans packed the Croatian-Canadian Centre in south London, Ont. knowing that no matter the result on the pitch, it was really going to be a win.
Though their fans were stunned when Canada scored in the second minute of the game, they were elated the rest of the match as Croatia would go on to win 4-1, eliminating the Reds from advancing in the World Cup.
“I am conflicted personally,” says Stephen Sasar, president of the Croatian club.
“My roots are Croatian, but I was born in Canada. So I'm a little torn.”
Sasar, who was actually cheering for Croatia, just wished his two favourite teams could have been in different groups.
At the BMO Centre, there were so many fans watching the biggest game in Canadian Men’s Soccer history, they needed three rooms to house them all.
After the opening goal by Alphonso Davies (Canada’s first ever at the World Cup) there wasn’t much for the fans or kids in attendance to cheer about.
Croatian Soccer fans in London, Ont. were shocked when Canada scored 2 minutes into the match in London, Ont. on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022 (Brent Lale/CTV News London)“The start was probably the most exciting two minutes you could have,” says Garrett Peters, the women’s coach of London TFC.
“Everyone here was pretty excited. The boys did what they could but the pressure (from Croatia) was just too good for us.”
The 4-1 defeat means Canada still has zero points, and will not move on to round two. They will still face Morocco Thursday morning in their final match of their first World Cup in 36 years.
“It's going to be interesting to see what John Herdman does with the team and the selection because Thursday is definitely about getting World Cup experience now and experience on the top stage for those players,” says Adam Mooi, a Canadian soccer fan watching at BMO Centre.
The young fans watching kept up the spirit through the match, chanting and banging a drum in support.
“In any case, it's an awesome experience,” says Jonathan O’Neill, an academy coach with London TFC.
“I remember watching the World Cup with Ireland in it when I was 12 years of age. I remember the highs and lows of it and win lose or draw, you still have the memories, and I'm coaching some players in there who are going to have those same memories with Canada.”
Memories which include Alphonso Davies and his teammates celebrating – a moment 36 years in the making.
Hundreds of soccer fans cheer on Canada at BMO Centre in London, Ont. (Source: Brent Lale/CTV London)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
Record-breaking N.B. lottery winner kept winning ticket on dresser for nearly a year
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
A dog and a bird formed an unlikely friendship. Their separation has infuriated followers
Peggy is a stout and muscular Staffordshire bull terrier, and Molly is a magpie, an Australian bird best known for swooping on humans during breeding season, not for befriending dogs. But in an emotional video posted online, Peggy’s owners announced that the animals had been separated.
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Gangs netting up to US$3 trillion a year as Southeast Asia human trafficking becomes a global crisis, Interpol says
Human trafficking-fuelled fraud is exploding in Southeast Asia with organized crime rings raking in close to US$3 trillion in illicit revenue annually, the head of Interpol has said in comments that reveal the huge profits being earned by cartels.