11/3/2023 0 Comments Franz beckenbauer 5The Canada squad’s inexperience proved something of a blessing. Two years prior to Mexico, Canada got their first taste of big-stage international football after qualifying for the Olympics. That experience of playing and training at a professional level was so important in terms of us getting the results we got in the Olympics and World Cup.” The Olympics “It was a pro league where we were able to compete at a fairly high level for a number of years. “That was the training ground for Canada,” he said. “Bringing Pele to the NASL was massive in terms of generating an interest in the game.”Īccording to Wilson, the NASL helped establish the foundations of the team that made it to the 86 finals in Mexico and, at its height, facilitated no fewer than five Canadian franchises. READ: ‘Pele changed everything’: Werner Roth tells the story of the NY CosmosĪ six-time NASL all-star, Wilson spent a decade in the division turning out for the Vancouver Whitecaps (1974-77), Chicago Sting (1978-79), New York Cosmos (1980) and Toronto Blizzard (1981-84). “Playing with and against world-class players like Pele, George Best, Carlos Alberto, Johan Neeskens and Franz Beckenbauer had a major impact on the US and Canadian players and also guaranteed huge crowds.” “The reason for Canada having the success we had back in the 1980s was without a doubt due to our players having the opportunity to play in the NASL,” full-back and former Canada captain Bruce Wilson says. Though it collapsed in disarray by March 1985, with players spiralling off to join clubs in America’s indoor leagues, it proved crucial in establishing Canada as a competitive force. First established in December 1967, the NASL provided the bedrock of the beautiful game stateside. Instead, the majority had previously plied their trade in the North American Soccer League. Just five of the 22-man party taken to the World Cup by English manager Tony Waiters were playing in Europe at the time. The squad that headed to Mexico 36 years ago was a far cry from the one bound for Qatar. and Mexico to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup, Canada’s sole appearance at a World Cup up until now came all the way back in 1986. In fact, despite their status as the only nation aside from the U.S. While Premier League cult heroes like Craig Forrest, Tomasz Radzinski and, more recently, Junior Hoilett have all impressed for the Canucks down the years, qualification for the World Cup had largely eluded the USA’s considerably less noisy neighbours. It’s difficult to quantify just how big an achievement this is for English coach John Herdman’s team. In March 2022, the Canada men’s national soccer team made history by beating Jamaica 4-0 to reach their first World Cup in 36 years.
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