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This is the furthest the Canadian men’s team has ever traveled at a World Cup and a chance to continue writing soccer history.
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But no pressure.
For Alistair Johnston, staying in the present moment is important. The defenseman has been part of Canada’s historic World Cup thus far and is looking to continue that as the Canadians face Morocco in the Round of 16 on Saturday at 1:00 pm ET in Houston. The match is being billed as a “David vs. Goliath” situation (there are no prizes for guessing who David is), but you wouldn’t know it from Johnston, who is poised to stun the world with a Canadian victory.
“This is incredibly special!” Glasgow Celtic player says Toronto Sun by email. “As you grow up, you dream of playing in games like this, but it’s even more important to know what it means for soccer in Canada. We’ve worked hard as a team to help move the game forward, and now we have the chance to play in front of Canadian fans on one of the biggest stages in the sport. It’s something we’ll remember for years to come.”
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Of course, these matches are special, but Johnston says it’s about focusing on what’s in front of you and what you can control.
Don’t think too much
“I try not to overthink or reinvent the wheel,” he said. “Obviously it’s a bigger event, but my preparation remains pretty consistent. Mentally I try to stay grounded and focus on the things I can control, and physically I try my best to do the same routine.”
Canadian fans have been loud and proud in the 12th at every stage of this World Cup and Johnston says the team will be counting on that support on match day.
“No question,” Johnston says of the fans’ help. “We felt supported everywhere we played, whether at home or seeing Canadian fans travel all over the world to support us. The connection between this team and our fans has been a huge part of our journey.”
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