Captain Hutchinson can’t wait to start
‘IT’S GOING TO BE A BATTLE EVERY GAME WE PLAY’
It has been a long and difficult journey to the 2022 World Cup for Canada captain Atiba Hutchinson, and he almost didn’t make it here.
Hutchinson had to overcome a leg injury, sustained during the pre-season with his club team in Turkey, but fortunately for Canada, the veteran was able to recover in time.
Now, the longest-serving member of the team will be in his rightful place, leading the Canadians in the singing of the national anthem for the first time in 36 years when they face Belgium at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on Wednesday, up the road from here in Al Rayyan.
“The first moments of me realizing how big the World Cup was, was 1994,” Hutchinson said Tuesday.
“I really was into that one; I followed it a lot and my team that I was going for was Brazil and they ended up winning. Just to see all the emotions and what it meant for countries and the fans in the stadium and around the stadium. It was special to see and that kind of just sparked a very big interest in me and giving me that feeling of one day maybe playing in a World Cup.”
For a long time, it seemed Hutchinson would never get the opportunity.
After qualifying in 1986 in Mexico and going home after three games without as much as a goal, the Canadian men’s program struggled.
It got to a point Canada could not make it into the final CONCACAF qualifying group, much less the World Cup itself.
Yet, despite the turmoil and frustration, Hutchinson, 39, kept offering himself to the program, and in a career spanning nearly 20 years, has put on the Canada jersey a record 98 times.
Fittingly, his 99th international appearance will be at the World Cup, as will hopefully his 100th, as Canada also faces Croatia and Morocco in the group stage.
“Our expectations; we’re looking forward to going out there and competing to win every single match we play in,” Hutchinson said. “We’ve got a very strong team with a lot of good players and we’ve been doing what we’ve been doing.
“It’s going to be a battle every game we play, we’re going to fight, we’re going to show our brotherhood and we want to put Canada on the map. Our intentions are to enjoy the moment. We’ve worked a very long time to get here. We’ll be together and show our brotherhood we have and we’ll be very well prepared as John (Herdman) always has us well prepared, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Much like Hutchinson was inspired by the 1994 Brazilian team that swung by Edmonton for an exhibition game prior to going to win the title in the United States, he hopes to inspire the next generation of players back home.
Canada’s game against Belgium will be viewed by millions around the country and more than a few will want to follow in the team’s footsteps. He’s already seen the team’s ability to qualify for the World Cup generate more interest in the game in Canada.
“I’ve seen it sparking a lot of interest in younger players, seven-, eight-yearolds, some in my family; teammates’ children and the interest that it’s brought to our country, it’s really special to see,” he said. “I’ve been with the national team a very long time and I’ve never seen it get to this level. It’s great to see and I think it’s going to continue to get bigger and bigger from here on out.”
Despite being heavy a underdog to Belgium, Canada hopes to put on a good show. They have a lot of milestones to shoot for, which includes scoring the first goal. It would be fitting if Hutchinson, who is expected to start in the heart of midfield, were to get it.
“I want the players to enjoy it, but enjoyment comes through competition,” said Canada head coach Herdman. “The competition element against Belgium will be a real good test for the staff and for the players. I think it’s something we’ll learn from, and more importantly, we’re going to really go to war. I think that’s the opportunity we have here, coming into a game like this, we don’t have a great amount to lose, just genuine opportunity to make it our Cup final and that’s what it is for Canada.”
Star winger Alphonso Davies will play, after recovering from a hamstring injury. Belgium has already ruled out striker Romelu Lukaku, who had a similar issue, sustained with his Italian team, Inter Milan. Lukaku re-aggravated his hamstring prior to the World Cup and could miss Belgium’s first two games, according to head coach Roberto Martinez.
“He’s a player, it’s his moment, his World Cup, that’s what we’ve all been waiting for him — to be ready to go,” Herdman said of Davies. “He just had to hit his top speed and that sort of last full-out sprint. I think the positive psychology always help injuries heal a little bit quicker.”