Alistair Johnston’s meteoric rise mirrors that of Canada’s men’s team on the World Cup stage

Chris Jones was in Qatar covering the men’s World Cup for CBC Sports.

On a beautiful evening at the Umm Salal Sports Club north of Doha, Canadian men lay down on the grass so perfect it was hard to believe they were real. There was laughter heard from the distant football field, and a relaxed, languid pace about things.

This is what it looks like when people are having fun.

In their first World Cup since 1986, their qualification was itself a good football story. Since then they have enjoyed a warm welcome after a narrow 1-0 defeat against second-placed Belgium in their opening game in Qatar.

“It was a tough game,” Roberto Martinez, the Belgium coach, said afterwards. “Canada is better than us at what we want to do.”

Tata Martino, coach of Mexico, called the tournament performance so far: “Un clinic.”

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Canada surprised many by playing a fearless attacking game, defeating heavily favored Belgium 22-to-9.

In CONCACAF qualifiers, head coach John Herdman occasionally held his team back, soaking up the pressure before launching swift, decisive counterattacks. (A January win over the US in Hamilton immediately comes to mind.)

Herdman apparently followed through on his indictment’s wishes to put on more shows. For smaller players on smaller teams, the World Cup is a rare opportunity to get noticed. Career changes occur every four years.

On Friday, news broke that full-back Alistair Johnston will soon be leaving CF Montreal for Scottish giants Celtic. According to reports, the two clubs have agreed terms of the transfer; only Johnston’s contract needed sorting.

“Just hooked up with them, my phone exploded,” Johnston said Friday, adding that it may be time for him to upgrade his iPhone10. “It nearly put my phone out of action, in the middle of the World Cup.”

Johnston battled Belgium’s Eden Hazard as Canada lost 1-0 in their opener on Wednesday. (Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)

If the move materializes, 24-year-old Johnston will join the ranks of Canadians playing in Europe – and, given Celtic’s frequent domestic dominance, also in the Champions League. The dream he was currently living would continue uninterruptedly.

Johnston’s revival has been meteoric and well-received. He played in League 1 Ontario as recently as 2019. After just three years in Major League Soccer, he now looks set to make a move to the Scottish Premier League. It’s not one of Europe’s top leagues, but it’s still a big step up, and the kind of test Herdman openly wants his players to take.

Scott Arfield, another Canadian, plays for the Rangers, Celtic’s cross-town rivals in Glasgow. The derby between them, known as the Old Firm, is intense. Supporters were divided not only in the stadium, where they sat in designated sections divided by columns of empty seats and rows of police, but even on their way there. They got on separate trains.

Celtic fans turned their backs as Rangers’ Alfredo Morelos raced past during a game between the Scottish rivals in September, an example of the animosity that exists between the two rival clubs. (Steve Welsh/The Associated Press)

Johnston, perhaps aware of his ongoing auditions—he started turning heads with the national team last November in Edmonton, when he went crazy during crucial wins over Costa Rica and Mexico—was one of the players Herdman pushed the most to put pressure on Belgium.

“We decided as a group … we said, ‘We want to be a team that comes here to have fun. We want to play fearless football,'” Johnston said. “I think we proved that against Belgium. We shocked the world.”

Regardless of style, however, a loss is a loss. With only two group stage games remaining, Canada will almost certainly need a win over Croatia on Sunday to keep their hopes of a Round of 16 appearance alive.

Herdman caused a semi-storm by telling his players during a fiery speech on the pitch immediately after the Belgium match that their job, now, was, “Eff Croatia.”

Croatian media fired back, calling the comments disrespectful. A Croatian tabloid even blasted Herdman on its cover on Friday, questioning the size of his manhood relative to his mouth.

“We don’t mind if it comes out in the media, a bit of tabloid fever,” said Johnston. “I think it’s exciting for us. We know it’s a big game…. But we believe in ourselves, and we believe we can support it.”

Herdman, asked on Thursday if he would apologize, offered more explanation instead. “At that point, you’ve taken your team to the next place,” he says.

For Johnston, the next place is Glasgow. Some of his teammates may soon join him on his European climb. Herdman, too, will no doubt make offers to coach other countries or professional clubs.

But right now, the focus is solely on the national team, said Johnston.

For Canada, a loss against Croatia likely means their final game against Morocco will be an exercise in pride alone.

Victory might mean a ticket to the world.


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Hadwin Floyd

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