Why Windsor soccer fans say Canada's World Cup performance was about more than wins and losses
Despite the men's Canadian soccer team going winless in this year's FIFA World Cup tournament, fans who watched Team Canada take on Morocco from The Manchester Pub say this year's tournament has transcended beyond wins and losses.
Natalie Fantinic — who has played on the St. Clair College women's soccer team — was among those watching Thursday's game from the pub. She said, prior to this year's World Cup, she couldn't convince her children to kick a soccer ball with her.
"After our first game against Belgium, I had a couple of kids and the whole neighborhood playing at the park," said Fantinic.
"It's exciting. I think for everybody in Canada, this has made a difference."
Following earlier losses to Belgium and Croatia, the Canadian team was already ineligible to advance in the World Cup, regardless of the result against Morocco. Canada dropped Thursday's game against Morocco 2-1.
While The Manchester was at standing room only for Team Canada's first two World Cup games, there was much more room to move around Thursday as only the most diehard Canadian soccer fans left their homes to watch Canada's battle against Morocco at the downtown pub.
Despite Thursday's result leaving the Canadian men's soccer team still searching for a single-game, World Cup victory — 17-year-old soccer standout Aaliyah Faddoul said there are still positives to take away from the team's performance.
"There definitely is soccer fever in the air. I think that kids who didn't even play soccer now want to get on a team which is amazing," she said.
"I think it brings more attention to soccer. Soccer is a sport where kids can lose the thought of other stresses and just be free, play, work out and be healthy."
Faddoul, who will be heading to the U.S. to play soccer at the varsity level after graduating from Sandwich Secondary School in LaSalle, added the previous successes of the Canadian women's national team — along with the men's team making its first appearance at the World Cup in 36 years — can inspire a new generation of soccer upstarts.
"It's great to see that there's a higher level in Canada. There's places where I can strive to be. Not only me, but other young boys and girls."
Thomas Mavrantzas, who also watched Canada take on Morocco from The Manchester pub, said he's hopeful for the future and is proud to have seen his country "compete on a world stage."
"We already have young players that will be in their prime for the next World Cup," he said.
Mavrantzas added he always watches the World Cup — but this year's tournament marked the first with a team he could actually get behind with his full support.
"It's a different feeling," he added. "I really wish we could have went further."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.