Herdman turns to Chris Hadfield to launch Canada into new soccer stratosphere

While no slouch as a motivational speaker himself, John Herdman looked for a different voice ahead of the Canadian men's return to the World Cup after a 36-year absence.

Which explains why former astronaut Chris Hadfield, wearing a Canadian team jacket, was standing shoulder to shoulder with the Canada coach belting out "O Canada" before kickoff at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Wednesday night.

Herdman invited Hadfield to speak to the team ahead of the game against second-ranked Belgium.

"That was a special moment for all of us," Canada captain Atiba Hutchinson said Thursday. "Just basically him taking us through what it took for him to be in the right mind frame to go and do what he did. Everything he spoke about was exactly what we were going through, so we could relate to it so much.

"I don't think there's any better person that could have been in that room [Wednesday] to get us prepared for that game. Amazing. Just to hear the journey that he had gone though was really cool."

The 63-year-old Hatfield is a renaissance man — the first Canadian to walk in space and command the International Space Station. He is also an engineer, pilot, adjunct professor, author, musician and TV host.

Herdman said he met Hadfield in 2013, with both being part of the same speakers' bureau.

"I was told 'You've got to listen to this guy because he's the best in the business,"' Herdman said. "And I thought I was at least a half-decent motivational speaker and then I watch him onstage playing a guitar and singing. Man, he can do it all.

Hadfield "represented his country in a fighter jet," Herdman noted.

"So he knows what it means to represent his country. He knows what it means to put his body on the line, to put it all on the line. And I told the lads I want people like that in this room. But I didn't bring him here for that. I brought him here to share his pioneering story of being that man that did what he did. And it was brilliant. He's just an amazing, amazing human being."

The Belgians bent but didn't break against No. 41 Canada, which dominated the match but failed to score and eventually went down 1-0.

WATCH | Canada-Belgium post-match analysis on CBC Sports' Soccer North:

Canada vs. Belgium post-match reaction show | Soccer North

2 years ago

Duration 35:07

Watch as Andi Petrillo takes a look at the Canada vs. Belgium game at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with guests including Ariel Helwani!

Davies 'disappointed' by loss

Alphonso Davies took to social media Thursday to provide a brief take on Canada's loss.

"A disappointing result against a top team in the World Cup. We got two more games to go, we go again on Sunday!" wrote the Bayern Munich star. "Thank you to all the fans for their support."

The 22-year-old from Edmonton was front and centre Wednesday at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in nearby Al Rayyan. He had a chance in the 11th minute to score Canada's first-ever goal at the tournament but his penalty kick was saved by Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

Asked by beIN Sports after the game what was going though his mind when he stepped up to the penalty spot, Davies provided a more general answer.

"For me, it was knowing that it's the biggest stage in the world, yeah, just play my game. Don't change anything about how I play. And defend and attack with the team.

"In all, I was a little bit disappointed but we're definitely, definitely proud of how we played today."

Canada Soccer has not made Davies available to the Canadian media since he arrived last Friday from Germany, although he did do an interview with TSN on Sunday.

Davies also shared his emotion on making his World Cup debut.

And Davies shared some of coach John Herdman's comments after the match.

"He told us just keep going. The easiest thing to do is shy away from competition. We kept fighting, we kept battling and he just told us to keep our head high and keep fighting."

Davies' penalty was one of Canada's three shots on target. Eighteen other Canadian attempts were off the mark.

"Fonzie, I thought he was brilliant tonight," Herdman said after the match. "I thought he was way more disciplined. He showed courage when he needed to. I think in some of the others games we've had him in positions where he's overplayed at times. But tonight I just thought he got the perfect balance."

Of the Canadian starters Wednesday, Junior Hoilett has had the most success from the spot — converting three penalties for Canada. Davies has two successful spot kicks and Jonathan David one.

Some observers have wondered why David did not take the penalty.

"We had two players that were confident in doing it," captain Atiba Hutchinson explained Thursday. "Alphonso's taken a couple of penalties, as well as Jonathan. John [Herdman] has left it to the players in that position with who's ready to go."

Hutchinson said he was close to David and Davies in the lead-up to the spot kick.

"I don't think it was a discussion. It was more of 'Are you OK to take it?' And Fonzie, he had the ball in his hand and was obviously ready for that moment. Like I said, it was just unfortunate he didn't score. He was going up against a very good goalkeeper. Just on the day it didn't cross the line."

Canada, ranked 41st in the world, takes on No. 12 Croatia on Sunday knowing a loss will end its hopes of advancing to the knockout round. It wraps up Group F play Dec. 1 against No. 22 Morocco.