Canada’s upcoming World Cup opponents -- Belgium, Croatia and Morocco -- all finished their final preparations. The next stop is Qatar as the games in Group F kickoff on Wednesday.
Canada wrapped things up with an impressive 2-1 victory over 24th-ranked country Japan on Thursday. Meanwhile, their competitors also played in their final friendlies, with a mixed display of results.
Here is what John Herdman’s squad could learn from the results.
This match has the potential to be one of the biggest shocks heading into the World Cup as Belgium fell to Africa Cup of Nations finalists Egypt on Friday.
Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku did not feature as he continues to recover from injury and Belgium's scoring issues linger with nobody else stepping up. Substitute Lois Openda (Lens) did pull a goal back in the second half, but for a side with Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne and Real Madrid’s Eden Hazard, it was a disappointing result.
So how can Canada exploit this? Despite maintaining the majority of possession - which was to be expected - the second-best side in FIFA’s world rankings let their guard down and were careless with the ball at times.
If this scenario repeats itself, the likes of Atiba Hutchinson, Samuel Piette and Mark-Anthony Kaye will welcome this opportunity to press for turnovers, regain possession and send the ball toward Canada’s front line.
Egypt, meanwhile, remained alert and made the most of Belgium’s errors. Low, hard strikes beat Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois on both occasions. Egypt were lethal with their opportunities, and Canada will need to replicate that next week.
As seen during Canada’s preparations, Ismael Kone is not afraid to take a stab at goal when the slightest opportunity arrives. At the same time, Cyle Larin and Jonathan David, often the team’s leading scorers, will need to step up inside the six-yard box.
Additionally, the Belgians often left acres of space open at the back, allowing counter-attacks to hurt them - something Alphonso Davies and Tajon Buchanan will love to make the most of.
That is now back-to-back losses for the Europeans heading into the tournament.
Canada plays its opening match against Belgium on Nov. 23. Kickoff is 2 p.m. EST/11 a.m. PST while pre-match coverage begins on CTV and TSN at 1:45 p.m EST/10:45 a.m. PST.
After Canada play Belgium, next up is their second European opponent, Croatia.
The 2018 World Cup finalists beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 on Wednesday, but this match saw a heavily-rotated side wrap-up preparations for Qatar. Still, the takeaways are noteworthy.
Croatia left it late to win as Hoffenheim attacker Andrej Kramaric scored in the 82nd minute to extend their run to five wins in a row and six unbeaten.
Substitute Luka Modric assisted the late winner and again showed how he can turn a match on a dime as he does for Real Madrid. Canada must nullify the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner in midfield.
Again, Hutchinson, Piette and Kaye could be handed the responsibility defensively, but given Modric’s influence, every midfielder on the pitch must stay alert. Stephen Eustaquio, therefore, might have less availability to move freely.
Other notable names who entered and changed the pace of the game in the second half were Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic, Dinamo Zagreb winger Mislav Orsic and Tottenham’s Ivan Perisic who scored in the 2018 final. Keeping them on the bench suggests they could be starters.
So overall, what does this result tell Canada? The biggest is not to back off Croatia until the final whistle. This game magnified Croatia’s key characteristic: determination. In their last six games, five have been decided by goals coming around the 70th minute or later.
This means Canada's starting goalkeeper Milan Borjan and the two centre-backs in front of him must ensure they are focused in the final minutes to avoid fatigue influencing their decisions. Limiting any late corners will also be key, but if they don't succeed in that, the height of Hutchinson and Steven Vitoria will hopefully be crucial to denying any scoring opportunities.
A high defensive line from Herdman could also prove to be beneficial, as the 12th-ranked side in the world were caught offside four times in the match.
Canada plays Croatia on Nov. 27. Kickoff is 11 a.m.. EST/8 a.m. PST while pre-match coverage begins on CTV and TSN at 10:45 a.m EST/7:45 a.m. PST.
Canada’s final clash against Morocco could have plenty riding on it. Depending on other results, Herdman’s squad might have a chance to reach the knockout stage of the competition.
The 22nd-ranked country hit the ground running against Georgia on Thursday as Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri scored five minutes in. Even though it was only a friendly, their intent was evident here.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi was essential in defence and attack, setting up the opener, and winger Hakim Ziyech provided the assist. Both players displayed threatening speed over 90 minutes, and Morocco played extremely fluid football as a result.
Canada must limit their influence and can turn to the likes of Davies, Buchanan, Alistair Johnston, Sam Adekugbe and Richie Laryea to do so. All five players influence Canada’s play along the wings, both offensively and defensively, mirroring the same impact Hakimi and Ziyech have. Fans can expect pacey one-on-one battles for the ball with potentially some man-marking too.
Ziyech, who has been struggling for form at Premier League side Chelsea, later pulled off an outrageous goal from inside his own half to turn things 2-0, while Angers’ Sofiane Boufal scored a penalty.
Montreal-born goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who plays for Sevilla, was also on top of his game as the opponents called him into action on several occasions but kept his fourth clean sheet in a row. It’s now up to David, Larin or perhaps Lucas Cavallini’s confidence to snap that streak after the latter’s cheeky penalty in the team’s win against Japan. Beating Bounou from range could also make a difference with Eustaquio potentially handling that role.
Overall, Morocco were in their groove against Georgia and look keen to take control and not sit back, remaining relentless until the final whistle. Herdman’s defence, in particular, must stay calm and be highly focused to keep them tame in a pressure-filled environment.
Hutchinson’s experience and leadership alongside a vocal Herdman on the touchline will be vital. However, the task of remaining calm will have to come from everyone on the pitch. In the final group stage match, Canada cannot afford to slip up anywhere if the knockout rounds are in sight.
Canada plays Morocco on Dec. 1. Kickoff is 10 a.m. EST/7 a.m. PST while pre-match coverage begins on CTV and TSN at 9:45 a.m EST/6:45 a.m. PST.
The Canadian Olympic Committee offered a 'heartfelt' apology to New Zealand Football Tuesday after the New Zealand women's club accused the Canadian women's team of spying on them during a training session.
Thousands of wildfire evacuees forced from Jasper National Park into British Columbia along smoke-choked mountain roads Monday night were directed Tuesday to make a wide U-turn and head home if they needed a place to stay.
A local law enforcement commissioner revealed during a House Homeland Security hearing on Tuesday stunning new details about the security failures that led to the near assassination of Donald Trump, raising more questions for the embattled U.S. Secret Service.
Sunday was the hottest day ever recorded, breaking global temperatures dating back to 1940, according to preliminary data from Europe's Copernicus Climate Change Service.
The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo has revealed the cause of death for polar bear Baffin last week.
Comments Donald Trump’s running mate JD Vance made in 2021 questioning U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris’ leadership because she did not have biological children have resurfaced, testing the young conservative senator in his early days campaigning as part of the Republicans' presidential ticket.
Alberta's premier says changes are needed to the province's emergency alert system after incorrect information was shared about the Jasper evacuation on Monday night.
A man whose charges were stayed following an investigation into an alleged child sex trafficking ring in Portage la Prairie says his life has been ruined.
The Bank of Canada is expected to deliver a dose of interest rate relief Wednesday when economists and market watchers predict the central bank will cut its overnight lending rate.
A man whose charges were stayed following an investigation into an alleged child sex trafficking ring in Portage la Prairie says his life has been ruined.
Alberta's premier says changes are needed to the province's emergency alert system after incorrect information was shared about the Jasper evacuation on Monday night.
Small-town B.C. has a reputation for being friendly and full of culture, but on Monday evening they showed just how quickly they can jump into action when there's a crisis in another province.
It's still unclear if tire marks on the rainbow crosswalk in Pembroke, Ont. were deliberate, but community leaders worry this is part of a growing trend of anti-LGTBQ2S+ vandalism in the area.
Thousands of residents and visitors were ordered to leave Jasper, Alta., overnight as wildfires burned inside the national park.
The director of Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit has charged a Thunder Bay Police officer with a criminal offence in connection with an incident on June 30, 2023.
King Charles, who has spent a lifetime campaigning on environmental issues, has installed solar panels at Windsor Castle and plans to convert the royal family's Bentley cars to run on biofuel, palace officials said.
The director of the Secret Service resigned Tuesday in the aftermath of the assassination attempt against former U.S. president Donald Trump that unleashed an outcry about how the agency failed in its core mission to protect current and former presidents.
The Philadelphia school district has failed to protect Jewish students from “a virulent wave of antisemitism” that swept through classrooms after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, according to a federal complaint filed Tuesday.
North Korea flew more balloons likely carrying trash toward South Korea on Wednesday, some of which reportedly fell on the compound of the South's presidential office.
Protesters against the Gaza war staged a sit-in at a congressional office building Tuesday ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to Congress, with Capitol Police making multiple arrests.
The UN envoy for Yemen warned Tuesday that recent developments in the Red Sea, Israel and inside the country 'show the real danger of a devastating region-wide escalation,' but he also pointed to a glimmer of hope.
Court documents show federal immigration officials warned that the government risked undermining the temporary immigration system with the design of the emergency visa program for war-displaced Ukrainians.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's decision to hand-pick a candidate for a riding in an upcoming Montreal byelection isn't being well-received by three aspiring contenders who spent months campaigning only to be shunted aside.
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs is criticizing the federal government for reducing funds to search the grounds of former residential schools, saying they are profoundly disappointed and outraged.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says a 'worrisome' parasite has been confirmed in at least one area on Prince Edward Island and samples from several oyster farms have been sent for testing.
Long-term care and assisted living homes need to focus more on supporting their residents' mental health, a Canadian organization that develops quality and safety standards said on Tuesday.
Nearly 40 million people were living with the HIV virus that causes AIDS last year, over nine million weren't getting any treatment, and the result was that every minute someone died of AIDS-related causes, the UN said in a new report launched Monday.
Sharks living off the coast of Brazil have tested positive for cocaine, according to new research, the first time that the drug has been detected in free-ranging sharks.
Google is planning to keep third-party cookies in its Chrome browser, it said on Monday, after years of pledging to phase out the tiny packets of code meant to track users on the internet.
Cybercriminals are already capitalizing on the chaos from Friday’s massive global tech outage by promoting fake websites filled with malicious software designed to compromise unsuspecting victims.
John Mayall, the British blues musician whose influential band the Bluesbreakers was a training ground for Eric Clapton, Mick Fleetwood and many other superstars, has died. He was 90.
Sparks flew in court Tuesday as a Nevada judge rebuked a defence attorney and an ailing former Los Angeles-area gang leader lashed out against prosecutors during his renewed effort to be freed from jail to house arrest ahead of his trial in the 1996 killing of hip-hop legend Tupac Shakur.
'Jeopardy!' host Alex Trebek is being posthumously honoured with a U.S. postage stamp.
The Bank of Canada is expected to deliver a dose of interest rate relief Wednesday when economists and market watchers predict the central bank will cut its overnight lending rate.
Hundreds of Ontario's liquor stores reopened Tuesday following a strike that lasted more than two weeks, but the fighting between the union representing workers and the government dragged on.
Red Lobster is moving closer to a bankruptcy sale that would put lenders, including Fortress Investment Group, in charge of the company after no other bidders stepped up with an offer to repay the struggling U.S. restaurant chain's debt, according to court documents.
There are some laws in popular tourist destinations around the world that could land Canadian travellers in mild-to-serious trouble if they're not careful. Don't let these local laws land you in hot water during your next vacation abroad.
One of Oscar Mayer's hot dog-shaped Wienermobiles ended up flipped onto its side after crashing on a suburban Chicago highway, police said.
If you look around at your friends and family — and even at yourself — it is apparent that some people perceive the glass to be half full, while others view it as half empty. Which habits can you adopt to increase your level of happiness? A social psychologist has these five tips.
A CFL super fan is two-thirds of the way into his record-breaking attempt to visit all nine stadiums in the Canadian Football League in 15 days.
The Canadian Olympic Committee offered a 'heartfelt' apology to New Zealand Football Tuesday after the New Zealand women's club accused the Canadian women's team of spying on them during a training session.
American rapper and actor Snoop Dogg will be one of the final torchbearers of the Olympic flame ahead of the Games’ Opening Ceremony in Paris on Friday.
One of Oscar Mayer's hot dog-shaped Wienermobiles ended up flipped onto its side after crashing on a suburban Chicago highway, police said.
A woman in Waterloo, Ont. is out thousands of dollars for a car crash she wasn’t involved in.
Toronto's Deputy Mayor is calling on the city's staff to develop a plan to tackle the "critical" congestion levels in Liberty Village, made worse by a slew of summer construction and major events at nearby venues.
A cat who fled her Montreal home nearly a decade ago has been reunited with her family after being found in Ottawa.
A woman in Waterloo, Ont. is out thousands of dollars for a car crash she wasn’t involved in.
A swarm of bees living in a lamppost in Winnipeg’s Sage Creek neighbourhood has found a new home for its hive.
Around 100 acres of Manitoba Crown Land near the Saskatchewan border is being returned to the Métis community.
Nova Scotia is suspending the licensed Cape Breton moose hunt for three years due to what the province is calling a “significant drop” in the population.
A well-known childhood prank known as 'nicky nicky nine doors,' or 'ding dong ditch,' has escalated into a more serious game that could lead to charges for some Surrey, B.C. teens.
It's been more than a month since their good friend was seriously hurt in an accident and two teens from Riverview, N.B., are still having a hard time dealing with it.
Halifax bridges have collected thousands of coins from around the world.
A donated clawfoot bathtub has become the preferred lounging spot for a pair of B.C. grizzly bears, who have been taking turns relaxing and reclining in it – with minimal sibling squabbling – for the past year.
In an update Tuesday evening, police say they have identified the two women who were found dead on Vancouver beaches one day after the other.
Patients who went to Mission Memorial Hospital’s emergency department on Tuesday evening were told to go to Abbotsford General or Maple Ridge hospitals, the first time a Metro Vancouver acute care facility has turned away patients due to critical staffing shortages.
Small-town B.C. has a reputation for being friendly and full of culture, but on Monday evening they showed just how quickly they can jump into action when there's a crisis in another province.
A Toronto woman is looking to recover the specialized bicycle used to raise money for cancer research after it was stolen from her Etobicoke home over the weekend.
The brother of a New Zealand man who died after ordering a product from an accused Canadian suicide salesman says it shouldn’t be so easy for vulnerable people to get dangerous substances online.
Toronto police say an officer shot a man armed with a knife in Cabbagetown.
Calgary is now under Stage 1 outdoor water restrictions, effective immediately. Mayor Jyoti Gondek made the announcement on Tuesday afternoon.
The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo has revealed the cause of death for polar bear Baffin last week.
Calgary is opening a reception centre for evacuees fleeing a wildfire near Jasper National Park.
Canada is sending 338 athletes to the Olympic Games in Paris, including 26 from Ottawa, eastern Ontario and western Quebec.
Alta Vista and Barrhaven neighbourhoods are now being shortlisted as possible candidates for the installation of a tent-like 'sprung structure' to house asylum seekers, but a local councillor says the city can do better.
Work is underway to install 20 new photo radar cameras across the City of Ottawa, as the city continues to expand the automated speed enforcement program.
A group of residents in a Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue townhouse development say they thought they were living in a protected greenspace until bulldozers came in. Now they claim they bought something the builder couldn't deliver.
Montreal police say a youth who was arrested in connection with the killing of a 42-year-old man in the West Island last February has escaped from custody in Ontario
Two young women are in critical condition following a collision between their electric scooter and a car on Tuesday afternoon in the West Island, according to Montreal police (SPVM).
Thousands of wildfire evacuees forced from Jasper National Park into British Columbia along smoke-choked mountain roads Monday night were directed Tuesday to make a wide U-turn and head home if they needed a place to stay.
Alberta's premier says changes are needed to the province's emergency alert system after incorrect information was shared about the Jasper evacuation on Monday night.
Camping reservations in Jasper National Park have been cancelled for two weeks due to the ongoing evacuation in the area.
New Brunswick fire crews battled a fire at a Petitcodiac building on Tuesday night.
The British Columbia couple whose remains recently washed ashore on Nova Scotia's remote Sable Island have been identified as 70-year-old James Brett Clibbery and his 54-year-old wife, Sarah Packwood.
Police in Rothesay, N.B., say they are investigating the deaths of a man and woman.
A man whose charges were stayed following an investigation into an alleged child sex trafficking ring in Portage la Prairie says his life has been ruined.
The City of Winnipeg is taking a step to get condos and apartment projects going faster.
Whether you own a farm or have a backyard berry patch, the province is warning fruit growers about a tiny pest causing massive problems: the spotted wing drosophila (SWD).
Regina YMCA Childcare Centres are limiting kids' time outdoors due to the wildfire smoke.
The Government of Saskatchewan turned the sod on six new affordable housing units in Regina on Tuesday.
Patrons of the Saskatchewan Science Centre may have noticed a certain bird of prey has been missing this past year.
Noor Ayesha from Kitchener Ont., is battling a rare and aggressive form of cancer while pushing the province to fund an expensive drug, which could extend her life.
More details have been shared about the vision for the yet-to-be-named hospital.
Police are investigating after a Glen Morris, Ont. man died after reportedly drowning in the Grand River.
Multiple wildfires in Jasper National Park forced a Saskatoon couple to evacuate the park on Monday night.
Saskatchewan kids with gastrointestinal issues are getting a specialist back at the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital.
A Sudbury man has been sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of sexual assault in connection with a threesome in 2013 but doesn't have to register as a sex offender.
The director of Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit has charged a Thunder Bay Police officer with a criminal offence in connection with an incident on June 30, 2023.
A 70-year-old suspect has been charged with multiple sexual assault charges that took place while he worked for the former Algonquin Child and Family Services.
For the first time since losing their 11-year-old son, the family of Aiden Curtis of St. Thomas got a look at the man who caused his death.
Early this afternoon, a man entered a business in the area of Richmond Street and Oxford Street East, and left without paying for items that he picked up inside. He was confronted by a member of the public, who was stabbed.
It was a taste of Hollywood North in downtown London on Tuesday as a hometown boy wrapped up shooting a feature film outside Budweiser Gardens along Talbot Street.
Julia's family is holding a visitation Monday night in Ajax. They say they plan to have a celebration of life sometime next week at Sand Banks Provincial Park.
York Regional Police are investigating a fatal collision involving a pedestrian and a dump truck early Tuesday morning.
A young driver faces charges after police received reports about a vehicle slamming into the guardrail along Highway 400 Tuesday morning and driving off.
“I'm hopeful she'll be bringing us back a medal,” said Tremblay, who also coached his son David Jr. and watched him wrestle at the Olympics in England in 2012.
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit is warning the public after a drastic rise in foodborne illnesses this summer.
Windsor-Detroit Tunnel users are being warned of a circulating scam. According to officials, customers have reported receiving a text message claiming they owe money for tolls.
An out-of-control wildfire on southern Vancouver Island has grown to 50 hectares as firefighting crews continue to battle the blaze west of Victoria.
An 11-year-old girl selling handmade gemstone bracelets on her porch had most of her crafts stolen last week, according to authorities on Vancouver Island.
In less than 15 minutes, three people were stabbed in seemingly random attacks in downtown Vancouver Monday night, according to authorities.
Two people are dead after a serious crash that shut down Highway 1 near Sorrento, B.C. Saturday morning.
The number of wildfires in British Columbia has flared as more lightning storms bring the potential for further fire starts.
Standing on the edge of an open aircraft hatch, a smokejumper in a pale yellow suit steadies himself before rocking back then swinging out the door and vanishing as gravity takes over.
Lethbridge police are searching for an escaped prisoner from the Lethbridge Correctional Centre.
One of two men charged with conspiring to murder RCMP officers at the Coutts, Alta., border blockade two years ago testified Tuesday he wasn't aware that the custom-made rifle he had purchased was a prohibited weapon.
After a wetter-than-usual spring, wildfire season is starting to kick into high gear.
The director of Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit has charged a Thunder Bay Police officer with a criminal offence in connection with an incident on June 30, 2023.
Grades 7, 8 and 9 students in Sudbury are learning all about the skilled trades this week.
Home sales slumped in most major cities in northeastern Ontario last month, according to data from the Canadian Real Estate Association.
The owner of a refinery in Newfoundland has been charged with health and safety violations for a flash explosion at the plant in 2022 that killed a worker and injured seven others.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has sent investigators to Newfoundland to determine what caused a fire aboard a fishing boat that forced the crew to abandon the vessel for a life-raft, leaving them at the mercy of the waves for two days.
Labrador City residents who were ordered to evacuate last week after the reignition of a once-smouldering fire near the town were allowed to return home Monday.
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
