LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Canadian coach John Herdman has warned his team of a cold shoulder after advancing to the World Cup for the first time since 1986 in an emotional victory over the United States.
"The first thing we said when we took the boys off the field was, 'It's not over, it's starting again tomorrow, we haven't arrived yet, we need more points.
"I will not let these boys go. So let's not go further."
It would take a huge fall, as well as an amazing combination of results, to deny Canadians now.
On Sunday, goals from Cyle Larin and Sam Adekugbe secured Canada a 2-0 victory that combined with the strength of Herdman's hard-fought, well-beaten team, who were happy to let go of the long wait for the counter to open. -invasion.
Herdman was also delighted with the tumultuous reception that greeted both of the team's buses outside of Tim Hortons Field ahead of the start of the games where thousands of Canadian fans had gathered.
Clouds of red smoke from the flames billowed into the air while the insulting song "Burn the White House to the End" and the song "You'll be coming to the mountain" were also heard.
'Wild mosh pit'
That was music to the ears of Herdman, Geordie and a strong supporter of Newcastle United.
Canadian fans cheered after the United States 2-0 win on Sunday put them in the final leg of the World Cup qualifier against Geoff Robins AFP.
"I've never seen anything like it," Herdman said afterwards. "That's all I wanted. I'm a strong Newcastle fan, a football fan at heart.
"And I used to turn to St. James Park and I used to love that entry, sometimes that was my favourite part of the game - the atmosphere."
Herdman, who took over the Canadian men's team in 2018 after managing the women's team, said Sunday's scenes showed that "this is the first time I've ever heard of living in a football country".
"The lights were on, it looked like Liverpool were coming to the Champions League," he said. "It was so bad in that mosh hole. The bus couldn't even pass."
Herdman says Canada's success has sparked national support, which has strengthened his squad.
"This is what we wanted - to make people happy," Herdman said.
“You know - Canadians always have to wear an Italian shirt or a Serbian shirt or a Greek shirt.
"They can put themselves down and pull on a Canadian jersey now and be proud of us as a football country. And when the boys feel like they're bustling."
Herdman said qualifying for the World Cup was understood as the team's "first team meeting" when he took office four years ago.
But Herdman emphasizes that coaching will have a long-term negative impact on Canadian football, with ice hockey still the most popular sport.
"We knew that if we won we could turn into a football world forever," said Herdman. "And that's what drives us every day.
"This is what the players always hear from me at meetings. He is bigger than us. He is bigger than us.
"We all want to get to Qatar, that's one thing, and there are plans for us to do the same.
"But I truly believe that these men know that they have a chance to leave the legacy of football in this country going forward."
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