‘I’m a bit conflicted’: London-area Croatian community celebrates win, but sad Canada eliminated
CTV
Dozens of soccer fans packed the Croatian-Canadian Centre in south London, Ont. knowing that no matter the result on the pitch, it was really going to be a win.
Dozens of soccer fans packed the Croatian-Canadian Centre in south London, Ont. knowing that no matter the result on the pitch, it was really going to be a win.
Though their fans were stunned when Canada scored in the second minute of the game, they were elated the rest of the match as Croatia would go on to win 4-1, eliminating the Reds from advancing in the World Cup.
“I am conflicted personally,” says Stephen Sasar, president of the Croatian club.
“My roots are Croatian, but I was born in Canada. So I'm a little torn.”
Sasar, who was actually cheering for Croatia, just wished his two favourite teams could have been in different groups.
At the BMO Centre, there were so many fans watching the biggest game in Canadian Men’s Soccer history, they needed three rooms to house them all.
After the opening goal by Alphonso Davies (Canada’s first ever at the World Cup) there wasn’t much for the fans or kids in attendance to cheer about.
