On Sunday, Canada secured a thrilling 1-0 victory over South Africa in the Round of 32, making history by advancing to the next round of the FIFA World Cup for the first time.
Stephen Eustaquio emerged as the hero, scoring the decisive goal in stoppage time. His emotional response reflected the significance of the win for his loved ones and fellow Canadians. He expressed, “Everything I do is for my family, my parents, for my girlfriend, for my daughter, for my brother, for my friends back home. For all of them.”
Eustaquio attributed the victory to the team’s relentless belief and effort. “We worked a lot to get this victory. We wanted to give this win to all the Canadians, and we just kept believing,” he told Fox Sports.
His game-winning goal received praise, with Eustaquio describing it as amazing, emphasizing the power he put into it.
In the aftermath of the win, Eustaquio maintained a calm demeanor. He acknowledged South Africa’s challenging moments but highlighted Canada’s strengths in set pieces and transitions. “We performed well. There were a couple of moments that South Africa had the ball, they were creating us a lot of problems, but…we never stopped believing,” he remarked.
Eustaquio also emphasized the importance of giving everything when shooting, telling his teammates to approach it with life-or-death determination.
Looking ahead to the Round of 16, the team remains composed. Eustaquio noted the upcoming challenge against either Morocco or the Netherlands, expressing confidence in Canada’s ability to present a formidable challenge.
Morocco and the Netherlands are competing for their place in the Round of 16, with Morocco slightly favored. Their match is set for Monday at 9 p.m. ET.