World Cup 2022: Canada boss John Herdman says he will be pinching himself in Qatar

John Herdman admits that he will have to pinch himself when he sends his Canada side out to face Belgium in the World Cup finals.

Taking on the team ranked second in the world, which includes the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku, is a tough task, even when your own squad includes Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David, two of the top young talents in Europe.

Consider the background of the man.

A 47-year-old from the north-east steelmaking town of Consett, who only got into coaching when he took charge of a local under-11 team as part of his Duke of Edinburgh award, moved to New Zealand in his 20s.

Canada's Group F opener will be at the 44,000-capacity Al-Rayyan Stadium.

When he took charge of the women's national side in New Zealand, he started to build his reputation. After leading the women's team to two bronze medals at the Olympics, he switched to the men's team and secured Canada's second World Cup appearance.

He accepts that his journey is unconventional. He doesn't think it's exclusive to him.

He said that everyone is affected by this at some point.

I thought I would be at a training session with the greatest of all time in her craft, Christine Sinclair, and how was I going to do it?

I was listening to a Hugh Jackman talk. I thought I could do it as well. I'm sure I'll feel the same when De Bruyne walks by.

If you are willing to admit that, you will work harder to fill the gaps.

On the field, Canada's progress was better than off it.

A dispute in June over payments forced a friendly with Panama to be scrapped at short notice and while matches have taken place since, the relationship between the team and Canada Soccer remains uneasy.

The focus should not be taken away from the squad.

His switch from the women's team to the men's team was unpopular in Canada. It was bold to say that his team would qualify for the tournament.

He told them to commit the mind to go all in. The women's team would podium with us. No one had said "we're going to qualify" before with the men. One of the senior guys said, "You put a rope around your neck." That was a good response from me. The players will believe if I commit the mind.

It wasn't until matchday eight that it became apparent that Canada had a chance of making the World Cup for the first time in 26 years.

When the temperature was -9C and snow had to be cleared from the pitch, Canada beat Mexico in a game dubbed "Iceteca" in front of 44,000 people. They won against El Tri for the first time in 36 years and went to the top of the group.

The red carpet would be rolled out for teams if they qualified.

It's our land. We can change the mindset. We go into the Azteca with the heat when we go to Mexico. It was on a plastic pitch when Mexico came here. The phrase "getting Concacaf-ed" is used. We went to Mexico for the first time.

Canada knows they shouldn't be a one-off, so they have a comfort blanket. The USA and Mexico are expected to be awarded a place in the tournament by the world governing body.

They failed to score a goal or get a point in 1986.

Davies had a heart issue that kept him out for three months at the beginning of the year, but he is back to normal now.

Davies is the epitome of a football player. The 22-year-old arrived as a refugee in 2005 and is thought to be a major influence on the development of the game.

He's been the game-changing. The new Canada is symbolised by him.

Many people in Canada can't find an outlet so Alphonso has become the portal for them to express themselves.

He is a talent that is generations old. He's unique.

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