WMFC 2024
28th Annual Championships
24 teams

 

Day #1 of the #wmfc2024 in 🇦🇺

Canada’s 11 v 11 Medical Football Team faced a familiar foe in 🇲🇽 . Last year in Vienna they played in an entertaining game #1 which saw 🇨🇦 win 3-2

This year there are many new faces on Canada’s team which means possible challenges when it comes to gelling as a team during a short 6 games in 7 days.

 The team started well controlling much of the first 30 mins. 🇨🇦 created a number of good sequences of play with linkages down the left especially and some good work by newcomer Jag, holding the ball up as a striker. It was from one of these shielding & protecting the ball that Jag was pulled down in the box resulting in a penalty kick for 🇨🇦 . Tony Valente did a solid job of putting the ball low and to the goalie’s right to secure a 1-0 🇨🇦 lead. Despite Canada’s dominance Mexico tied it 1-1 a short while later on an innocent play where one of Canada’s Centre backs made an uncharacteristic play when he had too much time and instead of playing it back to his keeper elected to try and play it to his left full back, resulting in a scuffed pass and the 🇲🇽 winger getting into the box. The Canadian keeper did a good job forcing him wide to his right yet surprisingly from a very sharp angle he managed to find space to put the ball home.

1-1 at halftime

Second half was a much more even game. 🇨🇦 was forcing the game a lot more than they needed to which meant giving 🇲🇽 back possession far too easily. Despite this one of the Mexican defenders was overly aggressive when a Canadian player looked to have a break away and took him down from behind. Foul by the last man…automatic red card and with 15-20 mins left, Mexico was now down to 10 men.  🇨🇦 unfortunately played worse with the one man advantage, forcing plays and hitting long balls when the desire of their coach was to possess the ball and make Mexico chase the game. 🇲🇽 proceeded to waste time whenever they could as these games don’t have injury time added. With a few minutes left the ref gave 🇨🇦 player, Kamal, a harsh red card and the teams were now each playing with 10 men.  The game ended 1-1.

🇨🇦 is back at it tomorrow vs 🇮🇪

Will be a tough test!

 

 

Game #2 vs defending champion 🇮🇪

🇨🇦 started well with a good defensive game plan to deal with some of Ireland’s multiple threats. They also created some great sequences of their own play going forward. Sustaining the quality and doing something with the possession is always the challenge in ⚽️, and it’s what leads to wins. 🇨🇦’s back line and keeper, Jeff, did a good job 95% of the game vs some young talented forwards. Approx 30 mins in 🇮🇪 put a ball down the left side & into the top of the 🇨🇦 box. Jeff came out while two 🇨🇦 defenders converged on the ☘️ winger. He did well to one time the ball past the charging 🇨🇦 keeper & just inside the right post to give 🇮🇪 a 1-0 lead. Late in the first half they made it 2-0 on a controversial goal off a corner when 🇨🇦 cleared the ball off the line & the linesman 30y away called it a goal!

🇨🇦 continued their strong play in the second half with Jeff owning his 18yd box and snuffing out any threats 🇮🇪 mounted. Tony came a crossbar away from making it 2-1 when he struck a great free kick from just outside the 18.

Despite the great team effort, goals are hard to come by and 🇨🇦 suffered a 2-0 defeat to a good Irish side. On a personal note, I unfortunately injured my right hamstring in the first half & will hope to make it back before the end of the week 😔

Mexico defeated Korea 3-1 so 🇨🇦 needs a big win over Korea on day 3 to advance in the top seeds for the 2nd half of the tournament. #wmfc2024 #doctorsworldcup #footy #canada #australia

 

 

Game day #3

🇨🇦 vs 🇰🇷  Korea’s only keeper took a red card in their second game so couldn’t play today. Canada knew they needed to score at least 3 but maybe more depending on the outcome of 🇲🇽 vs 🇮🇪 that was being played simultaneously. Lots of shots was the game plan. What wasn’t part of the plan was Korea’s best player scoring a cracker of a goal from a free kick at the top left of Canada’s box. Down 0-1 early. 🇨🇦 responded when 5 mins later Kaveh got the ball into Jag in the box who turned and while being brought down fired home right side to make it 1-1. It didn’t seem like long before the ball got back to Jag’s feet within the 18 and he duplicated the feat with another similar shot to the right side to make it 2-1. Despite only 2 subs the Koreans had a lot of fight. They had youth and speed and challenged 🇨🇦 with it repeatedly. 🇨🇦 back line did a better job at dealing with the challenge as the game progressed. Before the end of the half 🇨🇦 made it 3-1 on a well taken Tony PK. 🇮🇪 & 🇲🇽 we’re tied 1-1 so 🇨🇦 needed at least one more goal. 🇮🇪 also needed to win. 🇨🇦 continued to win the battles in the 2nd half which resulted in one of 🇨🇦 players being taken down in the box. Geoff confidently stepped up & scored, smashing the PK bar down! 4-1 Canada!

Roman made some big saves when he needed to vs a pesky Korean side. Unfortunately a 1-1 tie suited both 🇮🇪 & 🇲🇽 as they finished 1st & 2nd in the group respectively. Out of 4 groups Canada had the most points for a 3rd place team but just missed out at going into the top 8 playoff and will play for 9 thru 12. Well earned day off for all teams with next game on Thursday. Hamstring is feeling improved 🤞🏼 #wmfc2024 #footy #docsworldcup #australia

 

 

A lot to unpack from game day #4

Insta prob won’t allow me enough words!

🇨🇦 vs 🇨🇷

To start, our hosts randomly decided to use a random generator to determine our first opponents in the 2nd half of the tourney rather than the traditional (we were 9th and should play 16th). 🤦🏼‍♂️

No biggie, we will deal with it…

Next challenge was the use of some trainee lines persons (14-16yrs old) during games. Not fair to the trainees and not fair to us travelling from across the world to have referees just learning their trade. Unfortunately has had major impacts to the results of games including this one! To start 🇨🇷 scores a goal from a player clearly offside. The young lines person freezes and looks confused as what to do, and the ref looks and sees no call so chooses not to make the call himself. 0-1 🇨🇷

🇨🇦 answers back when Ted directs the tying goal in with his knee off a corner. 1-1

Canada controlled the game for the most part & was very aware of the several players the opponents had that were threats. In the 2nd half Tony takes a great free kick from just outside the 18 making the 🇨🇷 keeper dive to his left. He makes the save but the rebound is there for Jag to pounce on and put home! Wait! The young inexperienced lines person calls it offside despite the Canadian player lining up on the 18 with everyone else. No goal keeps it 1-1

It ends that way but with it being a playoff game we need a result so it goes to PK’s

Canada starts strong finishing their first two kicks. Costa Rica misses one. But then Canada has theirs saved. It ends up both miss one and at the end of 5 we are tied. In extra kicks they score, we don’t and Costa Rica takes it in penalties. A bitter pill to swallow the way everything played out. Day 5 will see Canada take on Korea…again.

 

Rematch with our friends from 🇰🇷

Before I get to this match I want to make sure my last post for day #4 was not seen as being a poor sport regarding refereeing decisions. We have to win on the field regardless of what a referee does or doesn’t do…it was more frustration that at a tourney of this magnitude with teams coming long distances and sacrificing personal time and $ we have expectations for a level of quality …that includes the pitches, the organization/logistics, and yes the refereeing. Aus dropped the ball on this one but more so the lack of communication beforehand and since is what has caused much frustration. Having said that, we moved on to game day 5 and the attrition you are up against in this tourney. We knew Korea was struggling to have 13 healthy bodies. They are a much younger team which has allowed them to survive with such a small bench here in 🇦🇺

We have to give them credit though they kept coming at us this game recognizing their best chance was long balls down the wings and diagonally into the box. 🇨🇦 focused on trying to keep possession and have Korea chase the game. A free kick from 20yds out early on was sent in by Tony with a nice deflection up and over the diving Korean keeper! 1-0 🇨🇦 settled the Canadians early. When the back line wasn’t cleaning things up, Jeff (in 1st half) and Roman (in the second) were controlling their box. Midway through the 2nd half another free kick for 🇨🇦 and the keeper made the save diving to his left. This time Alistair was there for the rebound putting 🇨🇦 ahead 2-0. The young lines person got it right this time by not calling it offside. On a personal note I got on the field for 10 mins despite my hamstring injury. Nice to give some guys a rest & contribute in a small way.

Final game #6 on the way vs our hosts, Aussie Docatoos. Their top team is playing in the final vs England.

 

 

Well that’s a wrap! Day #6 has come & gone. The closing ceremonies have been held & goodbyes have been said…🇨🇦 played 🇦🇺 Docatoos (Aus 2) in their final match. Shaun, our stellar physio, had run out of tensors & tape from his attempts to hold 🇨🇦 ‘s players together & allow them to stay on the field. He did a great job getting me back from a hamstring injury within 5 days, culminating in being able to play 25 mins in the final game, albeit in a very diff role. It was great to be able to contribute on the field again even in a much reduced way. Our sense was the Aussies were expecting to have an easy game against us. 🇨🇦 was motivated to get their 3rd win of the tourney which would be the most ever at this event. Despite a lot of playing time this week the spine of 🇨🇦 team (back line and central midfield) has been mainly injury free (other than me) and they continued to play well vs 🇦🇺

Canada had most of the good chances in the first half incl Alistair on a short break that he prob had too much time as he struck the ball wide. Again, anything 🇦🇺 created was off long balls over the top. 🇨🇦’s keepers & their back line continued to be efficient with very few good opportunities given up. 🇨🇦 failed to score on several more point blank shots in the box before the end of the half. The hope was that the early misses wouldn’t  haunt them. Roman, 🇨🇦’s keeper, pointed out the  🇦🇺 keepers hands weren’t great & the 18 yd box he’d have in the 2nd half was pretty slippery. This observation led to 🇨🇦 scoring first when half way through the 2nd half a good shot resulted in the Aussie keeper making the save but not able to contain the rebound. Jag was first to it & put it home from inside the six. His 3rd goal of the tournament! 🇨🇦 had a few more chances where shots went high over the net and the Aussies pressed as we knew they would. It became a battle of wills & what little reserves each team had over the final ten minutes. 🇨🇦 held strong for the 1-0 historic victory! A lot of new faces this year but the team bonded early & battled hard together. Definitely a week to be proud of & to build upon leading into #wmfc2025 in 🇮🇪 (Dublin)

 

 

Excited to be heading home soon, but wanted to leave you with a few more pics of Brisbane and area. I also wanted to highlight the two other Canadian Medical Football Teams that competed in this years World Championships. They tell their own stories via their social media channels during the competition but for my followers some of you may not be aware of these two other outstanding teams! The men’s Vogel team (Over 45 7v7 competition) had another successful tournament on & off the pitch. They finished 4-1-1, though their finish was not as high as last years 5th place. They are a great group of Docs that represent 🇨🇦 well in all aspects…pitch, medical presentations and good people! This brings me to the incredible story of our first ever Women’s team competing in the first ever Women’s World Medical Football Championship. There were 6 countries represented by 7 teams and 🇨🇦 was a trailblazer. They went undefeated through their first 6 games with a record of 5 wins and 1 tie. They beat the host Australia 6-2 in the round robin game. They played the same Aussies in the gold medal final and were up against it with their top goal scorer suffering an Achilles injury the game prior. The Canadians battled hard but fell 2-0 to the Aussies. We are super proud (as they should be) of their performance in this inaugural event and excited for the growth of the women’s competition in the years to come! I’ve enjoyed my brief visit to the Sunshine Coast of 🇦🇺 and look forward to making it back to this amazing country.

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