EDMONTON — John Herdman saw and took the opportunity for another teaching moment. Canada was in the early stages of a difficult, protracted fight against Costa Rica, in front of more than 48,000 fans, the third-largest home crowd in the history of the men's national soccer team. There was a nervy crackle in the cold evening air. Even the stadium announcer was feeling the pressure. Before the game, he'd accidentally introduced local hero Alphonso Davies twice.
Canada had been awarded a free kick — not an especially dangerous one, but in such a tight game, every sliver of time and space was a possible opportunity against a team that wasn't offering many.