“You can feel the energy across the city”

Paul Stalteri never had the chance to play at a World Cup, but he is now experiencing one as assistant coach of the Canada national team – and on home soil, too. In an interview with WERDER.DE, the 48-year-old Canadian discusses the tournament so far, the World Cup fever gripping his home country and why going behind at this level leaves you with a mountain to climb.

WERDER.DE: Moin, Paul! You began your home World Cup with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina. How happy were you with the opening game?

Paul Stalteri: We obviously go into every game wanting to win. Unfortunately, we didn’t manage that against Bosnia and Herzegovina. We had a few chances early on that we couldn’t take, but we also knew it was going to be a tough first game. Anyone who knows them is well aware that they are very hard to break down. With the way the game played out, a point was by no means a bad result for us in this group.

WERDER.DE: You did trail for quite a long time…

Paul Stalteri: Yes, exactly. And as I said, that is very difficult against a team like Bosnia and Herzegovina. The stats generally show that falling behind is hard to recover from, especially at a World Cup. Once they had scored, Bosnia were sitting very deep, so we’re pleased we managed to find a way back into the game.

WERDER.DE: What did you take from the game?

Paul Stalteri: We didn’t play well in the first half, but our second-half performance was a lot better. It was another reminder that opening games at tournaments are never straightforward. We want to build on what we showed towards the end in our next match. It was important for us to see the team were able to show their quality and improve as the game went on. Against Qatar, we don’t just want to show that in patches – we want to show our quality over the full 90 minutes.

WERDER.DE: The fans will play a big part in that too, won’t they?

Paul Stalteri: They’re a huge boost for us. The backing we’ve had has been incredible, and it really helped us through the tougher spells in the game.

Whether inside the stadium, across Canada or around the world, all eyes are on these games.

Paul Stalteri

WERDER.DE: Even with all that support, do you feel extra pressure as a host nation?

Paul Stalteri: The pressure doesn’t come from the fans. It’s just part of it – it’s a World Cup. We’ve got several players in the squad who were at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, so they know what to expect and what is required. Others are experiencing this situation for the first time. Whether it’s inside the stadium, across Canada or around the world, all eyes are on these games. You do feel that pressure, but that’s completely normal.

WERDER.DE: What has the mood been like in Canada?

Paul Stalteri: People are really excited. We played our first group game in my hometown of Toronto and it was brilliant. The stadium was full and the atmosphere was special. You could tell that World Cup fever had really taken hold in the city. People were meeting up to watch the games and restaurants were showing the matches. A home World Cup is a once-in-a-lifetime thing for people here. You can feel the energy across the city. Now we’re heading to Vancouver, on the other side of the country. The Australia vs. Turkey game already showed what a great atmosphere Vancouver can produce. I’m looking forward to seeing what awaits us, but I’m sure the support from the stands will be fantastic again.

WERDER.DE: Let’s turn to you for a moment. You’re at the tournament as an assistant coach. What does your role involve?

Paul Stalteri: We’ve got a big coaching team, with lots of different responsibilities. We support our head coach Jesse Marsch as best we can. It’s a great group and we talk a lot about football. There’s constant dialogue within the group and, at times, some lively debate too. Overall, we’ve got a really strong staff structure in place. I’m really grateful to be part of this experience.

WERDER.DE: How does it feel for you to be involved at a home World Cup?

Paul Stalteri: It’s a great feeling to be able to give something back to my country, having played so many games for Canada. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to play at a World Cup. Now I’m at least getting to experience it from the touchline. These are moments that will stay with you forever.

WERDER.DE: Let’s finish with a quick look at the group. Were you surprised by Switzerland’s draw against Qatar? All four teams are level on one point after the first round of games.

Paul Stalteri: I think everyone would have had Switzerland down as favourites before the game. They controlled the game too, but failed to add a second goal. Everyone knows that 1-0 can be a tricky scoreline in football. Qatar are difficult to play against because they’re tough tacklers. That game already showed how hard it is to win matches at this level, and the tournament so far has made that very clear. A World Cup is unpredictable. Our game against Qatar won’t be easy either, but we want to win it.

WERDER.DE: We’ll be keeping our fingers crossed for you. Thanks very much, Paul!