even after the magical run up to the last world cup, beating mexico, finishing at the top: the team was awful, finishing last in their group and looking like they didn't deserve to be there.
so watching this weird copa america that combines both CONCACAF and CONMEBOL teams has been something. a loss to argentina (everyone loses to argentina), then a scrappy win over peru and a tight, goalless draw with chile. these are not minnow nations. canada was lowest ranked in their group, and if they had finished last, then if we're being honest, that might've been the expected result.
instead, they're headed to the quarterfinals to face venezuela, mexico, or ecuador. man. this has been fun. close games that could go either way, and canada looking like they actually belong. i'm getting a glimpse of what it must feel like to be all of the people that cling tenaciously to families generations removed from the old country, all the people in this city that cheer for italy or portugal despite a lifetime north of the 49th.
what a ride. the quarterfinals should be fun.