Canada's win a chance to live in the moment On a day that offered us all chilling reminders of how precious life can be, Canada's victory over Honduras in Vancouver was a chance to live in the moment. TSN's Kristian Jack has more on a big day for the national program.

Kristian Jack TSN Soccer Analyst Follow|Archive

It was Sir Winston Churchill who once reminded the world during difficult times, “It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link of the chain of destiny can be handled at a time.”

The events of Friday November 13 in Paris offered us all chilling reminders of how precious life can be. Hugging family members a little closer and living life for the now became priorities rather than goals. At such times it can often feel wrong to watch the world continue without stopping to reflect on tragedy but sports rarely go silent and just as a football match continued metres away from explosions in Paris so too did they carry on around the world as many countries began serious preparations to be in Russia for the 2018 World Cup.

As Friday night turned into Saturday morning in France, Canada began their newest campaign against Honduras in Vancouver. As the opening whistle sounded it was 944 days until the start of the next World Cup, a tournament many, many miles away from Canada’s expectations and one they won’t be involved in.

Yet, as Sir Winston said, that wasn’t really relevant on this day.

The real world can often offer great reminders and wisdom to the sporting world and it would be foolish to look at the current state of Canada’s men’s team and wonder if they can make the World Cup. There are those who will make the 32-team tournament who will talk about how they treasured such a journey to get there but they aren’t the only ones allowed to discuss the value of such an adventure.

Ranked 102 in the world and placed in a competitive group with Mexico, Honduras – two teams who represented the region at Brazil 2014 - and El Salvador this is very likely as good as it is going to get for Canada and that should be relished not resented.

The four teams will contest a mini league over the next 11 months and for Canada and their fans this is their World Cup. It’s a tough challenge and one that too often in the past has brought a premature end to their qualification process but when you are ranked as low as Canada you get few favours. A glance around the globe, though, shows signs of fortune for Benito Floro’s side that they are given such a platform. Controversially in Africa many teams at Canada’s level now face competitive two legged knock-out legs at this stage as a way of getting the top teams through to group play. Malawi, for example, ranked 30th in Africa and above Canada in the FIFA World Rankings at 97 are already out of World Cup qualifications.

Instead Canada gets six matches of real importance to try and reach the last six in the region, a mark that in all honesty has seen to be way beyond them in recent years having failed to score any goals in the last two Gold Cup tournaments.

No excuses are necessary for such failures but the Gold Cup has fallen into the trap many international tournaments across all sports are now dropping deep into. It simply happens too much and has lost its value in the eyes of consumers.

In 2015 there has never been so much sport for spectators to enjoy and that means the time has come for the fan to ask the question.

The answer terrifies most sporting bodies and event promoters but more and more fans worldwide want to know its answer.

Why and how does it matter?

When it comes to international sports like soccer, rugby and cricket, for example, World Cups carry incredible weight. The two words 'World Cup' put together on any sport will make people flock to watch.

Soccer in Canada is no different as we witnessed this very summer with the Women’s World Cup. It is also why last year more people were at BMO Field in Toronto to watch the women in the U20s side represent Canada than attend a senior men’s international ‘friendly’ against Jamaica.

Fill the calendar with value is a mandate more and more sporting bodies are looking to live by.

For the Canadian men's national side that means the next 11 months are the most important in any four-year term. This gives the players a stage to try and take the team beyond realistic expectations but it gives fans and media the best chance to judge their progress and qualities on an individual and collective level.

The 1-0 win over Honduras on Friday evening was a terrific start full of crucial pieces of evidence that point towards progress. Atiba Hutchinson, called ‘the best player Canada has ever produced’ by TSN’s Nick Dasovic pre-game, was magnificent throughout gliding across the pitch and dominating the match whether his side was with or without the ball. His turn and spin out of danger after seven minutes is something we aren’t used to seeing from Canadian players and his sublime left foot pass into the path of Julian De Guzman help set up the best of the early chances. The 32-year-old never gets the attention he deserves in this country no matter where he is playing in Europe and maybe a move to the Premier League or MLS in the near future will see more people writing and talking about a true Canadian star. Games like this certainly do.

The unpredictable Junior Hoilett, who for too long was undecided who to represent at the international level, showed he can make a difference at this level and his ability to break away quickly, tease defenders with both feet and cross a dangerous ball helped set up the game’s only goal, nodded in by Will Johnson via Cyle Larin’s back.

It could prove to be a monumental goal. Four years ago Canada played Honduras at home and allowed them to sleepwalk their way to a scoreless draw early in qualification. The 8-1 away demolition will always be used as a reference point for failure but if Canada had won that game at home, like they should, the loss in the sixth and final game of the group wouldn’t have mattered.

Three points are important, even vital, for those wanting to map out how Canada can get to the World Cup but as a nation we shouldn’t simply move on content with what this does in the standings. This was a night for the now to see Canada host a big game and come through it successfully defeating a team that was at the World Cup last summer.

These nights are all too rare in this sport in this country it would be a pity if people see it as only successful because of what might follow. The window of opportunity, already so narrow and small, has widened because of it, yes, and meaningful games in October 2016 should now follow but it would be wise if this victory allows for the campaign to be sampled with more realism going forward no matter the end result.