Footballer fights back tears in World Cup interview after losing his parents

Stephen Eustaquio was overcome with emotion after netting the goal that secured Canada's progression to the World Cup's last-16. Eustaquio's stoppage-time effort clinched a 1-0 triumph over South Africa for the co-hosts and arranged a last-16 encounter with either Morocco or the Netherlands in Houston on July 4.

In a match that had been short on genuine quality, the 29-year-old fired home from outside the area in the second minute of stoppage time at the Los Angeles Stadium. It was a landmark moment for the midfielder who was born in the Canadian capital to Portuguese parents before moving to their homeland aged seven.

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And in his post-match interview, Eustaquio became visibly tearful as he paid tribute to his parents, after losing his mum in 2023 to brain cancer, with his dad passing away a year later from a heart attack.

"Everything I do is for my family, for my parents, for my girlfriend, for my daughter," a visibly moved Eustaquio said. "For my friends back home. For everyone."

Looking back on the victory, the midfielder said: "I think we worked a lot to get this victory. We really wanted to give this win to all of the Canadians. We just kept believing, kept pushing and I couldn't have imagined it any other way.

"I think it was an amazing goal but when I shot, I felt everyone shot with me. They put a little bit of power on it and it went into the back of the net. So I am very happy."

He then spoke of his side's unwavering belief: "It started when we came out of the group stage. I think when it comes to the knockouts of the World Cup, the belief brings a big part to it. Now, we're going to get Morocco or the Netherlands and who knows, on a good day we can make things happen. Probably the quality is not going to be there, but if we keep believing and keep working, things might go our way."

Meanwhile, Canada head coach Jesse Marsch commented: "We knew the game would get a little wild sometimes because they like to play in open spaces and sometimes, in transition, they can be very difficult to deal with.

"We tried to make sure that we kept our structure and we tried to say we keep ramping up the level of the game and come from the bench and get stronger and see if we could punish them at some point. We had chances in the whole game, but we weren't lethal enough.

"Then it fell to Steph and I'm just hoping he puts it on frame and gives us a chance. He buries it. I can't help but think of all the hard work from these guys. The character. They are Canadian heroes, that's what I told them at the end. They are now Canadian heroes. I am so happy for them."