Team Canada walking football team sees great result at World Nations Cup

By Lethbridge Herald on August 30, 2023.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Will Tietz, Bill Chapman and George Lubberts stand in front of St. GeorgeÕs Park in Derby, England where the Walking Football World Nations Cup was held.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Team Canada had a Federation of International Walking Footbal Associations’Walking Football World Nations Cup to remember in England from Aug. 23-26.

The red and white roster included Will Tietz, George Lubberts and Bill Chapman of  Lethbridge  at the inaugural event and finished with a world ranking of fourth.

Team Canada had a record of 3-2  in round robin play , finished third in their pool and earned a berth into  the quarterfinals.

Canada had a 6-0 win over South Korea, a 3-0 loss to France, a 3-1 win over Japan, blanked Spain 3-0 and lost to England 10-0 in round robin.

The red and white beat Northern Ireland 1-0 in the quarterfinals and earned themselves a semi-final date with England, who beat them 10-0 and went on to win the tournament.

Chapman scored the lone goal to get Canada to the semi-finals.

Canada played Italy to determine an overall ranking and lost 6-1 to claim the fourth overall world ranking.

Lubberts was named top  goal keeper in the over 60 division.

The sport is a form of soccer but with no running, no physical play, shots can’t go above the head and shots have be taken outside the box.