Dario Zanatta admits he'd love to take a maple leaf out of his old Canada pals' book after watching them clinch their spot at a first World Cup in 36 years.
Zanatta was just a bit jealous of his former team mates partying with rapper Drake after Sunday’s 4-0 thrashing of Jamaica that clinched a place at the Greatest Show on Earth.
The Raith Rovers forward is preparing to face Queen of the South in Sunday’s SPFL Trust Trophy Final while the celebrations rage on in his homeland.
And while Zanatta might have been envious of the party, he was bursting with pride at John Herdman’s side topping a qualifying group that includes USA and Mexico to take their place back at the top table of international football.
But the 24-year-old hasn’t completely given up hope of one day joining his former Under-20 team mates in the full international set-up.
And he knows showcasing his talents on big occasions like Sunday’s televised encounter can only help.
He said: “It’s the first World Cup I will get to watch and support my home country.
“I played with few of the boys in that squad in the youth set-up - Dayne St Clair, Kamal Miller, Liam Millar, they were all part of the Under-20 squad when I was involved.
“They were all at the Raptors NBA game and got to see Drake so I was a bit jealous to say the least!
“But it’s a huge moment for the country.
“The women's team won gold at the Olympics and now the men qualifying for the World Cup. It just shows that Canada is becoming more of a football country than people give us credit for.
“Of course I still dream about getting a call-up to the full squad one day.
“Canada is getting better and better every year and it’s going to be a huge step up. But it’s everyone’s aspiration to get to that level.
“I’ve got six months to make it to the World Cup squad!
“Every attacker in that squad is playing in a top league in Europe right now. So I know myself I need to focus on my club football and if that goes well hopefully I get to that stage.
“Hopefully they will be checking in on the final on Sunday - then they can send the congratulations messages back to me!”
Raith are looking to defend the trophy they shared with Inverness when the competition was brought to a premature end when the covid crisis hit two years ago.
It was shelved last season too as the lower leagues got back on their feet.
But after beating Kilmarnock and Inverness en-route to this year’s final - and having knocked Aberdeen out of the League Cup earlier in the season - Rovers are heavily fancied to triumph at Airdrie on Sunday.
Zanatta said: “My goal against Aberdeen was one of my highlights of the season. But it would beat it if I could net one in the final.
“We know how important this is to the club. Raith have won it before and we were saying how it’s the most realistic chance to win a cup at this club.
“We have mentioned the fact we are holders in each round. I wasn’t at the club when they won it two years ago. The final that was meant to be played but never did because of covid.
“It would be nice for everyone to try and get their hands on the trophy this time.”
