Liam Millar on not letting home World Cup affect his Hull City form, and learning 'American arrogance'
Hull City’s Liam Millar is preparing for his second World Cup happy this one has not affected his club form like his first did.
The Canadian made one substitute appearance, in the 81st-minute of their opening game against Belgium, at the 2022 World Cup.
Qatar was a big deal for Canada, whose only previous tournament was in 1986, but this summer is on an entirely different level for them.
In 2018, three months after Millar’s full international debut, it was announced Canada would co-host in 2026 alongside the United States of America and Mexico. For any young professional footballers in those countries, it was a huge incentive, the moreso in Canada as the only first-time hosts.
Millar is a much better player than the 22-year-old briefly seen in Qatar, and confident Canada are a much better team than the side who lost all three matches there, thanks partly to some good old-fashioned American arrogance.
Importantly for Hull, he believes experience has taught him to be a better club player this time around.
Where he felt knowing a World Cup was on the horizon hampered him as a young Basel player, this time it has been a crucial inspiration.
This World Cup could easily not have happened for Millar after rupturing anterior cruciate ligaments in October 2024. But this season he has re-established himself at Hull and is in Jesse Marsch's squad for friendlies against Iceland on Saturday, and Tunisia in the early hours of Wednesday, UK time.
"It was one of the driving factors for me to get back – to be able to be fit for the summer," admits Millar. "It was always in my mind, but I try my best to keep at the back of my mind.
"Prior to the last World Cup it was really in my mind, playing in the World Cup for Canada, because it was our first time in 36 years.
"I felt like my (Basel) performance dropped quite a bit.
"This season, all I've been really trying to focus on is just game by game, do the best that I can in every game, because I know that if I play well and I stay fit, hopefully I'll be there.
"My full focus has been Hull, just trying to be the best version of myself every day and play as best I possibly can. Whatever happens in the summer happens, and we'll go from there."
Canada are in a group with Qatar, Switzerland and the winners of Tuesday's play-off between Italy and Bosnia Herzegovina. Their group games are in Toronto and Vancouver, although they will have to win the group to avoid playing their knockout matches in the USA.
Former Leeds United manager Marsch, Canada’s first American head coach, led them to the semi-finals of his first major tournament, the 2024 Copa America, only to be beaten by world champions Argentina.
Hopes are therefore high that they can have a good World Cup this summer.
"I think the biggest thing for us is just self-belief," says Millar. "It's a very stereotypical Canadian things that we're all too nice.
"Jesse has told us that he wants us to have a little bit more of American arrogance – his words, not mine.
"I feel like that's something that we're starting to get a little bit better at. We're starting to believe in ourselves more. We're starting to understand that we are a good team, that we do have a good chance.
"We do have much more self-belief than I feel like we had at the last World Cup, for sure."
Barnsley goalkeeper Owen Goodman is also in the squad, having played youth football for England and The Canucks.