Canada's soccer team gets their talisman (and their mojo) back

Well, that's weird. Canada's men's soccer team, under relatively new coach John Herdman, carries a ceremonial sword to all its games.

This seems to have been kept a close secret until very recently (and you can see why!) But the secret came out when the sword was impounded at customs entering Costa Rica for the World Cup qualifying game against that country last Thursday, under "regulations that govern the type of weapons that can enter our country". And, guess what, that was the only game that Canada has lost in its last 18 appearances, and its first loss in its World Cup qualifying campaign. So, clearly the sword works!

A picture of the sword in its red velvet-lined case was released by Costa Rica's Finance Ministry, looking for all the world like a prop from a historical movie. It is engraved with the Latin motto "Nihil timendum est" ("Fear Nothing") Herdman takes it to every game that the Canadian team plays, and says it represents "New Canada" and their intention to own the game.

Hmm. If it wasn't working, I would now be very derisive. Problem is, it works. With the sword back in place on Sunday, Canada beat Jamaica 4-0 and completed its campaign to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 36 years. All for one, and one for all!