The lesson, not the score, will ultimately determine the result of Canada's World Cup qualifier in Costa Rica

Dreams have a cost. Climbing higher than you've ever reached means you are one misstep away from your worst fall. If you are close to achieving meaningful things, then whatever you do matters more than it once did. Greatness amplifies everything around it, including your mistakes.

On Thursday night in San José, Canada's men came agonizingly close to turning their wildest wish into reality — qualifying for their first World Cup since 1986. A win or a tie would have seen them through. Instead, they fell 1-0 to Costa Rica. After 17 consecutive CONCACAF qualifiers without a loss, they finally tasted defeat.

Now we will see what they take from it.

"There's a group of warriors there who will pick themselves up," head coach John Herdman said after. "They've just had a punch in the ribs, and I think the response will be strong."

Given the night's results from other games in the group, Canada remains a virtual lock to qualify for Qatar, needing just a single point from its two remaining games to earn an automatic berth. (If fourth-place Costa Rica fails to win both of its matches, that would also get the job done.)

WATCH | Short-handed Canadian squad drops 1st qualifier to Costa Rica:

The first of those games comes on Sunday, when Canada will host Jamaica, already eliminated from contention, before a sold-out crowd at BMO Field in Toronto. Nobody on this team doubts that victory will come, or that an incredible celebration will follow.

"It's in the stars to do this at home," Herdman said. "Get ready Canada, because we're coming."

Goalkeeper Milan Borjan echoed the sentiment, essentially guaranteeing a win. "We're going to get it done at home. We'll give just everything … I know we will, because I believe in these guys. It's meant