By KURTIS W. LARSON
Last month the CSA released a list of friendly dates in preparation for the 2014 round of qualification. Head coach Stephen Hart stated his goal to field a competitive side in 2012 to improve on Canada's shocking performance in the 2008 semifinal qualification round as Canada finished with two points behind Mexico, Honduras and Jamaica, including a -7 GD.
The CSA appears to be heading in the right direction with an opportunity to bring in a host of players with limited national team experience. The team travels to South America later this month with a game against footballing giants Argentina, before returning home to host two matches in Sept.
Here is a rundown of the matches:
May 24 – vs. Argentina (Buenos Aires)
May 29 – vs. Venezuela (Merida)
Sept. 4 – vs. TBA (Rumored to be Iran or Ecuador) (in Toronto)
Sept. 7 – vs. Honduras (Montreal)
Oct. 8 – vs. Ukraine (TBA)
The CSA announced Canada's match in Buenos Aires will be televised and they hope to do the same in Venezuela. The game will muster up interest in Canada as Argentina will undoubtedly play the likes of Lionel Messi, Javier Mascherano and Juan Sebastian Veron in preparation for SA. But who will Canada bring? Will they bring a side of mostly European prospects and young guys or a side of significantly capped veterans including Paul Stalteri (79caps), Atiba Hutchinson (47) and Kevin McKenna (46)?
More than likely Canada will suit a mix of youth and experience and use the game as a marker to see who can compete against the world's most talented as it seems the CSA is taking things seriously in trying to get back to the World Cup for the first time since 1986. With teams like Honduras and El Salvador improving immensely over the past two CONCACAF cycles, a daunting task awaits. It’s a task that's attainable if Canada can secure its young, overseas prospects and give them time to gel with a solid mix of more experienced players. Argentina 4 - Canada 0
CANADIAN CLUB TEAM UPDATES
Nutrilite Canadian Championship – Montreal couldn't hold an early lead letting the home side Vancouver Whitecaps come back in dramatic fashion on an 81st minute penalty. Montreal was unbeaten in five games against the 'Caps dating back to last season and needed a result following a 2-0 dismantling by TFC last week. Peter Byers put the visitors on top in the 31st minute after receiving a cutting through ball and placing it to the far side of the net.
Montreal controlled large portions of the first half and seemed the better side heading into the break. Entering the 80th minute of the match the referee ruled that Adam Braz had taken down Vancouver forward Marcus Haber in the box. Braz received his second booking of the game and was sent off. Haber stepped up to the spot and slotted it past Impact keeper Matt Jordan to level things at 1-1.
There will be all to play for next week when TFC visits Montreal for third game of the tournament. A win for TFC and they will take a stranglehold on the Canadian Championship. A win for Montreal and they will overtake Toronto in the standings. By salvaging a point Vancouver find themselves very much in it after playing less games then both TFC and Montreal.
Vancouver – Home to Crystal Palace Baltimore. Vancouver is first Place in the NASL Conference on 7 points from 4 games played.
Montreal – Back at Saputo for a home date with NSC Minnesota. Montreal tied for 2nd with 4 points from 3 games played. Discipline remains and issue for Montreal as there is no news from the Impact camp on when Panamanian Roberto Brown will come out of a team-issued suspension. Adam Braz will now miss next week's crucial Canadian Championship vs. TFC.
Toronto FC – Toronto will attempt to keep an unblemished home record against Chicago. Three massive points are on the line as the Fire look to cement themselves behind first place New York while Toronto hopes to keep pace in early-season playoff positioning. Toronto FC 1 – Chicago 2
CANUCKS ABROAD
David Hoilett (Blackburn) – The Good: Hoilett is back with parent club Blackburn after a loan to the German second division because of a work permit dispute. Featuring over the weekend as a second-half sub in a 2-1 win vs. Arsenal, the Canadian teen's opening touch saw him lace a shot that seemed destined for goal but was palmed over. The Bad: Hoilett's work permit dispute was because of a lack of Canadian national team caps. Now that he has been granted a permit, the teen may elect to play for Jamaica.
Simeon Jackson (Gillingham FC) – In League One action Canadian forward Simeon Jackson returned to the starting lineup helping bring Gillingham out of the relegation zone. Jackson had a towering header glance off the woodwork in the 50th minute that would have put the game out of reach. Jackson has 17 goals in all competition to lead Gillingham.
What do you think of the friendlies Canada has lined up? Will there be any surprises in this year’s Nutrilite Canadian Championship? Share your thoughts below.
Ives, what is this crap? The 6th best team in CONCACAF doesn’t deserve space on your blog.
Are you going to do a Trinidad and Tobago Corner next? Because unlike Canada, they actually made the Hexagonal.
(SBI-Mark (and everyone), in case you hadn’t noticed there will soon be three Canadian teams in MLS AND in case you forgot Canada was in easily the toughest qualifying group in the second round of World Cup qualifying (with Mexico, Honduras and Jamaica), so saying there’s no point to having some coverage of Canadian soccer is laughable.
Not interested in Canadian soccer? Then don’t read the post. I’m sure there are enough people who actually care to be educated about things outside the American game.)
And it happens all the time. Like the horrible offside call on the tying goal in injury time vs. the US a few years ago.
Canada……. I got love for you.
Canadian Bacon is still one of my all time favorite movies!
I really want to see Canada improve in soccer. If Canada became the third best team in Concacaf a good rivalry could brew between US and Canada and with Mexico and Canada,
Where’s the love?
Well technically Canada is part of the American continent, making them American.
I hope the Canadians make the 2014 world cup. I look for Fifa to give the Concacaf region at least 4 bids for that Cup maybe 4.5, after the US, Mexico and the Honduras make a great showing this year 🙂
click on my name for a office pool bracket calculator for 2010 world cup
An off year Gold Cup.
Yeah, Canada blows. I hope MLS’s money doesn’t lead to Canada threatening the already dying competitive quality of CONCACAF. If Mexico and the USA have become automatic then you want at least one spot for Jamaica, Panama, Honduras, Ticos, T&T, &c. There a long long long way right now, but $$$ makes a big difference.
Canada sucks
It does kind of bother me to go to a Utah Jazz game and see the Canadian flag flying high and proud in the building. Random note, I love the us and Canadian flags on the MLS sleeves. Its a nice touch.
Great news for CONCACAF fans.
Hopefully, this is one of many steps in the right direction to come, for a country that has some really good talent, just lacking the overall structure & resources.
Going towards 2014, it looks like it’s going to be extremely competitive in qualifying.
We (USA) and Mexico would do well in expecting some challenges along the road, towards 2014 Brazil.
Since when does Canada have a national soccer team? This is clearly news to me.
LOL! I love the Canuckistan name. My boss is Canadian. I always give him hell over it. I call it Canadia, that place where Canadians come to take all of our entertainment jobs. Think I am lying. I swear half of Hollywood is Canadian.
Having said that, I really like that you have a Canadian Corner. You have really stepped it up recently in the amount of coverage you offer with many new writers contributing. Kudos.
Hey Ives – I guess it should read, “SOCCER BY IVES – The World of Soccer with a North American Voice”
That’s what I was thinking. Just off the top of my head isn’t Bradley’s teammate at Gladbach, Rob Friend, a Canadian?
I like the Canada coverage, Ives. It would be nice though to have a button on the site for these articles that would automatically change each occurrence of the word ‘Canada’ to ‘Canuckistan’.
Actually it was a crap PK call against Honduras.
Hoilett did well for them.
Give St Pauli some credit, they’re getting promoted…
lol
Canada was a strong side in the last gold cup..they were cheated on a fluke hand ball call from some carribean ref.
Feel like you are not getting your money’s worth?
Does playing for a US-based MLS team count as a Canuck abroad? It technically should.
Ives has a lot of followers in Canada, especially because of his MLS coverage. A few weekly posts are a welcome site.
I think you meant, “Canada, eh?”
To tell you the truth I’d like to sneak away from BMO and take on Messi in Argentina.
I get it… just playing Devil’s Advocate.
I am just messing with you…..
I love the diversity too, but what is up with only two guys making the Abroad Column thats a bit crazy
1. Turn the sarcasm monitor on.
2. Can’t the MLS teams be covered in the other MLS updates?
3. I appreciate the diversity of this blog, but what’s the real point when your “Canucks Abroad” section has 2 players covered?
Hey, I was wondering if you could play as a defender on Saturday? I think you’ll be good at it. Thanks.
Hey, I was wondering if you could play as a defender on Saturday? I think you’ll be good at it. Thanks.
Who gives a care! Nobody wants to know whats up with the canadian NATIONAL team.
Man I wish I could play in a World Cup.
BrooklynFC, just because MLS has a canadian team doesn’t mean we need to know what’s happening with the flimsy national canadian team.
To set the record straight, MLS is an American league. canada just can’t survive on their own so they need America’s help. Originally, NBA, MLB, NFL, and MLS are American leagues. Just because Canada has a team or two doesn’t make it a canadian league. Its still an American league.
MLS will soon have 3 canadian teams!!! It’s solid coverage. I wish the U.S. would play Canada more.
Canada hopes Hoilett selects Canada over an island nation. I fully expect Canada to be competing for the second or third spot when the US hosts in 2018 or 2022 because the US will get automatic qualification.
“SOCCER BY IVES” – The World of Soccer with an American Voice
great stuff. hoping canada improves. the better they get… the better we get.
Well CANADA has an MLS team with two more on the way so they should be represented on the site.
Bravo Ives, Great getting Canada represented on the site.
Surely, Canada has more than two players playing abroad?
I can see Canada getting a result or two at home…they have a strong side when there first 11 are all together. Hell, haven’t they won a gold cup?
What’s all this Canadian ballyhoo aboot?
I thought this was an American blog?? ‘MERICA!
UNSUBSCRIBE.
I’m sorry, but I don’t see Canada winning any of these matches. But it is good to hear that Canada is getting organized and preparing for the next round of qualification. With the expansion teams coming up in Montreal and Vancouver, I see that as a good step for their National team. I think Canada should be right up there fighting for that 3rd World Cup ticket with U.S. and Mexico dominating the top 2.
The Argentina game could get out of hand..still should be an interesting match to see where Canada is…and just how strong Argentina will be.
Canada?