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.
No hate. its just Canada isÂÂ
a banana republic when it
comes to soccer.
Like Puerto Rico.
We got the WC under condition
we created a league.
Same rules should apply toÂÂ
Canada: you want a world
event like the U-20?
Show us you deserve it.
The WC’94 would have never
happened without the
creation of the MLS.
Not hate, just asking
that others are held toÂÂ
the same standard we
were (justly so).
Isnt the KHL the russian league?
And hockey is a 4th ranked international sport played by a handful of countries, it in no way resembles real international sports like basketball, handball, volleyball, waterpolo, etc.
They have a world cup every year that no one cares about, they have no respect for each others leagues, no internatioal structure with any kind of power and they have no national team structures, they just make up teams two weeks before a tournament and play no qualif since there isnt enough teams.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_hockey#Number_of_registered_players_by_country
Canada and US have 400,000 players, 3 and 4 are czechs and russkis with under 100,000 and team number 10 on the most players participating is Austria with 10,000 players.
Yes, if you have 10,000 registered ice hockey players your country has the 10th highest amount of players.
So dont use hockey in any comparison with soccer please.
But Canadian Corner makes as much sense as Ives covering the EPL.
Its a feature: you dont like, skip over it.
Not going to change anything.
It will be a miracle if Vancouver or Montreal have more than 1-2 local players on the roster and maybe 1 one more kid who will ride the bench.
Having less than a dozen canadians play for the 3 teams isnt going to help the national program.
You have to like EVERY country on the planet, no matter how small, have your own league to bridge the gap between the amateur level and the top pro leagues.
Every country in the world (Denmark, Serbia, etc) has leagues where their best players come out of and then get bought when they get good. It doesnt help the domestic league but that level of play that national leagues offer is a must.
Are all serbian (used as example since they always have national squads made from out of country players but it can be about any) first league players going to play in the national team? No. Are all of them going to be playing for ManU or Chelsea or Inter? No.
But if serbia had a strong youth program and then nowhere for these players to further their educationand you know, become a pro, they would not create the same quality of players.
Even three youth academies isnt enough.
I know the reality of living next to the 800pd gorilla and the reality of canadian sports and I dont think that a few more roster spots will in any way change the quality of the players canada produces.
The best players in the world very, very rarely play for youth teams. Cream of the crop players often play some kind of professional ball at 16,17,18. In Canada, these players are still playing youth soccer, some might play in an academy but until there is a top league (the CSL is a regional Toronto league) in the country, things will not change.
Losing players to bigger teams will always be the lof canadian teams but so what? Argentina and serbia and dozens of others have the same problems. Best players go to the money leagues. But the importance of the home league is vital to the growth of a sport and of a national team and identity.
Canada is trying to build a house without bothering to have a foundation. They are trying to do what no other country has done: have success internationally without having a league of their own.
I dare you to find countries of 40 million… hell, countries of 4 millions… where they dont have a league. Go ahead.ÂÂ
Denmark, Norway and minnows like Malta and Iceland have pro leagues (did you know that ManU have had THREE players from Iceland?).
Its nice to have three teams in the MLS in Canada but i dont see how this will help the national team which is still run by asshats, just not asshats like they had before.
Find me that nation that has no league and does well on the international scene and I might be willing to debate this but there isnt.
Just like I dont think a country with no basketball league or baseball would do well under the same circumstances.
Build a foundation then the rest.
It would be kind of awesome for MLS to have team in Trinidad. In Europe, they’re putting together the KHL (Continental Hockey League) with teams from all over the place. I imagine there is a large enough fan base in T&T for one MLS team, though I don’t know. I do know that it would be awesome to follow your team to Port of Spain once in a while.
I hope Canada gets their $h.t together. I’d like to see another strong national team pushing the US, Honduras, Costa Rica, and the rest. Oh, and I guess Mexico’s team counts too
Well, the Confed cup used to be played every 2 years and it was a fairly new tournament. I’m not sure how important it was then or how strong the teams were fielded but the new format of every 4 years is much better and brings more notoriety to the tournament and actually means a bit more. Plus I do believe Mexico won it when they hosted it and we all know how much of advantage azteca must have been. Thats just my 2 cents.
Canadian Corner! Is this weekly?
an ugly american …eh!?
Thanks for the love, Ives.
I don’t understand all the hate for Canada. I’ll be cheering for Team USA come the World Cup, as a strong showing by your boys is a great measure of the talent coming through in MLS. We’re no pushovers, and the only thing holding us back from a few more Gold Cup championships are some dodgy calls by bad refs.
I would even go out on a limb and say that Canada would be a worthy alternative to host a Gold Cup now and then. If we can handle the odd Olympics here and there I’m sure the Gold Cup would be no problem to have either!
Well Mexico actually won the Confed cup and that didn’t change anyone’s opinion of Concacaf.
I’m not your buddy guy!
I’m not your friend buddy!
Hey, were gonna kill u guys on saturday.
Yes Rob Friend was scoring goals on me in qualifying for Canada in FIFA
Guys, The World or Soccer with an American Voice simply means any news soccer related from around the world from an American’s perspective.
We know where Canada is… at home getting as excited to watch the World Cup as we are.
had the US won the Confederatins cup, it would have changed they way people look at concacaf
Untechnically even.
love canadian corner
Yeah, even if they field young unknown talent.
I hope someday the Canadians become as much of a rival to the U.S. as Mexico. This will only strengthen the region.
Trinidad doesn’t have a team in MLS. I think this Canadian Corner is a good addition. I don’t know why some of you are against it. If you haven’t noticed, Ives covers the EPL as well, so why the hate on the neighbors to the north?
I meant a strong showing from the CONCACAF teams in South Africa. In case anyone was confused. I think Honduras will surprise.
True. That only benefits them if those teams are mostly composed of Canadians. As most MLS teams are composed of U.S. players. I think that the Canadian teams should follow that formula. Otherwise they will just be U.S. players playing in Canada. To be honest, I have never really been impressed by any Canadian players. Except for D. DeRosario. I really wish he was still with the Quakes.
Either way, I think Canada has the talent to be a force in CONCACAF. They just need a little more organization. I think having the teams 3 teams in Canada will help, but much more is needed in order for them to succeed.
CONCACAF is becoming much more competitive. Take a look at the points the teams earned in this last qualifying cycle. The top 4 of the Hex where just within a few points from each other. Had Mexico won their last game, they would have been in first place.
I hope that the CONCACAF eventually gets more respect in the world. Maybe a strong showing from the U.S., Mexico, and Honduras will earn the region an extra ticket.
I would like to see 4.5 spots like CONEMBOL…and the two confederations fighting for that 5th ticket.
those teams being in canada mean nothing for thier national team… or very little when they are only fielding 1 or 2 canadian nationals…
strange brew!