Official Team Canada Soccer Thread

[Harold_and_Kumar]

Bekker was simply outclassed in the first game. I get that he has strengths that are sometimes rare for the CMNT but his weaknesses are far too glaring.

Tiebert is every bit the better player and Osorio is also better on both sides of the ball. Let De Jong take the set pieces, he'll do just fine

[LittleOzzy]

It's not often that Canada does something magical, so enjoy this while you can.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/CanadaSoccerEN/status/654266440506183680[/tweet]

[LittleOzzy]

CANADA WINS!!!

[LittleOzzy]

I missed reminding fans about the last game (a huge win over Honduras) but they are playing again tonight. Another 3 points is needed if we want to make the next round in World Cup qualifying.

El Salvador vs. Canada
CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier
November 17 | 8:30 pm ET | Estadio Cuscatlan, San Salvador, El Salvador
TV: beIN SPORTS

In World Cup qualifying, one game is all it takes to fundamentally alter a team’s perspective – and its path to the big tournament.

For Canada, the road to Russia 2018 is looking a little clearer after a 1-0 win over Honduras in Vancouver on Friday. Sure, the path is still very long, very difficult and one that few are expecting the team to see to its conclusion. But the win over Honduras, in the opener of the semifinal round in CONCACAF, has once again boosted hopes among fans of Les Rouges that, perhaps, this is the qualification cycle.

For El Salvador, the road is looking much rockier after a 3-0 loss to Mexico to open the round. That sort of result was to be expected, given the turmoil around the team. Due to an ongoing dispute between players and the governing body, El Salvador brought a profoundly inexperienced roster to this set of qualifying games.

Heading into the tilt with Mexico, more than half of the players had five or fewer national-team caps; in fact, eight of them were uncapped at the senior level.

In fairness, Canada also has their share of neophytes on the roster (seven players with five or fewer caps), but it’s not out of desperation. Rather, they have benefitted from the arrival of some key newcomers in the past year; two of them – Junior Hoilett and Cyle Larin – were involved in Canada’s goal in that highly emotional victory at BC Place.

So in the aftermath of the round’s opening games, it would seem that Canada are full of momentum, while El Salvador are on the ropes, struggling to simply keep their qualification campaign afloat. But that’s the thing about World Cup qualifying: One game always has the capacity to change everything.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2015/11/14/el-salvador-vs-canada-concacaf-world-cup-qualifying-match-preview

[Mattd97]

By "beIN sports" are you saying I can't watch this on tv? Hopefully I'll be able to find an alternative since like 4 channels are showing an under 18 chl Russia exhibition game

El Salvador vs. Canada
CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier
November 17 | 8:30 pm ET | Estadio Cuscatlan, San Salvador, El Salvador
TV: beIN SPORTS

[LittleOzzy]

By "beIN sports" are you saying I can't watch this on tv? Hopefully I'll be able to find an alternative since like 4 channels are showing an under 18 chl Russia exhibition game

El Salvador vs. Canada
CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier
November 17 | 8:30 pm ET | Estadio Cuscatlan, San Salvador, El Salvador
TV: beIN SPORTS

Yup pretty brutal to be on beIN sports, but such is life for a Canadian soccer fan.

And hey, we didn't lose last night so things are looking up for Team Canada.

[Mattd97]

if im not a little disappointed in not taking 3, im a little disappointed in the step down of play from friday. not as many of the small possession and creative passes and a lot more old canadian just lob it ahead and see if cyle, hoillet or ricketts can catch up to it

[LittleOzzy]

if im not a little disappointed in not taking 3, im a little disappointed in the step down of play from friday. not as many of the small possession and creative passes and a lot more old canadian just lob it ahead and see if cyle, hoillet or ricketts can catch up to it

We should have had three points, but to walk away with 4 after two games it's hard to complain.

We beat a team that walked all over us last time, and went down to South America and took a point.

If we can get a point out of the home & away against Mexico we'll be sitting in a good spot.

[mojo13]

Seemed like a lost opportunity to me and I am disappointed. Most of the entire first team of El Salvador boycotted the game in a dispute with the federation. Most of the fans are pissed off at the federation and didn't go to the game - let alone caring enough to blast music through industrial speakers all night at the Canadian hotel ala the last time in Panama. This was the best chance for a win in a hell-hole central american country since 2004.

Supposedly the field was pretty torn up and forced a lobbing play-style over a possession game.

[LittleOzzy]

Canada selects 23 players for USA friendly in February

Canada Soccer has confirmed 23 players that will wear #CanadaRED colours for the upcoming Men's International Friendly match against USA. Canada's Men's National Team players, selected by Head Coach Benito Floro, will begin travel to camp from their respective clubs on Monday 25 January 2016.

Canada will face CONCACAF neighbours USA in the Friday 5 February friendly at the StubHub Center in Carson, CA, USA, just south of Los Angeles (19.30 local). The international match will be broadcast live on TSN (22.30 ET / 19.30 PT).

CANADA
1- GK- Maxime Crépeau | CAN / Impact Montréal
2- FB- Nik Ledgerwood | CAN / FC Edmonton
3- FB- Samuel Adekugbe | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
4- CB- Doneil Henry | ENG / West Ham United
5- CB / M- Adam Straith | NOR / Fredrikstad FK
6- M- Julian de Guzman | CAN / Ottawa Fury FC
7- M- Iain Hume | Unattached
8- M- Will Johnson | CAN / Toronto FC
9- F- Cyle Larin | USA / Orlando City SC
10- M- Kyle Bekker | CAN / Impact Montréal
11- M- Issey Nakajima-Farran | MAS / Terengganu FA
12- CB- Wandrille Lefèvre | CAN / Impact Montréal
13- M- Jamar Dixon | FIN / FF Jaro
14- M- Marco Bustos | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
15- CB / FB- Steven Vitória | POR / Benfica
16- M- Kianz Froese | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
17- M- Marcel De Jong | USA / Sporting Kansas City
18- GK- Tyson Farago | CAN / FC Edmonton
19- F- Caleb Clarke | Unattached
20- FB / CB- Karl W. Ouimette | USA / New York Red Bulls
21- CB- Mallan Roberts | CAN / FC Edmonton
22- GK- Callum Irving | USA / University of Kentucky
23- F- Tesho Akindele | USA / FC Dallas

http://www.canadasoccer.com/canada-selects-23-players-for-usa-friendly-in-february-p159103

[LittleOzzy]

USA vs. Canada
International Friendly
February 5 | 10:15 pm ET | StubHub Center, Carson, Calif.
TV: TSN

CANADA OUTLOOK

Competing against the Yanks in anything is a golden opportunity for Canadians to reassert their sovereignty and global relevance; unless, of course, the Americans come out on top, in which case Canadians will be quick to tell you it was a stupid competition that nobody cared about anyway.

But this is the rare occasion where the potential for cross-border glory is actually being overshadowed by another impending fight; or rather, a pair of them, in the form of two massive World Cup qualifiers against Mexico in March.

Canada currently sit second in Group A in the semifinal qualifying round in CONCACAF, after a home win over Honduras and a draw in El Salvador back in November. Those three teams know that, come September, they’ll likely all be scrapping for second place in the group behind Mexico—and the ticket to the Hexagonal round that comes with it.

Canada haven’t reached the Hex since 1997, and getting there in 2017 will likely require getting at least one point off of Mexico. So while playing against a fellow CONCACAF heavyweight is a good chance for Canada to finalize tactical plans, it’s really next month’s Mexican standoffs that matter.

Just a reminder about this game on Friday. Should be an awesome match.

[Hero]

Why should it be awesome? Aren't the U.S. a much superior team?

[theaub]

I mean it will be awesome if you enjoy bunkering for a 0-0 road draw

[LittleOzzy]

Why should it be awesome? Aren't the U.S. a much superior team?

Yes they are the better team, but we are on the rise.

It's going to be a great test and a great warm up for the two games that will matter next month. It will be awesome to see some new guys as we fine tune our roster for World Cup qualification.

[LittleOzzy]

I mean it will be awesome if you enjoy bunkering for a 0-0 road draw

Which is exactly what we'll need to focus on against Mexico next month. It's a process.

[LittleOzzy]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/CanadaSoccerEN/status/695621224416862209[/tweet]

Just a reminder about tonight's game. Viewing parties right across the country if you are interested.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/thevoyageurs/status/695649355798175744[/tweet]

10:15PM tonight on TSN!

[LittleOzzy]

Canada holding strong at half time.

[LittleOzzy]

Heartbreak city... Held on until the 89th minute just to see Jozy score with the header.

Hope we can focus better against Mexico.

[LittleOzzy]

Putting a strong roster forward against Mexico. It's going to be an almost impossible task to win a game, so I'm really hoping for two 0-0 ties. A guy can dream can't he?

[tweet]https://twitter.com/CanadaSoccerEN/status/710897041090732033[/tweet]

[metafisical]

Sorry if I have high expectations, but if we don't get at least 4 points in the home and away series with Mexico, I would be SUPER disappointed. Preferably 3 points at Azteca Stadium. Am I being unrealistic?