World Cup Archive

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Nakajima-Farran, Piette the only real surprises on Canada roster

By
Steven Sandor
– 05/17/2012

Issey Nakajima-Farran, with Canada back in 2010, PHOTO: CANADA SOCCER

Canadian men’s national team coach Stephen Hart had been stating over and over not to expect too many surprises when he unveiled the roster for a June 3 friendly against the United States and two World Cup qualifiers to follow.

So, we shouldn’t be surprised that we weren’t surprised. For the most part, it’s a squad very similar to what we saw through the first phase of World Cup qualifying, which saw Canada eliminate St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis and Puerto Rico.

Of the 22 men named to the roster, only two — teenager Samuel Piette and veteran Issey Nakajima-Farran, who plays in Australia — would be considered eyebrow-raisers.

Piette, at 17, was a major part of Canada’s team at last year’s U-17 World Cup and the recent U-23 squad that came within one game of securing a berth at the London Olympics. He is reportedly close to a deal with Fortuna Dusseldorf, who earlier this week secured its return to the Bundesliga.
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Whitecaps welcome former VANOC chief Furlong to organization

By
Steven Sandor
– 04/12/2012

John Furlong

John Furlong certainly knows how to wax poetic on the subject of sport and its greater social impact.

And the former head of Vancouver’s successful Olympic bid showed that off in a Thursday press conference, where he was introduced as the new executive chair of the Vancouver Whitecaps.

What isn’t clear at the time is what the executive chair will actually do, or what upcoming projects will get the lion’s share of his attention. But, right now, the Caps are enjoying in the feel-good glow of attaching Furlong to the club.
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Hart doesn’t foresee many changes to Canadian men’s national team lineup

By
Steven Sandor
– 04/12/2012

Stephen Hart

Don’t expect to see national men’s coach Stephen Hart experiment with his roster for Canada’s June 3 friendly against the United States and the subsequent World Cup qualifiers.

Hart said, at the senior level, there simply aren’t many players from which to choose.

“Not really, not anyone who has been playing consistently,” said Hart. In fact, the problem for Canada is getting enough players — as Hart pointed to the “scarce” player supply for the national team’s last few games. (Even though, to be fair, when Canada picks from both MLS and European-based players, which it doesn’t do for many friendlies, the supply is there.)

So, expect to see a Canadian squad this summer that’s very similar to the team we saw breeze through the preliminary round of World Cup qualifiers, beating out the Caribbean minnows on its way to this next round. After the U.S. friendly, Canada must then finish top-two in a group that includes Cuba, Honduras and Panama in order to make it to the hex.
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Hainault’s heroics propel Houston to victory

By
Steven Sandor
– 03/12/2012

Andrew Hainault

On the weekend that Quebec’s team made its MLS debut, another Quebecer made a major, ahem, impact.

Andrew Hainault’s goal two minutes into stoppage gave the Houston Dynamo a 1-0 win over Chivas USA Sunday, as the Dynamo completed on the first of seven road dates to open the season as it waits for its new BBVA Compass Stadium to be ready later this season.

Hainault scored some big goals for the Dynamo last year — including a late-season marker against the Portland Timbers in a game that had huge playoff implications and a playoff tally against the Philadelphia Union. Both of those goals came off his head.

But, on Sunday, Hainault scored with his left foot.
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CONCACAF delivers amnesty to de Guzman and Dunfield

By
Steven Sandor
– 02/14/2012

Terry Dunfield

The Canadian men’s national team got a bit of good news Monday.

CONCACAF announced that, after discussions with FIFA, the decision has been made to wipe away the yellow cards accumulated by players during the first two rounds of World Cup qualifying.

And that means Canadian midfielders Terry Dunfield and Julian de Guzman, who had a yellow each from the previous round of qualifying, will enter the next phase of World Cup matches with clean slates. So, neither player will be walking a tightrope when he next plays for Canada in an official qualifying match.
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How the CSA can fix its WCQ public-relations mess

By
Steven Sandor
– 02/04/2012

In the wake of Thursday’s announcement that Toronto will host Canada’s next three World Cup home qualifiers — and will also get the June friendly with the United States — message boards and Twitter have been filled with our country’s soccer fans at each other’s virtual throats.

Where there should be a push to support the national team, there is bitterness.

The Canadian Soccer Association has a public-relations nightmare on its hands. And that’s what this column will address. The CSA badly underestimated the regional divides in Canada, and the announcement picked at those scabs rather than acting as something that would unite fans from coast-to-coast.
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BMO Field gets clean sweep of Canadian men’s national team matches

By
Aman Dhanoa
– 02/03/2012

Canada's new Umbro kits

The Canadian Soccer Association held a special event at a swanky downtown Toronto restaurant, dressing up the occasion for the unveiling of its new Umbro kits and celebration of its centenary year. But the expected “news” that was to be announced at the town hall proceedings beforehand simply confirmed what The 11 had already reported earlier in the week – Canada will play all three of its CONCACAF World Cup qualifying matches at BMO Field.

On Tuesday it was learned that the Ontario Soccer Association had asked its league members to not play league games during Canada’s WCQ dates. It was also communicated that all the focus should be placed on the men’s national team and national team matches to be played at BMO Field. Adding the two together and it was apparent that the CSA was going to again hold the matches in Toronto.

Canada will host Honduras on June 12, Panama on Sept. 7 and Cuba on Oct. 12.  
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OSA request hints that BMO Field could host all three upcoming Canada WCQ matches

By
Steven Sandor
– 01/31/2012

The Ontario Soccer Association has asked its members to not play league games during Canada’s home World Cup qualifying dates,a strong signal that all three group-stage home matches will be played at BMO Field.

The 11 has learned that the OSA will ask all leagues under its jurisdiction to block out June 12 (date for Canada vs. Honduras), Sept. 7 (Canada vs. Panama) and Oct. 12 (Canada vs. Cuba). The OSA has made it clear that it wants all focus to be on the Canadian men’s national team and national-team matches to be played at BMO Field. It is not a confirmation of the national-team matches, but a very strong indication.

When contacted Tuesday morning, Canadian Soccer Association officials reiterated that no dates have been confirmed.

The dates for 2012 are expected to be revealed on Feb. 2.

The CSA has has stated that it has given Coach Stephen Hart the option to select where he wants the team to play, so that it would have the best home-field advantage. And, the feeling is that Hart would want as many direct flights as possible for his players and a grass field to play on.
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Canada rediscovers its scoring form in final group-stage match

By
Aman Dhanoa
– 11/16/2011

Tosaint Ricketts

Stephen Hart got his wish.

The Canadian national head coach watched his team put together the complete performance he was looking for as Canada routed St. Kitts and Nevis 4-0 on Tuesday night.

Hart was said before the match that the team owed fans a good performance. Well, the 10,245 fans at BMO Field were treated to four goals by the home side, led by captain Dwayne De Rosario who tied Dale Mitchell for the all-time goals lead for Canada with 19. Olivier Occean, Josh Simpson and Tosaint Ricketts added the other markers.
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Canada qualifies for next World Cup round in unconvincing fashion

By
Gavin Day
– 11/12/2011

Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault

The Canadian men’s soccer team took the step it was expected to take, winning Group D in the CONCACAF second round of qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Needing just a point, Canada did the bare minimum Friday night and came away with a 0-0 draw with St. Kitts and Nevis, the only team that could have caught the Canadians.

Playing in front of what was a very impressively loud, boisterous and passionate crowd at Warner Park on the northern edge of downtown Basseterre, the home side was obviously up for the encounter while, after some early chances in the first few minutes, Canada didn’t look up for the challenge.
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