Canadian double-dip; Olympic disappointment, rays of light for the senior team 13 Oct 2015On Tuesday night, Canada's men's national team played Ghana in a friendly in Washington, D.C. while the Canadian U-23 team played the United States in the third-place game of the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament.
Floro will be with U-23s; Michael Findlay to coach Canada tonight for Ghana friendly 13 Oct 2015Both the Olympic-qualifying third-place game and the men’s senior team’s friendly are set for Tuesday night. Which Canadian team will Floro coach?
Canada spurns chances, makes key mistakes against Mexico 10 Oct 2015Going into a game against a powerhouse like Mexico, you know Canada’s going to have precious few chances — so, to have any hope at all the conversion rate has got to be decent. Canada had three very good looks; Boakai misplayed the ball, Petrasso hit a poor penalty and Thomas's effort was close, but high.
Altitude, fatigue pose problems as Canadians prepare for U23 semifinal against Mexico 8 Oct 2015Of course, Mexico is a powerhouse. But there are other factors at play, too. The game will be held in Sandy, Utah — which means the players have to deal with the challenges that a game at altitude presents. Canada played its first two group-stage matches in Kansas City, a loss to the United States and a win over Panama. Then, the Canadians travelled to the Denver area for its final group-stage game, and struggled to a 2-2 draw with Cuba at altitude.
Olympic qualifying: Canada’s offence covers for its worrying fullback play 3 Oct 2015The simple truth is If you have Zebie and Adekugbe on the flanks, that Canadian weakness isn’t evident. Instead, Floro is sending out makeshift fullbacks and hoping they can deal with the likes of Arroyo. And, remember that, in the opener against the U.S., Canada was torched down the wing on the Americans’ opening goal.
Hoilett finally commits to Canada: But can he be the player he once was? 30 Sep 2015Hoilett has played exactly zero minutes for Queens Park Rangers in the Championship this season. Zero. In QPR’s last nine league games, he was on the bench as an unused sub for five of them, and he was not even in the squad for the other four. He’s made two appearances this year — for a total of 87 minutes — in the League Cup.
CSA President Montagliani “pleasantly surprised” by FIFA reform discussions 22 Sep 2015When Canadian Soccer Association President Victor Montagliani was tabbed to a part of FIFA’s 13-member reform committee, he was skeptical.
Mexico and ? 21 Sep 2015Canada will begin the next stage of World Cup qualifying in November. To make it to CONCACAF’s infamous “Hex,” Canada will need to finish first or second in a group that includes Mexico, El Salvador and Honduras. Coach Benito Floro thinks that Mexico is guaranteed a spot — so it’ll be between Canada and the two Central American nations for that second slot...
Yo got dat right! 21 Sep 2015Thanks to the most awesome commentating job in the history of broadcasting, Mad Bull and Maestro — Channel 5’s play-by-play and colour men — became cult heroes, and those few hundred Canadian fans scattered about on social media used the occasion to bring them even closer as a community.
The long road back… 21 Sep 2015When Ethan Gage left the Vancouver Whitecaps for Reading, the former Canadian U-20 Player of the Year had high hopes for his career. Instead, it was a disaster. He’s spent years in Scandinavia rediscovering a passion for the game, a passion that he’d lost in England...