Canada’s coach plays down ‘favourite’ tag ahead of St. Lucia match 1 Sep 2011 Expect the unexpected. This is what Canada needs to be wary of when it kicks off its first qualifying match against St. Lucia on Friday, as the men’s national team begins its long and tough journey to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Yallop still acts as a sounding board for Canadian coach Hart 1 Sep 2011 If anyone can relate to the tough task that lies ahead for Canadian head coach Stephen Hart in qualifying for the World Cup, it’s Frank Yallop.
Still plenty of seats left for Canada’s Friday qualifier 31 Aug 2011 So, with that in mind, I did several Ticketmaster searches Wednesday for tickets for the Canada-St. Lucia game on Friday. And it was troubling to see just how easy it was to get large numbers of seats. Want eight seats together in the Canada supporters’ section? Was able to find them in section 117, at the south end of the stadium.
Injured Adrian Cann wants to rally Canadian fans 30 Aug 2011 Adrian Cann’s knee injury has transformed him from Canadian national team hopeful to superfan. But the Toronto FC central defender is happy to do what he can to rally fan support ahead of Canada’s Friday home date with St. Lucia — the opening of World Cup qualifying. “This game is my passion my life,” said Cann. “But I can do whatever I can to rally support for the team.”
Sportsnet One to carry 4 of Canada’s 6 WC qualifiers 30 Aug 2011 But Sportsnet will not be picking up the Oct. 7 away match to St. Lucia and the Nov. 11 trip to St. Kitts and Nevis. This isn’t unusual; in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, Sportsnet didn’t pick up the broadcasts for Canada’s early-round away fixtures in the Caribbean, either.
Puerto Rico’s World Cup callups will have major effects on FC Edmonton, Impact 28 Aug 2011 The Impact goes to Bayamon on Sept. 7, one day after the Puerto Rican national team plays Canada in a World Cup qualifier. Seven members of the Islanders will be on national-team duty. As well, the team’s top scorer, Jonathan Fana, will be on World Cup qualifying duty for his Dominican Republic national side.
“Complications” influenced Hart’s picking of the Canadian national squad 25 Aug 2011 From a scandal forcing the delay of the Turkish season to glaring holes at various positions, Hart was forced to pick some players who might be a tad rusty.
Hart sticks with veterans for Canada’s first two World Cup qualifiers 25 Aug 2011 Sixteen of the 19 players named to the roster were part of the team at the Gold Cup. The most surprising addition? Canadian player of the year Atiba Hutchinson, who is just coming back from meniscus surgery — and who Hart had indicated last month would likely not get the call for the first couple of World Cup qualifiers.
The case for NASL content on the Canadian national team 23 Aug 2011 What would be most interesting is whether or not Hart looks to the NASL ranks — especially for players who would have had experience playing the Puerto Rico Islanders. He said in August that, if players are doing well and getting regular time, he’d look to Div.-2.
Hutchinson likely to miss upcoming World Cup qualifiers: Hart 4 Aug 2011 Canada likely won’t have reigning national player of the year Atiba Hutchinson available for the beginning of the World Cup qualifying schedule. Canadian national team coach Stephen Hart said in a conference call Thursday that Hutchinson is still recovering from meniscus surgery in June. The injury forced Hutchinson to miss two of Canada’s three games at the Gold Cup.