Canada at Honduras, Tues 16 Oct 4pm on Sportsnet One.
If Canada draws or wins in Honduras, Canada will advance to the 'hex', the next round of WCQ for CONCACAF. Top 3 teams in the 'hex' will clinch World Cup spot, while 4th team will play a home and away playoff series vs Oceania.
Biggest game since 1998!
Dykes_on_Jay
girls peewee soccer > toronto fc.
forza canada
Yohan
I also forgot that Canada won the Gold Cup in 2000.... Silly me
anyways, the game is now on all Sportsnet channels at 4pm apparently. so nervous... esp due to CONCACAF refs lol
PurpleHaze
canada vs cuba on friday night was such an amazing game, so glad I went. way better than anything TFC can produce. third goal was great - nice ball across the 18 yard box and volleyed in the corner...goalie had no chance whatsoever!!
i found out today that 3 cubans defected to canada when they arrived on thursday...no wonder they had no subs! only 11 players lol. looks like this is common practice. communist-cuba!
I dunno if I'd welcome johnny come lately, but beggars can't be choosers?
well, let's get through the honduras game first...
LightsOut
0-3 after 30. 0-6 after 60. SO ING EMBARRASSING.
Special K
I don't know why but I actually made a point of trying to catch this game (I don't know if I have ever done this before with Canada) after I was done watching Croatia play today. Someone please remind me to never do that again.
SPANIARD
Same old, same old with Canada. I didn't even feel that the game against Cuba was that convincing of a performance considering the cirumstances so this isn't a huge shock. I feel bad for the Voyageurs who deserve a hell of a lot better than this.
Very surprising day in WCQ. Spain should have lost in all fairness and (LightsOut, remember I called this during the Euro) Germany's defense was absolutely scary. Oh and it looks like Portugal might be out before it begins!
Yohan
Gutted don't even describe how I'm feeling right now.
Dykes_on_Jay
so much for driving around china in an iroc z while honking and waving the flag...
Adamo
Yohan
I am gutted. Absolutely crushed. They say hope is the cruelest emotions and what I feel right now... well, I'm normally not a very emotional guy, but I haven't been this upset in a while.
As I watched the shameful display by CMNT, I was angry. Angry at 11 men in the field who apparently were playing in the biggest game of their career but played like scared, bullied kids. Mental toughness has always been a challenge for Canada, and these guys just simply failed. They disgraced their nation today with their gutless 'effort'. A little sad that guys who deserve to play in WC like DeRosario or Hutchinson won't get the chance, but no failure deserves a reward.
I am pissed off at Stephen Hart, who is a nice guy, but he failed at his job, which was to prepare his team. First, is the lack of mental preparation. Second, are a bunch of questionable calls. Klukowski instead of Marcel de Jong? Just exactly what has Klukowski done lately to deserve a starting spot over someone who is playing in Bundesliga and has played well for Canada? Not to mention Klukowski has been shambles last few times he played for Canada. And Ledgerwood over Hume? Seriously?
I'm mad at Kevin McKenna, who is supposedly the captain of this team, but I couldn't find leadership on the field. Mental shutdown was very evident after the first goal went in, and for the guy who is suppose to be the prime motivator on the pitch, just inexcusable.
I am disgusted, because I feel that the National Team program has suffered a serious setback. Instead of the momentum generated this year growing, all pissed away and might have to start from scratch again. All the corporate sponsors waiting to give money to CSA, gone. Because nobody really wants to sponsor a loser, and the fact is, only wins will get you more money. And if we want to build better infrastructure and to grow the game in Canada, we need money.
All the support for the national team built past two years? Gone. Yes, the Voyageurs will be at the stands, but the days of getting 16-18k for Canada games are gone, and for a long time. Because without meaningful games to keep up the momentum, who would remember the national team in 2015? People have short memories. All the Euro snobs and Canadians who'd rather support their 'home country' over Canada will look at this result and only confirm what they know; Canada sucks at soccer and aren't worth supporting. And they rightly deserve to look down at Canada. When 2015 comes around again, they won't remember all the positive results from this version of WCQs; they will only remember 8-1 humiliation.
All the youths who look for inspiration to play the game? I feel bad for them, because men's game need heroes too. Who looks up to losers, especially losers who gets destroyed 8-1? I hope all the talented kids choose to stick with soccer and Canada, instead of quitting the game or play for another country over Canada. But I'm not very hopeful on this.
How the heck do you piss away the best chance ever to make the World Cup? Make the Hex, finish 4th and play New Zealand or better, Tahiti or whoever because New Zealand has been slipping too! It would have done so much for the country and the game in Canada but all for naught! We will never get a chance like this. But I think I'm just pissed because I dared to hope, only to be disappointed yet again. And it's not even the refs' fault (for most part).
But I think deep in our hearts, we kinda knew that Canada wasn't good enough, and we relied on hope and luck more than anything else. I just hope that CSA gets the right message and lesson out of this experience and make the right changes.
So where do we go from here?
First, is a statement action from CSA. This means Hart has to resign, or be fired and a new head coach is hired. He must be reputable and respected coach, someone recognizable. So that this be a clear signal of intent that CSA is serious about men's game in Canada. I know this means spending money that CSA doesn't have, but another Hart will not be enough. We need someone better. This move would not just be for the supporters, but for the players to realize that Canada is serious about soccer, and for all the wishy washy guys like Jonathan de Guzman or Junior Hoilett that investing their international career with Canada is actually worth it.
Develop a philosophy and stick with it. USA has decided to adopt Klinsmann's vision. Whether this will work or not remains to be seen, but USA will not go half assed to change how soccer is played in US. Top football nations have their own identity. Canada needs to do the same. Hiring a head coach who will implement this new Canadian philosophy will be the first step.
Invest in youths. We need to change the mentality of how players are developed in Canada, and in order to see the fruits by 2022 WC, we need to make these changes now. This means investing in coaching, by changing CSA coaching qualification to UEFA standards, to support coaches to learn in top European academies until Canada develops own infrastructure to produce top coaches. These coaches would go to youth level clubs to teach them to play soccer in more technical way. CSA would have to hire a reputable coach to start the reform from top down. It will take a lot of years, but we need to start now.
For right now, CSA needs to identify top youth programs in Canada and give them priority for funding. Bring best prospects for camps across Canada as often as possible. Use Canadian MLS teams facilities. Why not? They are there, and cheaper than CSA to start own training facility.
Develop a proper D2 program. Give the youths a chance to play at least semi pro soccer. Even if this means CSA has to set up regional leagues. Cost too much to setup a proper national league, however, players need games with decent competition in order to develop.
Cut back women's program as much as possible. I know this will not be a popular move, but the fact is, men's program is where the money is at, and what counts in the minds of most people. With Women's World Cup being hosted in Canada in 2015, of course the money has to be spent to keep women's team competitive, but in the end, without success in men's program, the game will not grow in Canada.
Set a goal of reaching the Hex for 2018 WC and for sure make the World Cup 2022. This is a very doable goal, but it has to start now.
Do whatever to search for any players eligible for Canada. There are a lot of talented footballers who aren't committed to a national team that has Canadian connection. Find them. Give them a chance to play for Canada. Because the senior program needs a shot in the arm right now.
Retire a lot of over 30 players. I appreciate their dedication and service to the national program, but they are holding back the players who needs game time to fight for 2018 WCQs. The transition has to be gradual, but guys like Klukowski, Jazic, JDG, DeRo needs to retire right now.
Identify and develop a top striker. Canada needs at least one, preferably two striker who can finish. Because having even one of these guys can carry the team, just like Drogba or Eto'o did for many years. I don't know if Canada will have one for 2018 WCQs, pretty doubtful, but by 2022 WCQs if Canada can't develop at least one top striker, this simply won't be acceptable. Identify and develop a top playmaker. Because you need someone to get the ball to the striker.
Play friendlies. Do not cheap out. Schedule a game, especially with CONCACAF or South American teams to get Canadian players used to playing against that style, also to get them used to playing in hostile environments. No more considering hosting USA a 'coup'. Bring in quality opposition to Canada. You can only develop team chemistry by playing competitive games, and I feel that one of reasons why Canada went so for this WCQs is because of all the games the team played together, even against minnow oppositions.
I forced myself to watch all 90 mins of this ****show, because I felt that I needed to bear witness to this debacle. I hope this is a wake up call for a lot of people especially at CSA. But I remain in hope that one day, we will get it right and that we will make the World Cup by 2022.
