Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Chances Of Canada Having A World Cup Team?

Matty81 · 06-27-2010, 11:12 AM

I have followed the nats for a long time.

Canada is a realistic possibility to make it every world cup. The gulf between us and Honduras in the last cycle was not great. We always have a good supporting cast of MLS/European pros and are ranked in the top 5 in a confed where we get 3.5 World Cup spots. In my opinion what Canada needs to really dominate the smaller teams in CONCACAF in the short term is one or two really top players who the team can be built around and can consistently be difference makers. In the long term the academy model and the 3 pro clubs is what will make us better, there is no doubt in my mind that we will pass countries like Jamaica with big professional academies like the Whitecaps have in the long run.

There are several young Canadian players on the horizon who could be a short term major difference for us in CONCACAF - the big issue going forward for Canada is what country they will choose. Junior Hoillett broke into the EPL at 19 this year with Blackburn and was one of the youngest full time players in the league. He is as talented a player as Canada has had. Born and raised in Canada, Dad is from Jamaica. Said to be leaning Canada. I personally think that if he comes into the side for the next cycle that we will be touch and go to make it with the solid cast we already have.

There are a host of other young Canadian players on the cusp of being really top pros in Europe right now and if another one or two emerge as top talents we will be competing with USA/Mexico for a couple qualifying cycles. We've got a youth keeper at Genoa in the Serie A who just signed a 3 year pro contract at 19. There is talk of Jonathan de Guzman playing for Canada in the next cycle after declaring for Netherlands and never getting called up. In the last couple cycles we have been close but missing that one talent who could provide a defining moment in our close games, if Owen Hargreaves had been a part of the de Guzman/de Rosario group I think we would have made at least one world cup with that group.

06-27-2010, 11:12 AM	#5
Matty81 Franchise Player Join Date: Oct 2008 Exp:	I have followed the nats for a long time. Canada is a realistic possibility to make it every world cup. The gulf between us and Honduras in the last cycle was not great. We always have a good supporting cast of MLS/European pros and are ranked in the top 5 in a confed where we get 3.5 World Cup spots. In my opinion what Canada needs to really dominate the smaller teams in CONCACAF in the short term is one or two really top players who the team can be built around and can consistently be difference makers. In the long term the academy model and the 3 pro clubs is what will make us better, there is no doubt in my mind that we will pass countries like Jamaica with big professional academies like the Whitecaps have in the long run. There are several young Canadian players on the horizon who could be a short term major difference for us in CONCACAF - the big issue going forward for Canada is what country they will choose. Junior Hoillett broke into the EPL at 19 this year with Blackburn and was one of the youngest full time players in the league. He is as talented a player as Canada has had. Born and raised in Canada, Dad is from Jamaica. Said to be leaning Canada. I personally think that if he comes into the side for the next cycle that we will be touch and go to make it with the solid cast we already have. There are a host of other young Canadian players on the cusp of being really top pros in Europe right now and if another one or two emerge as top talents we will be competing with USA/Mexico for a couple qualifying cycles. We've got a youth keeper at Genoa in the Serie A who just signed a 3 year pro contract at 19. There is talk of Jonathan de Guzman playing for Canada in the next cycle after declaring for Netherlands and never getting called up. In the last couple cycles we have been close but missing that one talent who could provide a defining moment in our close games, if Owen Hargreaves had been a part of the de Guzman/de Rosario group I think we would have made at least one world cup with that group.