Official World Cup 2014 Qualifying Thread (Blame It On RIO)

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Matty81

Hope they can get one point in Panama - a win at home to Cuba will almost certainly put them through then. I think greater attention from the national press will come if the results do. Also TSN and Sportsnet always bury properties they don't own, TSN doesn't support or cover the nats so that doesn't surprise me a whole lot (even if it is bush league).

In other CMNT news, Steven Vitoria, who quit Canada for Portugal on the eve of the World u-20 championship in his hometown in Canada a few years back, has become a pretty good starting CB in the Portugese top league and is talking about switching back to Canada.

The amount of mercenary behavior at the international level is pretty sickening... he is a very good young player though, for this cycle and the next.

I suspect the deeper Canada goes in qualifying the more plastic patriots will come out of the woodwork.

It happens because Canada (CSA) allows it to happen. Being involved in soccer at the youth level I see this all the time.

When an organization doesnt stand up for itself then these things happen because disillusioned players think they want to try and make a bigger and better team but if they dont they can always fall-back on Canada.

Same thing in youth soccer, a player will try for another team if he knows that worst case scenario he can fall back on another club.

The attitude that CSA should be taking to players like De Guzman, Vitoria and Hoilette is simple; play for Canada right now or the offer is off the table. And then Canada just has to take their lumps just as they are right now anyways, but a policy like that will discourage this type of behaviour going forwards.

[Jimmy Stang]

I know that it would be nice to be able to take a hard line, but I don't think that anyone would honestly want to say to Junior Hoilett "no thanks" if he decided today that he wants to play for Canada.

It bothers me that these plastic Canadians are so hesitant to play for the country of their birth, but I don't know if it would solve anything by slamming the door shut after a certain period of time. Until they declare themselves for another country, the CSA should stay in touch and keep the door open. But that doesn't mean hanging the hopes of the entire program on the hope that they'll say yes to Canada. Move on and work with what you've got, and make that decision when/if someone comes knocking.

Edit: But I fully agree that there is an element of delusion at play. Not so much for Hoilett (who knows what his real reasons are), but someone like De Guzman. Really? The Dutch? Good luck with that.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by valo403

So the answer is that we should just get better players? Well yeah, that'd be great, but in the meantime we should probably do what it takes to win games.

The mean time has been a couple of decades...

Originally Posted by Locke

It happens because Canada (CSA) allows it to happen. Being involved in soccer at the youth level I see this all the time.

When an organization doesnt stand up for itself then these things happen because disillusioned players think they want to try and make a bigger and better team but if they dont they can always fall-back on Canada.

While I can sympathize with players that feel they have been slighted by the CSA (e.g. Hargreaves), I don't have time for the plastic footballers who decide which colours to wear based on financial factors. Consequently, I like your idea as it would target the right players since players like Hargreaves wouldn't come crawling back.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Addick

The mean time has been a couple of decades...


While I can sympathize with players that feel they have been slighted by the CSA (e.g. Hargreaves), I don't have time for the plastic footballers who decide which colours to wear based on financial factors. Consequently, I like your idea as it would target the right players since players like Hargreaves wouldn't come crawling back.

So? We don't have the talent to simply do as we feel and progress, heck the US barely has that advantage, so we should do what it takes to win. This attitude of winning morally while sitting at home watching teams that used what they were given to beat us is absurd.

[nik-]

I just wanna be in the World Cup, I'd stab a nun in the neck if I had to to get us there.

[polak]

Originally Posted by nik-

I just wanna be in the World Cup, I'd stab a nun in the neck if I had to to get us there.

Lets just make the Hex. That would be swell for now.

[NBC]

I've always liked the idea of building a national football (soccer) stadium in Yellowknife. November internationals would never be the same.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by NBC

I've always liked the idea of building a national football (soccer) stadium in Yellowknife. November internationals would never be the same.

I'd rather keep the games in Toronto, or perhaps Montreal. The fans are getting better and it grows the game. Nice little positive reinforcement cycle. Or maybe even Vancouver, put those laser pointers and t-shirts thrown onto the playing surface to good use.

[troutman]

I found this helpful:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FI...%28CONCACAF%29

[Bagor]

Whether or not he plays for Canada I've no issues at all with Vitoria going off and playing U-19 & 20 with Portugal. He was living there at the time. Besides .... what was he supposed to do? Decline the invitation and a golden opportunity to launch a professional career?

And as for the mercenary bit .... ????? It happens in every sport at every level. e.g. kids try out for the highest competitive level they can and if they don't make it they drop back to the next level. That's the nature of sports.

Canada should be more ruthless. You grab the best players available to give you the best chance of winning .... period. Unless that is you want to win some moral tournament.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by valo403

So? We don't have the talent to simply do as we feel and progress...

That's what we should focus on increasing and improving. I'm not a big fan of American's program but at least they are seeing reasonable progress on this front.

It's not about seeing a player hiding the ball under the bench and telling the kids in the room not to do that but rather pointing the correct things being done on the pitch and helping them mimic those actions.

[shermanator]

I know the job isn't done yet, but halfway through the round Canada has more points than the last 2 qualifications combined, and has the most points in 16 years in the third round.

In 2010 they went 0-4-2 in the third round
In 2006 they went 1-3-2 in the third round
In 2002 they went 1-3-2 in the third round

We've also beat a very good team in Panama and have a draw against a qualifier from the last world cup. Not at the hex yet, but it'll be damn close.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by troutman

I found this helpful:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FI...%28CONCACAF%29

Super-Thanks! This explains a lot. Also, it seems like if they can get to the Hex, all they need to do is finish top 4 (out of six) and they are in since the fourth placed team plays in a playoff against the OFC winner (the highest ranked team is new zealand at 92 and the rest are in the high hundreds).

[GirlySports]

Yeah I think getting to the Hex is harder than playing in the Hex itself.

Even for big teams like USA and Mexico, the real high-leverage round is this one, as the US found out in Jamaica.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Super-Thanks! This explains a lot. Also, it seems like if they can get to the Hex, all they need to do is finish top 4 (out of six) and they are in since the fourth placed team plays in a playoff against the OFC winner (the highest ranked team is new zealand at 92 and the rest are in the high hundreds).

New Zealand made the last World Cup, so it isn't a sure thing. But you're quite right - make it into the hex and you have a slightly better than 50% chance of making it through (all things being equal) to the World Cup.

Being realistic, Mexico should be one of the spots. The remainder should be essentially up for grabs. The USA are always favourites to advance, but they haven't had an easy road in this round as of yet. Anything can happen.

Should be another interesting day. I suspect that the USA will bounce back at home against Jamaica, I'll be happy with a draw for Canada but ecstatic with an away win.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Addick

That's what we should focus on increasing and improving. I'm not a big fan of American's program but at least they are seeing reasonable progress on this front.

It's not about seeing a player hiding the ball under the bench and telling the kids in the room not to do that but rather pointing the correct things being done on the pitch and helping them mimic those actions.

It's not an either or situation, which you are somehow making it out to be, and what's with this 'think about the children' stuff?

Bottom line is that the team should be doing everything it can to win.

[valo403]

Apparently the Panama FA tweeted out the location of the Canadian hotel and encouraged fans to head there overnight to make noise. Those of you had some sort of moral issue with hiding a ball for 3 seconds may want to consider what we're dealing with here.

[Jimmy Stang]

^ While I would expect better from an association, making noise outside of a visiting team's hotel is nothing new. It appears that the players are unfazed. Patrice Bernier and David Edgar have both tweeted and seem to think it is fun, but also mention earplugs and iPods.

At the very least, it will be an interesting atmosphere at the match tonight. Hopefully the ref is competent and that nothing gets thrown at the players. A big ask, I know, but the rest is just part of the "fun" of playing in Central America.

[The Big Chill]

I'm excited for this game already. 3 points will put us in a very good position.

[polak]

God damn if they get a tie I'll relax a bit.

I'm still super pessamistic. Being a Canada and Poland supporter at heart, you learn to be weary...