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

[Locke]

That was unbelievably poor.

I also have to question the team selection, 2 goalkeepers but only one forward on the bench? Thats asinine.

[polak]

Well at least Poland and Germany won...

[polak]

There's gotta be a way to watch this in Canada no?

16/10/12: Poland v. England

[valo403]

Originally Posted by polak

There's gotta be a way to watch this in Canada no?

16/10/12: Poland v. England

No idea what the current situation is but there always used to be at least a few bars that broadcast England games

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by polak

There's gotta be a way to watch this in Canada no?

16/10/12: Poland v. England

I would guess that it will probably be on the main Sportsnet network, or at least on Sportsnet World. Gol TV has been picking up some of the other qualifiers, but I can only imagine that Sportsnet would be all over this one as it would attract a lot of viewers.

Plus, as Valo mentioned, places like The Ship & Anchor and other pubs will likely have it on.

In the coming weeks the schedules, networks, etc. will get sorted out and then the pubs will know what they can pick up.

[browna]

Originally Posted by shermanator

Well that sucked! I wasn't expecting anything more than a tie in Panama (and that would have been a stretch), but that was just a disappointing effort.

Can still get into the hex with the below scenario, although it's counting on a lot of help that we didn't need before last night:

- Canada wins over Cuba
- Canada wins/draws Honduras
- Panama wins over Honduras (if Canada beats Honduras this won't matter)

Could also get in on goal differential in some scenarios but I can't do the math right now.

Main thing is, Canada controls its destiny. Sure they have to beat Cuba at home, who are already out. Then a game in Honduras, which is what its going to come down to, assuming Panama does not choke away the next two.

The good thing is, given the garbage that happens all over qualifications, and certainly amongst those shifty Central American teams, is that Panama Honduras is the next match day, and same night as Canada/Cuba.

If it was the other way and that game was the second match day, and Canada needed Panama to beat Honduras with both Panama already in, you'd see a 90 minute borefest with both teams shaking each others hands all game, both playing for the draw.

Plus, hopefully a solid game against Cuba will give the team a boost of confidence going into that Honduras game a few days later, and at the same time, you hope the Panama/Honduras game is a Central American special, filled with dirty tactics, emotion, incidents, injuries, and plenty of red and yellow cards.

[transplant99]

Sounds like canadian players have been implicated in game fixing, albeit at a lower level.

Maybe it infiltrated the National team?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/...ng-canada.html

[browna]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Sounds like canadian players have been implicated in game fixing, albeit at a lower level.

Maybe it infiltrated the National team?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/...ng-canada.html

At a much lower level. Much. The CBC article calling that a feeder system for Canadian MLS teams is well off the mark, too, IMO. Players like this aren't likelygoing anywhere further up the soccer chain.

I personally know and have played with guys who played on similar professional teams in various iterations in Calgary, and although often very good players, their time to play MLS or the National program ended when they were 20 if you're not in those systems by that age. Most guys on thse CSL teams, I imagine, are well into their twenty's, approaching their 30's.

I am genuinely surprised that those CSL games, that can't cost more the $10 for a ticket, can even be wagered on anywhere in the world. But there is a lot of ethnic ties and ties to Europe on most of those teams (players, coaches, financial supporters, regular suporters), so its not a shock that if wagering is allowed, that there are several pipelines from across the pond to try and influence matches.

Bt to make any sort of link between this and anything to do with anything on the national soccer level isjust plain wrong. If it were MLS fixing, then there maybe something to that, but MLS players are making a whole lot more then these weekend part time professionals.

[mac_82]

Originally Posted by browna

At a much lower level. Much. The CBC article calling that a feeder system for Canadian MLS teams is well off the mark, too, IMO. Players like this aren't likelygoing anywhere further up the soccer chain.

The majority of the players won't be going anywhere. But this is the league where the TFC and Impact academy teams play, and several players have made it into the national men's team already, not to mention the MLS. But really it's boys from the academy teams playing against men whose windows are closing at making any kind of money in the game, and clearly are suceptable to taking an easy bribe.

[Mango]

Bad news:

Steven Goff ‏@SoccerInsider Breaking: Dwayne De Rosario will be sidelined 10-12 weeks, effectively ending his season #dcu #mls

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Mango

Bad news:

Steven Goff ‏@SoccerInsider Breaking: Dwayne De Rosario will be sidelined 10-12 weeks, effectively ending his season #dcu #mls

Well it's all coming together, my hopes were so high, and have plummeted back to earth. Oh, cheering for the Flames and Soccer Canada, why are you so hard on me?

[shermanator]

Did anybody see the tackle that caused the injury?

[Mango]

Originally Posted by shermanator

Did anybody see the tackle that caused the injury?

It was early and the call actually went against De Rosario. He fell awkwardly on top of the other player. I believe this all happened before the lights went off and there was that long delay of game. He didn't return to the field after that.

[pewpew]

It was a pretty innocuous challenge IIRC.

[Ozy_Flame]

Our one player who had the chance to lead Canada into WC qualifying is now out.

This doesn't look good for the Reds.

[Jimmy Stang]

Yeah, if anything, De Rosario just went in awkwardly, and although he deserved to be called on the foul, there was nothing untoward in either player's actions. It happened just before the lights went out, and when the power came back, the 4th official had the substitution on the board.

Along the same lines, after anticipating a gong show from the Panamanians and the officials, it actually wasn't too bad for a Central American game. It would have been nice to have someone to point the finger at, but it was just a lacklustre effort and Canada can only blame themselves.

[browna]

Tough for DeRosario.

But still comes down to beating Cuba at home, which (even though it likely won't be) should be a formality with or without him, and then pull likely pull one out in Honduras (after Honduras has a tough match with Panama days before).

Its not like Honduras is some powerhouse where Canada needs a miracle and all the stars to align to have a chance. Canada will need (and get, IMO) that good fortune in the next round if they get there.

[Matty81]

Both games will be so massive... really hoping they can score a few against Cuba and put Honduras in a position where they need to not only win, but win by 2 or 3 to get through - I think if they win by more than 2 they have a good chance of effectively clinching the hex at home. Given their form up front it's not likely, but you can hope right?

Wonder who will get the call to replace DeRo, gotta be Hume, Cavallini or Edwini-Bonsu I think, none are near the player DeRo is but hopefully they can bring someone in who's in form and they poach a goal or two - thought Ricketts struggled in Panama.

[Stay Golden]

That was kind of a weird way De Rosario got injured he jumped up into the defender as he they were making contact and when they were getting up the Panama player sort of rolled on to his leg.

Given who there is currently as past call ups Hume works hard but gets little results in the end, he lacks ball control in my opinion. Edwini-Bonsu doesn't have the impact that will be needed for playing up with Jackson, that's JMO though.
I like the idea of Lucas Cavallini as an injection of youth and moxy.
I like how he is always involved and wants to matter and is going to be a key striker for Canada as the next gen.
Get him involved with the mens roster now.
This could be an opportunity that Hart can to go in instead of the standard way of thinking, Hume.
Ricketts is fast and all but serves Hart better as 65-70 min sub. I didn't see much chemistry at all with him and Jackson together.


Regardless with De Rosario lost this is going to be really an uphill battle for Canada as the entire attack moves through him at one aspect or another. Also for direct free kicks near the box he is the best on the team.
Cuba should be an easy 3 pts if Canada brings the right mindset to attack early and often. With this team who knows.
If Hart has any hopes to win the Honduras the mids absolutly mest in engage and support the strikers and stop with huge gaps of field defending. They just volunteered up 40 yrds of field to Panama all game.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

I like the idea of Lucas Cavallini as an injection of youth and moxy.
I like how he is always involved and wants to matter and is going to be a key striker for Canada as the next gen.
Get him involved with the mens roster now.
This could be an opportunity that Hart can to go in instead of the standard way of thinking, Hume.

Yep have to say I agree - especially since this season he got loaned out to another team in the top league in Uruguay from Nacional, has started both games this season for their senior team and fired in a goal to boot.

Only thing is, he's not a guy who takes defenders on and runs with the ball at his feet like DeRo, which is the kind of player Edwini-Bonsu is. He's not really playing much in 2-Bundesliga though and I feel like he has shown a bit of an attitude in getting sent off for the olympic team and name dropping Ghana as an option when he didn't get a callup last spring.