Canada 103 in FIFA rankings... - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

ricoFlame · 03-14-2007, 12:23 PM

I realize that they haven't played since the last rankings came out, but that number is painful. need to start winning some friendlies.

http://www.tsn.ca/soccer/news_story/?ID=200051&hubname=

Seabass · 03-14-2007, 12:30 PM

I think Greenland is ranked 97th....

ricoFlame · 03-14-2007, 12:32 PM

here is the full ranking list:

http://www.fifa.com/en/mens/statisti...r-2007,00.html

Thunderball · 03-14-2007, 12:38 PM

oh man, that makes me proud to be Canadian... FIFA ranking with third world countries, islands and city-states... good job.

OILFAN #81 · 03-14-2007, 12:43 PM

We don't get funded enough compared to the rest of the world. We have the talent but don't have the means of funding. I remember last year in our development camp, the coaches wanted us to pay for getting there among other things while other teams get everything paid for and have training centers in every state. Here in Canada we have to go to Toronto primarily and occasionally Vancouver. If you don't get funded properly, it's hard to compete with the top countries.

PS......check out our u-20 game in Commonwealth this July......i'll be on the sidelines. I'm sure it will get sold out but our young kids could use the support! Cheers.

troutman · 03-14-2007, 02:22 PM

Let's offer Brazil's B Team Canadian citizenships!

KTown · 03-14-2007, 02:22 PM

Czech Republic is #9.

We're still in the top 10, big game against Germany coming up on the 24th winner takes the lead in the Euro 2008 qualifying group. No matter what the result is these two teams should easily finish 1-2 and qualify.

Winsor_Pilates · 03-14-2007, 02:29 PM

Just gross.
I understand that funding may be a small issue, but when you can't even compete with the third world it has nothing to do with $$

KevanGuy · 03-14-2007, 03:07 PM

Ugly. I wonder where we'd sit if Canadian born players actually played for Canada. Maybe 50-55 range?

troutman · 03-14-2007, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevanGuy

Ugly. I wonder where we'd sit if Canadian born players actually played for Canada. Maybe 50-55 range?

Who are you calling out besides Hargreaves?

I agree BTW. You should not get to play for another country, just because your second cousin once stopped for a beer in that other country.

octothorp · 03-14-2007, 04:14 PM

It's pretty staggering the difference between where our men and women are on the world stage in soccer. I believe the women were recently ranked in the top ten and are considered a serious contender for the upcoming world cup. Why the disparity? Is it just that the women's field is comparatively weak internationally, or are our men's and women's programs fundamentally different?

Mr.Coffee · 03-14-2007, 04:16 PM

To help put in perspective just HOW BAD we truly are, Cyprus, a country with a population that is less than just Calgary, is ranked 68th and is in an extremely difficult European division where I am positive they must get smashed quite often.

Thunderball · 03-14-2007, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by octothorp

It's pretty staggering the difference between where our men and women are on the world stage in soccer. I believe the women were recently ranked in the top ten and are considered a serious contender for the upcoming world cup. Why the disparity? Is it just that the women's field is comparatively weak internationally, or are our men's and women's programs fundamentally different?

Women's Soccer is not taken seriously by a staggering majority of countries. Comparatively speaking, our women are well funded... while our men are a joke. Skill wise, they're decent, but they don't have the infrastructure to make the next step... part of the problem being no national league.

KTown · 03-14-2007, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

To help put in perspective just HOW BAD we truly are, Cyprus, a country with a population that is less than just Calgary, is ranked 68th and is in an extremely difficult European division where I am positive they must get smashed quite often.

Cyprus just recently tied Germany 1-1 in the Euro 2008 qualifying round. That being said, it's no excuse that Canada sucks at it, considering how many people actually play this sport in Canada. Funding or not, we should be challenging for a spot in the world cup every 4 years. Since 3 countries in the CONCACAF region get in, with 4 a possibility as there is a play in game. It's quite sad we can't lock up being the 3rd best nation in this region.

ricoFlame · 03-14-2007, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KTown

Since 3 countries in the CONCACAF region get in, with 4 a possibility as there is a play in game. It's quite sad we can't lock up being the 3rd best nation in this region.

i agree, considering that a win over many concacaf teams would be considered an upset at the time being (ie. mexico, usa, costa rica, cuba, T & T, honduras, hati (ouch), ect.) qualification is surprisingly possible for a canadian side which makes repeatedly not doing it even more awful. they just have to step up and actually make it happen for a change.

browna · 03-14-2007, 11:32 PM

Canada moved up a ton of spots last week by not even playing a game a few months ago (6 maybe).
I don't put too much credit in these...Canada's friendlies are in the spring and summer.

KevanGuy · 03-15-2007, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

Who are you calling out besides Hargreaves?

Him and Stalteri at least right now yeah. If we'd kept everyone over the years dont you think we'd be higher up now?

icarus · 03-15-2007, 06:10 AM

Noooooooo! We have dropped below Ethiopia and Uganda!

During the World Cup last summer I worked with a guy from Ethiopia and a guy from Uganda and I used to comfort myself about Canada's absence from the tournament by talking smack to them.

JD · 03-16-2007, 10:32 AM

People can cite funding if they want, but that's only a reason for being behind the big guys.

When I see IRAQ nearly 20 spots ahead, it tends to indicate that we're doing more things wrong than just funding. Maybe we aren't playing according to the proper rules?

Thunderball · 03-16-2007, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevanGuy

Him and Stalteri at least right now yeah. If we'd kept everyone over the years dont you think we'd be higher up now?

I'm not sure I understand. Stalteri is one of Canada's most capped national players. Personally, I wouldn't blame him for not wanting to play for Canada anymore, since it has probably hampered his growth. If he was an English or Italian national, his career would likely have taken off, instead of his high being a starter in Werder Bremen and now a sub for Tottenham.

Hargreaves is the only one of note who has chosen to play for another national team. Part of the reason for that was Canada Soccer's arrogance. Its important to cap our potential stars early, so they don't get snapped up by other countries later. Personally, if I was a player of Hargreaves' ilk, I'd rather play for Italy or Germany (my ancestral homes), than Canada, a country that has shown no serious desire to support soccer at all levels. The only way Canada would be able to keep me, is if they capped me at the U-20 level or less. They failed to do that with Hargreaves, so he bolted to a contender.

The good news is there are some promising young guys coming up, notably potential Chelsea target and current Feyenoord midfielder Jonathan de Guzman.