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

[GirlySports]

Canada looks so out of sync.

Although a draw is fine at this stage in the competition.

[shermanator]

Yup, that was a pretty pathetic effort from the Canadians. A draw doesn't hurt them at all, but it's hard to build support for a national team with that display.

[Stay Golden]

Canada looked slugish and I can't help but feel that Hart had the reins on them to sit back and not take to many chances. They appeared to take a defensive posture almost immediatly. No risk no reward.
Hart has to deliver the mindset with his team to go out with every intention to win and not to play with the mindset of we are playing not to lose.
Canada still looks good to advance, but the next round this sit back nonsense will not get Canada beyond the second round.

[shermanator]

Bump.

Rosters were announced today for the Nov 11 and 15 matches against St. Kitts and Nevis. Canada needs just 1 point in the 2 games against St. Kitts to qualify for the third round, where they would play against Cuba, Honduras and Panama.

If they make the third round, they have the easiest route to the final round possible, avoiding Mexico, the US, and Jamaica, who all seem to have Canada's number.

1- GK- Lars Hirschfeld | NOR / Vålerenga Fotball
2- FB- Nik Ledgerwood | GER / SV Wehen Wiesbaden
3- FB- Mike Klukowski | TUR / Manisaspor
5- CB- Adam Straith | GER / FC Energie Cottbus
6- M- Julian de Guzman | CAN / Toronto FC
7- M- Matt Stinson | CAN / Toronto FC
8- M- Will Johnson | USA / Real Salt Lake
9- F- Tosaint Ricketts | ROM / FC Politehnica Timişoara
10- F- Simeon Jackson | ENG / Norwich City FC
11- M- Josh Simpson | TUR / Manisaspor
12- M- Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault | GER / SC Preußen Münster
13- FB- Ante Jazić | USA / Chivas USA
14- F- Dwayne De Rosario | USA / DC United
15- CB- David Edgar | ENG / Burnley FC
16- F- Olivier Occean | GER / SpVgg Greuther Fürth
17- LB- Ashtone Morgan | CAN / Toronto FC
20- M- Patrice Bernier | DEN / Lyngby Boldklub
22- GK- Kenny Stamatopoulos | SWE / AIK Fotbol

[CrusaderPi]

Does Concacaf really need a 4 round process to determine their 3.5 teams?

[Jimmy Stang]

Unfortunately the game tomorrow won't be on TV, but the one on the 15th (the home leg) will be.

[Locke]

Wrong thread.

[shermanator]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

Unfortunately the game tomorrow won't be on TV, but the one on the 15th (the home leg) will be.

That is correct. From the Voyageurs board, it appears Sportsnet / CSA is on location trying to determine if they can get a web stream up. Bandwidth appears to be the main issue.

To quote poster Toronto MB:

Here's what we know:

- Sportsnet are hard-at-work working with 'Lime' the telecoms company down there to get a 'broadband' line installed in the stadium
- Based on reports at this time, we believe that the stadium in St. Kitts is in even worse shape than the one in St. Lucia in terms of being able to support this kind of line
- Sportsnet are sending a camera man, as well as Gerry Dobson and John Molinaro. If the line is capable of supporting a video stream, they will do so and they will also call the game
- If they don't feel that the line can support a video stream, Gavin and I would step in again to do an audio broadcast
- Failing that, we will be restricted to tweeting off of our blackberries and mobile phones...

Good to see some effort putting in towards finding a way to broadcast the game though!

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by CrusaderPi

Does Concacaf really need a 4 round process to determine their 3.5 teams?

Yes because there's 30+ teams and everyone needs a fair shot. And because they want to guarantee the Hexagonal and that US and Mexico are guaranteed to play each other. That's the big money-maker.

[Jimmy Stang]

^ Regarding this potential "audio broadcast", it sounds like they did that last time (although I wasn't aware). Would this be done through Sportsnet, the CSA, independently, etc.?

I wouldn't mind tuning in to an audio feed, although even a single camera web cast would be nice as well.

[shermanator]

Tomorrow game is now going to be streamed on Sportsnet.ca!

thevoyageursThe Voyageurs



Sportsnet.ca will stream tomorrow's Canada match at St. Kitts *live* at 8pm EST / 5pm PST. Stream page here: http://bit.ly/vzX8Ok #CanMNT

...

thevoyageursThe Voyageurs


Correction to an earlier tweet. Game tomorrow is at 7pm EST/4pm PST, despite what the webpage says. http://bit.ly/vzX8Ok #CanMNT

[Jimmy Stang]

Excellent news. I like that Sportsnet is trying their best with it. Thanks for the info on this.

[TopChed]

40 mins till gametime, hope that stream will be decent quality. Thanks for that link shermanator.

[GirlySports]

It looks like they're playing on the moon.

[Jimmy Stang]

I have it up on my TV via my Boxee. Acceptable quality, all things considered.

St. Kitts aren't laying down, that's for sure.

[shermanator]

I'm impressed with the crowd in St. Kitts. Very boisterous, especially compared to the Puerto Rico game.

[GirlySports]

the steel drum band is a nice touch.

[shermanator]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

the steel drum band is a nice touch.

More cowbell is needed though...

[Jimmy Stang]

Well it was far from pretty, but Canada are through to the next round. They'll have to be more convincing in those matches.

Although the feed got choppy at times, kudos to Sportsnet for doing what they could to bring it to us.

[browna]

I have no idea if they have anything lined up, or can line things up (they should be able to), but before that next round in the Spring Canada Soccer NEED need to setup friendlies again similarly ranked Euro teams to the next Concacaf group teams. They need to regain the confidence that we saw earlier in the group (the games before the blowout game) and have since clearly lost.

Can't play teams that are too good that they're in awe of and make excuses as to why they lost, but can't play minnows like St Kitts and draw them either.

Canada got a gift to avoid the US and Mexico in the second stage, and they have to take advantage of that. They'll get blown out of the water with performances like the last two games...sure, its opponents that they are clearly playing down to and they've proven they can play down to opponents, but can they play up to similarly or higher ranked opponents? I'd rather not find out the hard way in the next group stage, rather get some of that worked out in friendlies before that.

I stand beside my predicition that if they can through round get into the Final round, they will have gained the confidence and the glass slipper and do the unfathomable and make the WC. Don't ask me how...just a feeling....but I think the biggest obstacle will be next year's grouping.