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

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Matty81

Man I just feel so disappointed.

I think back to that game they dominated in Toronto against Honduras where they couldn't get the goal to win it and it's tough to take when you think how easily they could have gone through.

And today... man I expected a loss but 1-0 or 2-1. This is just going to destroy our program for maybe 6 years. Say goodbye to Hoilett or De Guzman 2, on top of that say goodbye to our whole midfield except Johnsons and half the back line. The only players who will still be there next time around are our stikers... how's that for a bitter pill.

yeah...

But I think it's ok.. we have good Olympic team and good u20 and u17 teams. I still enjoyed this campaign, they played very disciplined and organized and Hart has a good thing going. Last campaign, Canada couldn't even put two passes together. In the end, maybe we don't want Hoilett or De Guzman anyways.. build through Henry, Cavalini, Edwini Bonsu and those guys.

Today really sucks but I don't think it undos the previous 11 matches. Build from here!

[Mango]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

Pretty sure they're in the studio in Toronto.

They are. Sportsnet only sent a reporter down.

[St. Pats]

I'd pile on but why bother. The only real surprise is the manner in which they are losing. I'd say choking but "choking" to me is having the talent to win but not doing so. How big a nation is in population and/or wealth has zero to do with how they do at a sport.

There has to be top athletes choosing the sport over other ones and then being able to find opportunities to get excellent coaching, games etc. to progress to an elite level.

True of very few sports in Canada. Very few.

I'm not sure I would even classify Canada as a sporting nation outside of hockey. Maybe there is some hope on the horizon as the MLS seems to becoming more a league Canadian players can shoot for but I wonder if the pathway there is even in place.

[Stay Golden]

If I were on this Canadian team i would say we were not on our game because we recieved death threats. There is nothing that can save the Q&A why did you get absolutly shat canned down there to that team.

This is why Canada has a monumental uphill battle gaining new support for this Mens Sport in Canada. The majority of Canadian Soccer fans will remain pulling for their ethnic background countries outside of Canada first and foremost.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

If I were on this Canadian team i would say we were not on our game because we recieved death threats. There is nothing that can save the Q&A why did you get absolutly shat canned down there to that team.

This is why Canada has a monumental uphill battle gaining new support for this Mens Sport in Canada. The majority of Canadian Soccer fans will remain pulling for their ethnic background countries outside of Canada first and foremost.

People can do both! They can cheer for Canada and Country X.

I'm still pleased (but sad today). At least they got this far... 4 years ago at this time Canada had 2 points. Could not put 2 passes together looked this lost for all 6 matches, not just the last one.

If Ricketts had scored in the 1st minute..... *sigh*

[polak]

Originally Posted by St. Pats

I'm not sure I would even classify Canada as a sporting nation outside of hockey.

I don't think anyone would actually think that?
Frankly, we have passion for one sport. Thats it. One. The country doesn't "stop" to watch football, baseball or basketball... Just hockey.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by St. Pats

I'm not sure I would even classify Canada as a sporting nation outside of hockey.

Canada was 13th in the medal count in London, and first in Gold medals in Vancouver.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

I cheer for Canada and Germany in everything. Canada first, Germany second. Although it would be crazy if Germany ever beat Canada in hockey.

[d_phaneuf]

france!

[polak]

Originally Posted by troutman

Canada was 13th in the medal count in London, and first in Gold medals in Vancouver.

Can you name one time the general population has ever stopped to watch an event that Canada has medalled in outside of the olympics, not including hockey?

We don't actually care about the sports themselves. We just care about the medal counts in the olympics.

[SuperMatt18]

France ties it late, although the more impressive stat might be that possession was 50-50. I don't remember the last Spain game where possession was actually equal.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by St. Pats

I'd pile on but why bother. The only real surprise is the manner in which they are losing. I'd say choking but "choking" to me is having the talent to win but not doing so. How big a nation is in population and/or wealth has zero to do with how they do at a sport.

There has to be top athletes choosing the sport over other ones and then being able to find opportunities to get excellent coaching, games etc. to progress to an elite level.

True of very few sports in Canada. Very few.

I'm not sure I would even classify Canada as a sporting nation outside of hockey. Maybe there is some hope on the horizon as the MLS seems to becoming more a league Canadian players can shoot for but I wonder if the pathway there is even in place.

There are plenty of other winter sports that Canada excels at, the medal stand in Vancouver demonstrated that, but summer sports are always going to be difficult. The culture doesn't really embrace them and the weather makes it difficult for them to grab hold of people.

Outside of Sweden and Russia (which has a massive population advantage) are there any other cold weather climates that have strong soccer programs? Norway pops up here and there, Finland generally sucks. Denmark has been strong for a while so I guess that's another, but they're vikings so that's not quite fair. I guess Germany counts as cold weather, but it's filled with robots in human skin so again, not really fair.

[calgaryrocks]

Originally Posted by polak

I don't think anyone would actually think that?
Frankly, we have passion for one sport. Thats it. One. The country doesn't "stop" to watch football, baseball or basketball... Just hockey.

with exception of the Grey Cup/Superbowl. if there were an international competition in Football we might stop the same as in the olympics. if Canada were in the world cup the country would stop, problem is we aren't that good at soccer

[Mango]

Originally Posted by Mango

They are. Sportsnet only sent a reporter down.

I kind of realized I came across as a cow in that response. My apologies. Just disappointed.

[The Big Chill]

What an epic disappointment.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Mango

I kind of realized I came across as a cow in that response. My apologies. Just disappointed.

Not at all. I was just interested in the media side of things.

[J epworth]

Originally Posted by polak

Can you name one time the general population has ever stopped to watch an event that Canada has medalled in outside of the olympics, not including hockey?

We don't actually care about the sports themselves. We just care about the medal counts in the olympics.

Besides Curling (which many love watching but I wouldn't say stop to watch), many Canadians stopped to watch Canada in the 2006 World Baseball Classic when we beat the USA.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by polak

Can you name one time the general population has ever stopped to watch an event that Canada has medalled in outside of the olympics, not including hockey?

We don't actually care about the sports themselves. We just care about the medal counts in the olympics.

St. Pats said Canada was not a sporting nation. Clearly it is (perfomance). Public interest is another topic (attendance/ratings).

[polak]

Originally Posted by valo403

Outside of Sweden and Russia (which has a massive population advantage) are there any other cold weather climates that have strong soccer programs? Norway pops up here and there, Finland generally sucks. Denmark has been strong for a while so I guess that's another, but they're vikings so that's not quite fair. I guess Germany counts as cold weather, but it's filled with robots in human skin so again, not really fair.

Most of Europe has a similar climate to the regions in Canada where 90% of the population resides.

Germany, Poland, UK, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Serbia, Austria, Switzerland, Russia, Ukraine are all countries with a similar climate to Southern Canada and with a strong support of Soccer (much stronger than Canada at least)

I'd kill if we could have the mentality of France or Italy. Those are examples of REAL sporting countries.

[GirlySports]

Aiya~!