Official Team Canada Soccer Thread

[LittleOzzy]

Fantastic draw against the US after that terrible game against Denmark.

We had two or three good chances and really played well defensively. Kyle Bekker really had a good game.

[and1GS]

Couple questions...where were the De Guzmans and Hoilett in that friendly?

[LittleOzzy]

Couple questions...where were the De Guzmans and Hoilett in that friendly?

Julian de Guzman play regularly for Team Canada but was away in Germany signing a new contract.

Jonathan de Guzmán and Junior Hoilett both have turned away from their country and choose not to play for Canada.

[and1GS]

With Jonathan I can understand that, but Hoilett has fallen out of favor at bottom of the table QPR. I guess he really doesn't want anything to do with Canada.

[LittleOzzy]

Occean banned, likely out of Gold Cup

Canada will likely be without forward Olivier Occean for this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup after FIFA announced on Monday that the Eintracht Frankfurt forward has been suspended for six games stemming from an incident in World Cup qualifying last October.

In that match against Cuba at Toronto's BMO Field, the 31-year-old Occean was given a straight red card after getting into a scuffle with two Cuban players after Canada scored their second goal in a 3-0 win.

After Will Johnson scored in the 73rd minute, he went to retrieve the ball that was held by Cuban goalkeeper Odelin Molina. Occean ran over and shoved Molina before being pushed in retaliation by another Cuban player. In the end, Occean was the only player disciplined.

In FIFA's ruling, soccer's international governing body said Occean was guilty of “committing an act of unsporting conduct, displaying several acts of unsporting behavior and using offensive language towards match officials.”

The suspension applies to competitive matches. Occean already sat out Canada’s 8-1 loss to Honduras due to the red card, meaning he wouldn’t be available to play until the Gold Cup final – should Canada make it that far.

In the decision, one that FIFA said is not yet final and binding, Occean was also fined 7,500 Swiss Francs.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2 ... t-gold-cup

[LittleOzzy]

Canada just called up Terry Dunfield, who hasn't played professionally in 7 months.

That's the level Canada Soccer is at right now.

[LittleOzzy]

Canada vs. Jamaica currently 1-1.

Great game so far.

[MaliBrah]

sweet freekick goal , sheesh. 2-1 for canada

[LittleOzzy]

Damn we actually look good!

3-1 now.

[LittleOzzy]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/AmericanCasual1/status/509528286041755648[/tweet]

Soccer in Canada can be really really awesome. Fans deserve a consistent side to watch, and hopefully Team Canada is moving in the right direction for that to happen.

[Matty]

3 goals in a single match! that's more goals than they scored in all of the 2013 games combined

This is what happens when you hire an experienced European coach. It took awhile but they're finally getting results. Now if only Fluoro can convince Holliet to get involved they can really be a threat to the US & Mexico next year and hopefully get thru qualifications for 2018.

[MaliBrah]

going to take a while before we can be a threat to the US or mexico who are both steadily improving as well.

[LittleOzzy]

going to take a while before we can be a threat to the US or mexico who are both steadily improving as well.

We don't have to be the very best in CONCACAF, just in the top 6

That gives us an amazing chance at the next World Cup. We are still a long long way off, but any improvement is a good sign at this point.

[LittleOzzy]

Canada up two spots in FIFA Ranking

Canada, which beat Jamaica earlier this month, moved up two spots to No. 120 but still fell to 15th spot overall in CONCACAF as others leapfrogged it. The Canadian men were ranked ninth in North and Central America and the Caribbean last month at No. 122.

http://www.tsn.ca/soccer/story/?id=462051

[MaliBrah]

robbed of a clear penalty in the 3rd min lol

[MaliBrah]

lol this ref stinks , canada with a solid performance so far

[LittleOzzy]

0-0 at the half.

Canada has been impressive... and yes this Ref is brutal.

[LittleOzzy]

Great result for Team Canada tonight.

Losing 1-0 to Colombia is nothing to be ashamed of. We played great, and likely deserved the tie, but whatever.

Still a great game. Julian de Guzman was fantastic.

[LittleOzzy]

Canada announces March friendlies against Guatemala and Puerto Rico

With massive World Cup qualifying and Gold Cup matches ahead of them this summer, the Canadian men’s national team will be playing their final warm-up contests against a pair of CONCACAF opponents.

Benito Floro’s side will face Guatemala on March 27 (4:30 pm ET kickoff) at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida before jetting to the Caribbean for a match against Puerto Rico on March 30 (6:30 pm ET kickoff), the Canadian Soccer Association announced on Thursday.

Canada last played Guatemala in a friendly in Oxnard, Calif. on June 30, 2009, where a brace from Ali Gerba and a goal from Patrice Bernier gave Les Rouges a 3-0 win. The team’s last match against Puerto Rico was in World Cup qualifying on Oct. 11, 2011, a 0-0 draw at BMO Field in Toronto.

The last time Canada played in Puerto Rico was a month before that, a 3-0 victory on goals from Iain Hume, Simeon Jackson and Tosaint Ricketts.

The matches against Guatemala and Puerto Rico fall in a FIFA window, which should give Floro the opportunity to assemble a more experienced roster than the relatively untested squad that played a pair of friendlies (a 2-1 loss and a 1-1 draw) against Iceland in January.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2 ... uerto-rico

Canada is about to start their long run of disappointment again.

[LittleOzzy]

Canada MNT v. Puerto Rico

Game starts in 10 minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00lyjtefayg

Available for free on Youtube.