Messages

61

Football / Re: Olymipic Qualifying - Canada

« on: March 16, 2008, 06:46:00 PM »

Congrats, Winningpeg.

We basically eliminated Mexico (which is great for Haiti, you owe me a drink ) , but other than that, we have accomplished nothing yet.

If Haiti win this game, they can take the group.

After Canada thrashed Guatemala, Mexico may be completely demoralized as they are now essentially eliminated.  You may just pull off the upset..........

62

Football / Re: Olymipic Qualifying - Canada

« on: March 16, 2008, 06:34:33 PM »

3 nil for Canada. peggy is going to be posting here all night 

Toussaint is going to need a big result and so is Mexico.........

Canada can win 10 nil but it will not matter if Haiti wins because Haiti would be on 6 points and canada 4.

yes but haiti beating mexico in a do or die is a big result

It would be a great result for Haiti, I just don't see it happening.

Anyone that can beat Mexico deserves our full support (except for Canada's tonight).

63

Football / Re: Olymipic Qualifying - Canada

« on: March 16, 2008, 06:32:08 PM »

3 nil for Canada. peggy is going to be posting here all night 

Toussaint is going to need a big result and so is Mexico.........

Canada can win 10 nil but it will not matter if Haiti wins because Haiti would be on 6 points and canada 4.

Yeah, that is a big IF, because I don't know anyone that would favour Haiti.

Having said that, I love to see Haiti thrash Mexico any other day.

Hugo Sanchez will be coach of Mexico for about another two hours.

64

Football / Re: Olymipic Qualifying - Canada

« on: March 16, 2008, 05:58:08 PM »

3 nil for Canada. peggy is going to be posting here all night 

Toussaint is going to need a big result and so is Mexico.........

65

Football / Re: Olymipic Qualifying - Canada

« on: March 16, 2008, 05:52:58 PM »

Canada now up 3-0, Ricketts with the Canuck goal.........

66

Football / Re: Olymipic Qualifying - Canada

« on: March 16, 2008, 05:44:23 PM »

they leading 2 nil now

Will Johnson with all three of Canada's goals so far.  We did not have him for the Haiti match.

67

Football / Re: Olymipic Qualifying - Canada

« on: March 16, 2008, 05:41:10 PM »

http://www.rojadirecta.com/canal/psn-1.html


You can watch it live.......

68

Football / Re: Olymipic Qualifying - Canada

« on: March 16, 2008, 05:32:47 PM »

What a whiner.

These guys get press for "speaking their mind" and being "emotional and having passion" but at the end of the day, they just have NO CLASS whatsoever.

Canada always have some excuse.  Dem always "unfaired".  As if dem is de only team that have bad breaks SOMETIMES.

Anybody readin dem comments will think that the Haitian player had an easy shot when nothing is further from the truth.  The guy hit a half volley across his body and it flew into the back of the net like a bullet.  Yes it was a free shot but hardly one caused by the throw in, not to mention the technique required to hit that shot in the first place.  But Dasovic will have people believe it was as a result of players standing around confused because of the throw in thing, when the truth is the play developed long before.

Not a word from the coach about the keeper allowing himself to get string up like a dunce for the second goal...ball sailing over his head from nearly 40 yards LOOK DE GOAL HERE, but he want to say de Haitians cheat and referee teef. 

Haiti outplayed Canada in that game by plenty and fully deserved their victory.

Palos you took the words right out off my mouth. These fools cry all the time. Everybody in Concacaf is against us , nobody wants us to win, Jack gave T&T an easy group, they paid the Ref off. PEGGY and friends STOP CRYING AND JUST WIN A GAME.

Where in my post was I crying ?  You guys are idiots. 

I could care less about the circumstances of the first Haitian goal.  It was a nice goal, depite what initially happened. 

Canada had the better of the chances vs Haiti and could not capitalize.  The second half we looked fatigued.  That's how it goes.

At the Half, Canada 1-0 Guatemala........

69

Football / Re: Olymipic Qualifying - Canada

« on: March 16, 2008, 05:06:22 AM »

Dasovic says tough lessons learned from Canada's loss to Haiti

By Lori Ewing, THE CANADIAN PRESS
         

A day after the dust had settled on a heartbreaking loss to Haiti, Nick Dasovic could do little but chalk it up to lessons learned.

The head coach of Canada's under-23 men's soccer team was still fuming Saturday, following a controversial 2-1 loss to Haiti the previous night that dealt a serious blow to his team's chances of a berth in the Beijing Olympics.

"I talked to the players after the game and just kind of explained to them the ins and outs of international football in CONCACAF," Dasovic said in a phone interview from Carson, Calif. "We learned some lessons (Friday) night. Some stuff you can't do much about.

"I've seen it happen too many times as a country of Canada in these competitions, and you start asking yourself, 'Why?' It's frustrating."

The Canadians, who plummeted to last in Pool B with the loss, face Guatemala in their final game of the preliminary round Sunday, a match they must win to have any hope of advancing to semifinals.

Canada took an early lead Friday night on a goal by Tyler Rosenlund, and looked headed for victory.

But midway through the second half, Nik Ledgerwood was took an elbow to the throat. The Canadians had possession of the ball and when the referee didn't whistle to stop the play, they kicked the ball out.

Haiti took the throw in and rather than give the ball back to Canada - in keeping with soccer's spirit of fair play - they kept possession and scored.

"They threw the ball in and we figured it would come back to us and our players were standing around and the next thing you know the guy's got a free shot from the top of the box and it's 1-1," Dasovic said.

"We seemed to have them contained, and then once they scored that goal, it just seemed to wreck the whole balance and atmosphere of the team.

"I like to think I would try to be calm, but I lost my brains on the sidelines."

Dasovic said after Friday night's fiasco, he would never instruct his team to kick the ball out of bounds, and called on FIFA - the world governing body for soccer - to revisit the rules of fair play.

"God forbid it ever happens, but if a guy's lying down with some kind of serious injury, I still wouldn't tell my players to stop the game," Dasovic said.

"And I think FIFA should revamp that rule, get it out of the game, it just doesn't work. You can't trust anybody, because people will do anything - including cheating - to win."

Making matters worse, a couple of minutes after Haiti's goal, Andrzej Ornoch was taken down from behind in Haiti's penalty box - which should have resulted in a penalty shot for Canada, the coach said.

"The guy almost pulled (Ornoch's) shirt off and then the guy took him down from behind, and they just let it go, and the ref was right there," Dasovic said.

The Canadians have just one point from their two games heading into Sunday's do-or-die match against a strong Guatemala team that leads Group B with six points and has already clinched a spot in the semis. Haiti has three points, while Mexico has one point.

Canada also needs Mexico to beat Haiti.

"If we both win 1-nil, we're tied all the way through, and it comes down to a coin toss. And I would like to see that coin before they toss it. I would not trust the coin to not have two heads on it," Dasovic said with a half-hearted laugh.

But the coach believes his players must only be concerned with their performance Sunday.

"I said to the players, at the end of the day, if you want to get out of this group, you need to win a game, and we haven't done that yet," Dasovic said. "So, win the game tomorrow, and if we win it, we'll sit back and we'll be rooting for Mexico."

Canada will have forward Will Johnson back in the lineup. Johnson, who plays for De Graafschap of the Dutch league, sat Friday's game after receiving a red card in Canada's opener against Mexico.

Dasovic said he'll likely have Josh Wagenaar in net for a third straight game.

The Canadian coach faced a tough task in qualifying for Beijing, gathering his players together from teams across Europe mere days before the opening game.

"I talked to them this morning and I said I was proud of their performance, especially considering the preparation we've had, the time together we've had," Dasovic said. "They've really done a great job."

The Canadians are hoping to make their first Olympic appearance since the 1984 Games in Atlanta.

70

Football / Re: Olymipic Qualifying - Canada

« on: March 16, 2008, 05:05:36 AM »

wow peggy's team lost and he pulls ah RF and disappears.

It's called work, you should try it.....

71

Football / Re: Olymipic Qualifying - Canada

« on: March 14, 2008, 08:34:49 PM »

Winningpeg, I did tell you we were going to beat you.

Hopefully you get a better night against Guatemala.

Good luck.

If we can't beat Guatemala, we don't deserve to go through.

You guys have momentum, but Mexico will be very tough.

Good luck

72

Football / Re: Olymipic Qualifying - Canada

« on: March 14, 2008, 08:30:56 PM »

Canada was up 1-0 at the Half, but Haiti stormed back to win 2-1.  Canada sat back too much in the second half and gave the match away.  Good game by a hungry Haitian squad.

Andrew Ornoch has been the best Canadian so far......

73

Football / Re: Olymipic Qualifying - Canada

« on: March 14, 2008, 11:44:15 AM »

WAIT! WAIT! Did I read that you have a chile? And they say miracles doh happen... if you cud get ah woman to breed. anything is possible oui!

Unless... is some kinda rape drug involved.


Go Canucks!

? 

So who are the star players on Haiti and what clubs are they with ?

74

Football / Re: Olymipic Qualifying - Canada

« on: March 13, 2008, 06:30:13 PM »

yuh talking to yuhself in the thread man 
and BTW no i didnt read all that crap

Actually I'm trying to bait Toussaint, but he's not biting (just joking, but I would like his insight) .  Canada against Haiti tomorrow night, big game.

Yeah it must suck being a T&T fan Ricky.  Being a T&T fan with no T&T in the final round, who are the Soca fans cheering for ?

75

Football / Re: Olymipic Qualifying - Canada

« on: March 13, 2008, 05:48:22 PM »

Gerry Dobson:


March 13, 2008

CONCACAF COMPLICATIONS


We all agreed from the outset. With only two teams from the CONCACAF tournament qualifying for the Olympics, the United States and Mexico were both ironclad sure bets.

After all, Canada was at a distinct disadvantage. Nick Dasovic and his lads went into this thing with very little preparation since the CSA has no money. Also, his squad was also talent thin and the tournament did not fall on an international date. Therefore, the pro clubs were not obliged to release their players. That's why there's no David Edgar, Jamie Peters, or Marcel deJong. Advantage Mexico because their players nearly all play in Mexico. Advantage U.S.A. because they're so deep they don't even need their best Europeans.

So imagine our delight when Canada opened with a well earned 1-1 draw with the mighty Mexicans in a hostile environment which included the booing of our national anthem.

Welcome to CONCACAF.

And welcome to any major qualifying tournament which for many countries is next to war. The organizing committees for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in Canada please take note. Do not cater to the opposition. Do not welcome them. They hate us. And will make our lives miserable for the return match down there.

Back to the point, which is this. The top two teams in each group cross over with the winner taking on the second place team in the opposite group. The U.S. and Mexico are the top seeds in each group. The semi-final winners automatically qualify for Bejing. You can see why finishing second is not a good thing. You get one of the top seeds in the cross over. You can also understand why the draw with Mexico was so important. Suddenly first place and a softer semi final opponent is not out of the question.

Now to the other group. Here is where it gets complicated. Cuba pulled off the shocker there by drawing the Americans. Suddenly their grip on the group seemed uncertain. Further muddling the issue was the apparent defection of as many as seven Cubans after that match. If Cuba is unable to continue, their future opponents get the automatic three points by default.

Even if they do stay in, their team is severly weakened. They will have eleven players at most. In either case, the Americans are saying, wait a minute. Everyone else gets the automatic or nearly guaranteed full points, We played a much stronger team and managed only one. Watch for the U.S. to go looking for the retro points.

Are we clear?

Either way, this tournament which once upon a time looked so predictable, is now thrown wide open.

An interesting aside regarding the Home Depot Centre where Canada's group is stationed: There will be no more than 12,000 people for week night matches. An agreement with the neighbouring university has put a cap of 12,000 people for any week night match due to noise and congestion. At least that keeps the hostility directed towards Canada to a limit. Up next is Haiti on Friday which is considered a weekend night. As there were only 9,000 for the Mexico game, it shouldn't be a problem.

76

Football / Re: Olymipic Qualifying - Canada

« on: March 13, 2008, 05:21:35 PM »

Wagenaar leads Canada in draw with Mexico

By THE CANADIAN PRESS
         

CARSON, Calif. - Months of inactivity did not prevent Josh Wagenaar from achieving a moment of triumph when Canada most needed it at the CONCACAF men's Olympic qualifying tournament.

Mexico's Sergio Avila just sent a through ball to Edgar Castillo, who was dribbling alone on the goalkeeper to try to break a 1-1 tie in second-half stoppage time Wednesday night.

"I was going to come off my line and try to intercept (the ball) before he got it, and I could see that he was going to get there before me," Wagenaar said. "So I just held my line and got set. Once he took the shot, I just reacted to it."

The 23-year-old from Grimsby, Ont., deflected Castillo's seven-yard shot with his left hand to preserve the tie and ensure a much-needed point in Canada's quest to reach the Olympics.

"Josh was very solid," Canadian forward Andrazes Ornoch said. "He faced a lot of pressure and I thought he dealt very well with it. Any time we had a shot on net or go near net, he had to be aware and he was always there."

Wagenaar's big moment came after two months of relative inaction following his January release by ADO Den Haag of Holland's first division. Since his release, Wagenaar has yet to sign with another club.

When was the last time he played a meaningful match?

"A meaningful match," Wagenaar said. "A while. I don't even know. I think probably about 10 months, maybe."

Wagenaar signed a two-year contract with ADO Den Haag in 2006 after playing at Hartwick College in New York for three years. But after spending most of his time with the club's reserves, Wagenaar asked for his release.

"I knew that I wasn't going to get a shot at the first team and they're facing some financial difficulties now," he said. "I thought it was in my best interests to get out when I could, and I managed to get a settlement out of the club."

Wagenaar then began a journey that took him from Holland to Florida, back to Holland, to Iowa and then to California to keep sharp while trying to find another team.

He trained with Canada's under-23 and senior national squads, Major League Soccer's Toronto FC and a collegiate team in Iowa. Since his release, Wagenaar played one exhibition for the under-23 team, two separate halves for the senior nationals and one game and one half for Toronto FC.

"It's been pretty difficult," Wagenaar said. "Mentally, it's been quite hard, as well."

When Canada's training camp for Olympic qualifying began in California, Wagenaar and David Monsalve were competing to start in goal. Both were free agents trying to replace Asmir Begovic, who was serving a one-game suspension against Mexico.

Wagenaar didn't know he had surpassed Monsalve until Canadian head coach Nick Dasovic told him Tuesday that he would start in the team's opener. The game would be Wagenaar's first official appearance with the under-23 squad.

"Nothing phases the kid; he's very easygoing," Dasovic said. "If something goes wrong, he just figures it out, lets it go and gets on with it."

Wagenaar's big moment against Mexico proved pivotal in more ways than one.

"We did ourselves a world of good by getting a point against Mexico," Wagenaar said. "It definitely helped our confidence going into these next two games. I think it would be a big thing for Canadian soccer if we manage to qualify".

It also briefly turned Dasovic into Wagenaar's unofficial agent.

"If there are any MLS teams out there," Dasovic said after the game, "Josh is free, I think."

77

Football / Re: Olymipic Qualifying - Canada

« on: March 13, 2008, 05:17:40 PM »

Highlights of the Canada-Mexico match.  A questionable PK for Mexico, what else is new.  They drop easier then my 4 yr old daughter:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhccN7ugF7U

78

Football / Re: Olymipic Qualifying - Canada

« on: March 13, 2008, 06:41:14 AM »

Great result for Canada.  We are missing our 4 best players and only assembled days ago, playing in front of a huge Mexican crowd.  The Mexicans have been together for months !

Another bonus is that Jacob Lensky of Feyenoord has comitted to Canada:


Johnson scores early, Canada hangs on for 1-1 tie with Mexico
By THE CANADIAN PRESS
         

CARSON, Calif. - Canada led Mexico for the first 21 minutes before settling for a 1-1 tie in Group B play at the CONCACAF men's Olympic qualifying tournament Wednesday night.

Canada and Mexico share second place with one point each. Guatemala leads the group with three points after beating Haiti 1-0.

Will Johnson gave Canada a 1-0 lead in the third minute. Mexico defender Julio Dominguez tried to clear Tosaint Ricketts' free kick from the left flank, but Andrazes Ornoch intercepted the clearance at the edge of the penalty area. Ornoch passed as he fell to Johnson, who beat two defenders and struck a 10-yard shot.

Mexico tied the score on Luis Angel Landin's penalty kick in the 22nd minute. Cesar Villaluz drew the penalty when defender Andrew Hainault brought him down from behind on a breakaway.

Ricketts had a chance to break the tie in the 40th minute but Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa leaped to tip Ricketts' seven-yard header off Johnson's 31-yard free kick over the crossbar with his left hand.

Then in second-half stoppage time, goalkeeper Joshua Wagenaar kept Mexico from breaking the tie when he deflected Edgar Castillo's seven-yard shot.

Mexico had to play with 10 men after Landin received his second red card in the 67th minute. But Johnson received a red card in the 76th minute and is suspended for Canada's game against Haiti on Friday night.

79

Football / Re: Olymipic Qualifying - Canada

« on: March 12, 2008, 08:06:25 PM »

Canada unsettled at 'keeper ahead of Oly qualifier opener vs Mexico

By Shi Davidi, THE CANADIAN PRESS
         

Canada will start either Josh Wagenaar or David Monsalve in goal for Wednesday's CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament opener against Mexico, a decision Nick Dasovic plans to leave to the last minute.

With Portsmouth's Asmir Begovic under suspension for one game, the head coach must choose between a pair of 'keepers who both are unattached right now and who haven't seen game action in some time.

"It's a tough one," Dasovic said on a conference call Tuesday announcing his roster. "To be fair, right now it's a coin toss. They're both in a very, very even situation.

"It's such a crucial position, the 'keeper. ... I'm still undecided, unfortunately."

Canada was slated to hold a final training session Tuesday evening and Dasovic hoped one of his available 'keepers would sway him during the workout.

In a sense, the unsettled situation is fitting for a team that has condensed a four-year program into a 10-day camp ahead of the regional qualifier in Carson, Calif.

The under-23 squad is seeking one of the two berths to the 2008 Beijing Olympics up for grabs with a roster nearly as notable for who isn't on it, as who is.

David Edgar (Newcastle), Simeon Jackson (Gillingham), Jaime Peters (Ipswich Town), Marcel De Jong (Roda JC), and Alex Elliott (Sportfreunde Siegen) all weren't released by their teams.

Will Johnson (De Graafschap), midfielder Dejan Jakovic (University of Alabama Birmingham) plus defenders Andre Hainault (Sparta Praha) and Nikolas Ledgerwood (1860 Munchen) - all of whom have played for the senior national team - headline the list of players named to the team by Dasovic and he believes they can overcome the many obstacles.

"It's not been a perfect scenario by any means," he said of the leadup to the tournament, which included no international friendlies and a training camp with many out-of-season players.

"The kids know it but we don't dwell on it. It is what is and the great thing about it is the guys that are selected, the atmosphere's been second to none and it's been electric so we're looking forward to that."

Begovic could be a difference-maker but will sit against Mexico because of a suspension for handling the ball outside the box in Canada's 3-0 loss to Chile in last summer's FIFA U-20 World Cup.

He'll be eligible to return for Friday's game against Haiti but whoever starts against Mexico will be trying to steal his spot.

Wagenaar has one cap with the senior men's team and played in both the 2003 and 2005 FIFA world youth championships. Monsalve, meanwhile, played for Canada at the FIFA under-20 World Cup last summer and spent some time with Toronto FC last season.

Mexico presents Canada's stiffest test in preliminary round Group B play. The class of the field on the pitch, the Mexicans will also have thousands of fans rooting for them at the Home Depot Center, adding to the challenge for Canada.

"They've got flare, the technical and tactical ability and one thing they do have too is pride and passion for their country," said Dasovic. "There's probably going to be 25,000 Mexicans at the game because it is in L.A. and they expect nothing but the best from their team.

"It's going to be a tough one but one these guys on our team can definitely handle and I think they're going to enjoy playing in that atmosphere."

After the Haiti game, Canada wraps up preliminary round play against Guatemala on Sunday, with the top-two teams in the group advancing to the semifinals in Nashville.

The two finalists advance to Beijing.

Group A features the U.S., Cuba, Honduras and Panama playing out of Tampa.

According the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame, Canada has made three appearances, winning the gold medal in 1904.

80

Football / Re: Olymipic Qualifying - Canada

« on: March 11, 2008, 10:42:10 PM »

Canada announces U-23 roster for Carson


Canada's men's U-23 team announced their roster today for the CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualification Tournament in the United States. The Canadian team opens their tournament on Wednesday 12 March against Mexico in Carson, CA.

"We've had a very good 11 days of preparation to date," says head coach Nick Dasovic. "There have been some good performances and some pleasent surprises that are part of our final roster."

The Canadian team first arrived in Oxnard, CA on 1 March. The played exhibition matches on 4 March against Westmount College (4:0 win) and 7 March against UC Santa Barbara (3:2 win). Not every player was in camp at the beginning of March as some players were only released from their clubs as the competition drew near. The Canadian team made cuts along the way before making their final trim down to 20 players on 10 March. The final team left Oxnard and arrived in Carson that night.

"We have begun the task of preparing for Mexico," says Dasovic. "They are an outstanding team, but I'm happy with the progress that we've made with our group. We will be ready come Wednesday."

Canada’s round-robin competition at the CONCACAF Olympic Qualification Tournament features México (12 March), Haiti (14 March) and Guatemala (16 March). Should they finish amongst the top-two teams in their group, they will advance to the semi-final on 20 March in Nashville, TN (to be played against a team from the other round-robin group). The semi-final winner will advance to the 26 March final and book their ticket for the Summer Olympics in Beijing.

CANADA
1 - G - Asmir Begovic - Edmonton, AB - ENG / Portsmouth FC
2 - D - Graham Ramalho - Calgary, AB - NED / FC Groningen
3 - D - Jacob Lensky - Vancouver, BC - NED / Feyenoord Rotterdam
4 - D/M - Dejan Jakovic - Etobicoke, ON - USA / University of Alabama Birmingham
5 - D - André Hainault - Hudson, QC - CZE / Sparta Praha
6 - D - Nikolas Ledgerwood - Lethbridge, AB - GER / TSV 1860 München
7 - M - Andrzej Ornoch - Scarborough, ON - DEN / Esbjerg fB
8 - M - Ryan Gyaki - Calgary, AB - GER / FC Hansa Rostock
9 - F - Andrea Lombardo - Toronto, ON - CAN / Toronto FC
10 - M/F - Will Johnson - Woodbridge, IL - NED / De Graafschap
11 - F - Tosaint Ricketts - Edmonton, AB - USA / University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
12 - D - Diaz Kambere - Surrey, BC - CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
13 - M/F - Kyle Hall - Toronto, ON - USA / Syracuse University
14 - D - Tyler Hemming - London, ON - CAN / Toronto FC
15 - M - Tyler Rosenlund - Port Coquitlam, BC - Unattached
16 - M - Keegan Ayre - Coquitlam, BC - SCO / Berwick Rangers FC
17 - F/D - Marcus Haber - Vancouver, BC - NED / FC Groningen
18 - G - Joshua Wagenaar - Grimsby, ON - Unattached
19 - M/F - Isidro Sanchez-Macip - Puebla, Mexico - MEX / Puebla de Zaragoza
22 - G - David Monsalve - Brampton, ON - Unattached

Head Coach / Entraîneur-chef :#8200;Nick Dasovic - Burnaby, BC
Assistant Coach / Entraîneur adjoint :#8200;Tony Fonseca - Vancouver, BC
Assistant Coach / Entraîneur adjoint :#8200;Mark Watson - Vancouver, BC
Equipment mgr. & goalkeeper coach / Gérant d’équipements et ent. des gardiens :#8200;Kevin Muldoon - Oakville, ON
Doctor / Docteur :#8200;Dr. Michael Campbell - Abbotsford, BC
Athletic Therapist / Thérapeute athlétique :#8200;Dwayne Laing - Edmonton, AB
Manager / Gérant :#8200;Dave Nutt - Ottawa, ON

81

Football / Olymipic Qualifying - Canada

« on: March 10, 2008, 10:39:27 PM »

Canada's men's soccer team opens Olympic bid

By Lori Ewing, THE CANADIAN PRESS
         
If you're Nick Dasovic, there's simply no time in the day for pressure.

Dasovic is the head coach of Canada's under-23 men's soccer team, which begins its bid for a berth in the 2008 Beijing Olympics this week in Carson, Calif.

Canada hasn't made an Olympic appearance since the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, and earning a ticket for Beijing will be no easy task for a Canadian squad that is missing some of its best players and has rarely taken the pitch together.

But Dasovic hasn't had the chance to pause and consider the pressure riding on his team.

"There hasn't been any time for nervousness, we've been working literally 16-hour days, the staff here," Dasovic said in a phone interview from California. "A lot of countries have had camps going back as far as two years as part of their program. We've basically put two to three years of working into 10 days."

The Canadians open the tournament Wednesday against top-ranked Mexico at the Home Depot Center. They'll play Haiti on Friday, and wrap up the preliminary round Sunday against Guatemala.

Canada needs to finish top two in Group B to advance to the semifinals in Nashville. A semifinal victory would send the Canadians to Beijing.

Group A has the U.S., Cuba, Honduras and Panama.

Canada has only played in two Olympic Games - in 1976 in Montreal, and in '84, when a star-studded team that included Bob Lenarduzzi, Ian Bridge and Dale Mitchell lost to Brazil in a penalty shootout in the quarter-finals.

Dasovic will name his roster Tuesday for the team that will try to turn history in its favour. But it will be missing some key names.

FIFA, the world governing body for soccer, designates certain days of the year when players must be released by their pro teams for international competition. The CONCACAF qualifier wasn't among those dates, and several teams would not release their players, including David Edgar (Newcastle), Simeon Jackson (Gillingham), Jaime Peters (Ipswich Town), Marcel De Jong (Roda JC), and Alex Elliott (Sportfreunde Siegen).

"The first thing, with every player we contacted, they wanted to be part of the Canada team," Dasovic said. "But unfortunately, we're probably missing a good six or seven players possibly that you would want to bring in, or have a look at anyway."

Making matters more difficult, the Canadian players have been arriving in California here and there, as club commitments have allowed.

"It kills us because 14 of our players are playing in Europe, so we're flying 14 players halfway around the world," Dasovic said.

Five players weren't scheduled to arrive in California until Monday, and that was a full day before Andre Hainault was landing on the west coast, after playing a league game Monday with Sparta Prague.

"We've tried to be as efficient as possible. We talk about making a jig-saw puzzle, and I think we're just trying to find out the pieces and make the puzzle fit right for this tournament," said Dasovic. "Unfortunately we have pieces coming from all over the world.

"It's been difficult for the players. Here's a bunch of guys who were hoping to get together, get to know each other. And they've been thrown into this mixing pot. We've got kids with different playing styles, from different schools, different clubs, different languages.

"It's been trying, but they've come through with flying colours so far."

The early arrivals suited up for a pair of friendlies last week, beating Westmount College 4-0 and UC Santa Barbara 3-2.

Mexico should prove to be Canada's toughest test in the qualifying tournament.

"The Mexicans are such great players technically and tactically," Dasovic said. "They adapt to certain situations, so even if you think you know the way they play, they can change. It's going to definitely be a challenging game to be a part of."

Canada will have either Josh Wagenaar or David Monsalves in net against Mexico. Asmir Begovic is serving a suspension for handling the ball outside the box in Canada's 3-0 to Chile in last summer's FIFA U-20 World Cup.

82

Football / Re: Soca Princesses draw Canada

« on: March 07, 2008, 10:19:20 AM »

FYI

Canada defeats Japan 3-0 in Cyprus




Sinclair scores three times in Canada's 3-0 women's soccer win over Japan
By THE CANADIAN PRESS
         

LARNACA, Cyprus - Christine Sinclair scored all three goals for Canada in a 3-0 victory over Japan at the Cyprus Cup on Friday.

It was Sinclair's eighth career hat trick. The veteran striker from Burnaby, B.C., opened the scoring on a penalty shot in the 22nd minute. She converted a cross from Rhian Wilkinson of Baie d'Urfe, Que., in the 42nd minute and netted her third goal after taking a pass from Diana Matheson of Oakville, Ont., in the 80th minute.

"I have rarely seen the team come out more focused than in this match," said head coach Even Pellerud. "The game plan was very well executed."

Sinclair now has 85 goals in her international career with the senior team.

Teenager Alexandra Marton of Aurora, Ont., made her debut with the squad in the 81st minute. It was Wilkinson's 50th career appearance with the team.

Canada will play a friendly against Scotland on Monday before facing a team from the tournament's other group on Wednesday. Canada is using this event to prepare for next month's CONCACAF women's Olympic qualification tournament in Mexico.

83

Football / Re: Hector Sam leaves Notts County

« on: March 07, 2008, 08:09:45 AM »

Hector is 30 already...how the time flies. He need to come home and sweat yes...

That is not a bad idea, but wid his experience in Europe, ah still feel he cud make ah food in de MLS, den come home and rip it up. HIGHLY BLESSED.

Boy, that MLS hope is a big myth. Outside of Stern and Sealy...nobody ever make it from Trinidad. Everybody get a lil corbeaux and when is time to make space, they are the first name on the chopping block. Even Avery is something of a journeyman and first man to bench whenever the coach change or tactics change.

My opinion is that most times is not a question of talent but of marketability. By bringing in a foreigner from central america or a big name foreigner, they getting more crowd support than from a trini market.

In other words, that going to MLS from outside the US for a trini, hasn't worked yet and i doh see 30 year old Hector Sam from the english lowest division who was not part of the Socawarriors team that went to the World Cup (this is what the fans for any MLS side willl see him as btw, not my opinion) going to change that opinion.

I figure he should come home and get games under his belt, regroup, recapture the magic, the love for the game and try again next season...maybe in Scotland cause that is where most of our strikers find success.

As it is today, many USL First Division sides pay more than MLS sides at the lower end.  Until MLS raises the bar for player salaries (I believe 2.8 million), the money at the lower end of the scale is peanuts (I believe the minimum is 25,000).  And frankly I agree with you, he would not crack an MLS  squad. 

He may be considered a high profile player in USL, and may be able to make some decent coin.

84

Football / Re: TTFF schedule for friendlies. CONCACAF Friendlies 2008.

« on: March 04, 2008, 06:17:15 PM »

Rumours of a Canada - Haiti friendly on June 1 in Florida.

http://www.canadian-soccer.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14687

Maybe some of my Haitan friends can confirm. 

85

Football / Re: Canada's provisional U-23 roster........

« on: February 22, 2008, 06:40:10 PM »

Any pic of the Quebec guys?

http://ca.video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=562034&fr=

http://www.montrealimpact.com/Team/Player.aspx?language=EN&PlayerID=166

ah know Hainault...definately not Haitian parentage...WP protectin he interest boy

thanks.

André Hainault is definetly the more promising of all the Quebec born players.  He recently transferred to Czech giants, Sparta Prague.  He has a very promising future.

86

Football / Re: Canada's provisional U-23 roster........

« on: February 22, 2008, 12:09:13 PM »

Any pic of the Quebec guys?

No pics and no preperation

87

Football / Re: Canada's provisional U-23 roster........

« on: February 22, 2008, 11:53:05 AM »

To be honest, this provisional roster means little.

Most of the big clubs will never release these players.  Lensky has already stated that his club will not release him.  I can't see Edgar being released by Newcastle.

It will be interesting to see what Dasovic can come up with.

88

Football / Re: Canada's provisional U-23 roster........

« on: February 22, 2008, 08:40:49 AM »

any of them players have trini roots?

None that I am aware of, but many of these players are relatively unknown.  Particularly the US college players.

89

Football / Canada's provisional U-23 roster........

« on: February 22, 2008, 08:01:33 AM »

Men's Olympic (U-23) Team

Tuesday, February 19, 2008


Dasovic names provisional roster



Canada's men's U-23 team announced their provisional roster today for the upcoming CONCACAF Olympic Qualification Tournament in the United States. With just three weeks to go before Canada's tournament begins in Carson, CA against Mexico, coach Nick Dasovic has identified 30 players that are eligible to participate in the eight-team tournament.

"I am looking forward to getting the team together so we can finally start our preparations," says coach Dasovic of the team's road to the Summer Olympics. "The CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying tournament is a difficult one, but I feel confident in the players that we have selected to represent our country. I can't wait to get the tournament started."

Dasovic has up until 10 March to announce his final 20-man roster. He is not bound to the 30-man list, so he will be able to select any available players born 1985 or later. Dasovic will also be able to make changes after 10 March for medical reasons.

Canada's round-robin competition in Carson, CA features México (12 March), Haiti (14 March) and Guatemala (16 March). Should they finish amongst the top-two teams in their group, they will advance to the semi-final on 20 March in Nashville, TN (to be played against a team from the other round-robin group). The semi-final winner will advance to the 26 March final and book their ticket for the Summer Olympics in Beijing.

CANADA
G - Joshua Wagenaar - Grimsby, ON - Unattached
G - Asmir Begovic - Edmonton, AB - ENG / Portsmouth FC
G - Roberto Giacomi - Toronto, ON - Unattached
D - Nana Attakora-Gyan - Orangeville, ON - Toronto FC
D - Matthew Britner - Halifax, NS - Brown University
D - David Edgar - Kitcher, ON - ENG / Newcastle United
D - André Hainault - Hudson, QC - CZE / Sparta Praha
D - Tyler Hemming - London, ON - Toronto FC
D - Diaz Kambere - Surrey, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
D - Nikolas Ledgerwood - Lethbridge, AB - GER / TSV 1860 München
D - Paris Nakajima-Farran - Calgary, AB - DEN / Næstved BK
D - Kennedy Owusu-Ansah - Toronto, ON - GER / Hertha Berlin
D - Brad Peetoom - Abbotsford, BC - University of Syracuse
D - Graham Ramalho - Calgary, AB - NED / FC Groningen
D - Alex Suprenant - St-Alexandre, QC - Impact de Montréal
M - Keegan Ayre - Coquitlam, BC - SCO / Berwick Rangers FC
M - Brandon Bonifacio - Vancouver, BC - NED / Cambuur-Leeuwarden
M - Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault - Île Bizard, QC - GER / FC St. Pauli
M - Ryan Gyaki - Calgary, AB - GER / FC Hansa Rostock
M - Dejan Jakovic - Etobicoke, ON - University of Alabama Birmingham
M - Jacob Lensky - Vancouver, BC - NED / Feyenoord Rotterdam
M - Cristian Nunez - Montréal, QC - Impact de Montréal
M - Andrzej Ornoch - Scarborough, ON - DEN / Esbjerg fB
M - Tyler Rosenlund - Port Coquitlam, BC - Unattached
M/F - Will Johnson - Woodbridge, IL - NED / De Graafschap
M/F - Kyle Hall - Toronto, ON - Syracuse University
F/D - Marcus Haber - Vancouver, BC - NED / FC Groningen
F - Frank Jonke - Pickering, ON - University of Louisville
F - Andrea Lombardo - Toronto, ON - Toronto FC
F - Tosaint Ricketts - Edmonton, AB - University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

Head Coach / Entraîneur-chef :#8200;Nick Dasovic - Burnaby, BC
Assistant Coach / Entraîneur adjoint :#8200;Tony Fonseca - Vancouver, BC
Assistant Coach / Entraîneur adjoint :#8200;Mark Watson - Vancouver, BC
Equipment mgr. & goalkeeper coach / Gérant d’équipements et ent. des gardiens :#8200;Kevin Muldoon - Oakville, ON
Doctor / Docteur :#8200;Dr. Michael Campbell - Abbotsford, BC
National teams administrator / Administrateur des équipes nationales :#8200;Dave Nutt - Ottawa, ON

90

Football / Re: CONCACAF Friendlies 2008

« on: February 18, 2008, 07:48:57 AM »

Panama vs Canada   -    June 6


http://www.fepafut.com/noticiasdetail.asp?id=1120