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Football / CP: Portugal Stiff Test for Canada....
« on: March 17, 2005, 05:59:37 AM »
Portuguese exhibition soccer game represents stiff test for Canada
(CP) - For Portugal, an exhibition soccer game against Canada probably isn't a date to remember. Sandwiched between Burkina Faso and Syria, Canada is ranked 76 places below No. 9 Portugal.
But for Frank Yallop and his young Canadian side, the March 26 contest in Barcelos is a chance to go up against some of the glitterati of European soccer.
And while there is nothing on the line for Portugal, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari will be all business with an important World Cup qualifier four days later in Slovakia.
The Portuguese (4-0-1) lead Group 3 by three points but have played one more game than runner-up Slovakia (3-0-1). The Slovaks are ranked 54th in the world.
Scolari's star-studded squad for the Canada and Slovakia matches includes Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United, Luis Boa Morte of Fulham, Pauleta of Paris Saint-Germain and Helder Postiga of FC Porto, Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira of Chelsea, Hugo Viana of Sporting Lisbon and Deco of FC Barcelona.
"Just the clubs they're at. If you just look at the clubs they're playing at and they're all starters," marvelled Yallop. "It's a mighty challenge."
Portugal represents the toughest opponent for Yallop since he took over the national team in December 2003.
Canada has not fared well in its last two friendlies against top-ranked opposition. The Canadians were thumped 5-1 in the Czech Republic in November 2003 and 4-1 in Germany in June 2003. At the time, the Czechs were ranked No. 11 and the Germans fourth.
Yallop is 5-4-2 as coach, with three of those victories over also-rans (No. 181 Belize twice and No. 121 Barbados) In games that really counted, the semifinal round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, Canada went 1-3-2 and was outscored 8-5.
Injuries, suspensions and some strange officiating decisions hurt the Canadian cause. So did poor play and finishing.
Still, the Canadians are currently on a 2-0 run thanks to 1-0 victories in No. 70 Guatemala (the final World Cup qualifying game) and No. 111 Northern Ireland (a friendly).
With the CONCACAF championship Gold Cup approaching in July, Yallop is finally facing a period of scrutiny. The Portugal game could mark the end of the honeymoon.
Yallop has pretty much escaped criticism to date - largely because of timing. After taking over, he had just six months and two matches to prepare his team for World Cup qualifying.
Yallop is a likable man with a lengthy resume as a player and MLS coach of the year honours and two championships as coach. Plus the national soccer coach can usually operate under the radar in Canada. There are few reporters who track the team, which rarely plays at home.
Since Canada was eliminated from advancing to the next round of World Cup qualifying, Yallop has started putting his own stamp on the team. Veterans like Pat Onstad, Mark Watson and Jason deVos have moved on. Experiments like playing striker Dwayne DeRosario on the flank have been shelved.
This summer may offer a more realistic assessment of Yallop at the helm and just how much talent he has at his disposal.
Yallop has recalled three of his most talented players for the Portugal game: Fulham's Tomasz Radzinski, Werder Bremen's Paul Stalteri and Hannover's Julian de Guzman. All three were allowed to stay with their clubs for the last two games. Stalteri also had an international suspension to get rid of.
Defender Gabe Gervais and midfielders Sandro Grande and Ante Jazic are all injured. Yallop elected to leave young striker Iain Hume with Tranmere Rovers to help in the English team's promotion run.
Yallop plans to start Lars Hirschfeld in goal in Portugal. It's his turn after Greg Sutton was given the nod in Northern Ireland.
(CP) - For Portugal, an exhibition soccer game against Canada probably isn't a date to remember. Sandwiched between Burkina Faso and Syria, Canada is ranked 76 places below No. 9 Portugal.
But for Frank Yallop and his young Canadian side, the March 26 contest in Barcelos is a chance to go up against some of the glitterati of European soccer.
And while there is nothing on the line for Portugal, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari will be all business with an important World Cup qualifier four days later in Slovakia.
The Portuguese (4-0-1) lead Group 3 by three points but have played one more game than runner-up Slovakia (3-0-1). The Slovaks are ranked 54th in the world.
Scolari's star-studded squad for the Canada and Slovakia matches includes Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United, Luis Boa Morte of Fulham, Pauleta of Paris Saint-Germain and Helder Postiga of FC Porto, Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira of Chelsea, Hugo Viana of Sporting Lisbon and Deco of FC Barcelona.
"Just the clubs they're at. If you just look at the clubs they're playing at and they're all starters," marvelled Yallop. "It's a mighty challenge."
Portugal represents the toughest opponent for Yallop since he took over the national team in December 2003.
Canada has not fared well in its last two friendlies against top-ranked opposition. The Canadians were thumped 5-1 in the Czech Republic in November 2003 and 4-1 in Germany in June 2003. At the time, the Czechs were ranked No. 11 and the Germans fourth.
Yallop is 5-4-2 as coach, with three of those victories over also-rans (No. 181 Belize twice and No. 121 Barbados) In games that really counted, the semifinal round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, Canada went 1-3-2 and was outscored 8-5.
Injuries, suspensions and some strange officiating decisions hurt the Canadian cause. So did poor play and finishing.
Still, the Canadians are currently on a 2-0 run thanks to 1-0 victories in No. 70 Guatemala (the final World Cup qualifying game) and No. 111 Northern Ireland (a friendly).
With the CONCACAF championship Gold Cup approaching in July, Yallop is finally facing a period of scrutiny. The Portugal game could mark the end of the honeymoon.
Yallop has pretty much escaped criticism to date - largely because of timing. After taking over, he had just six months and two matches to prepare his team for World Cup qualifying.
Yallop is a likable man with a lengthy resume as a player and MLS coach of the year honours and two championships as coach. Plus the national soccer coach can usually operate under the radar in Canada. There are few reporters who track the team, which rarely plays at home.
Since Canada was eliminated from advancing to the next round of World Cup qualifying, Yallop has started putting his own stamp on the team. Veterans like Pat Onstad, Mark Watson and Jason deVos have moved on. Experiments like playing striker Dwayne DeRosario on the flank have been shelved.
This summer may offer a more realistic assessment of Yallop at the helm and just how much talent he has at his disposal.
Yallop has recalled three of his most talented players for the Portugal game: Fulham's Tomasz Radzinski, Werder Bremen's Paul Stalteri and Hannover's Julian de Guzman. All three were allowed to stay with their clubs for the last two games. Stalteri also had an international suspension to get rid of.
Defender Gabe Gervais and midfielders Sandro Grande and Ante Jazic are all injured. Yallop elected to leave young striker Iain Hume with Tranmere Rovers to help in the English team's promotion run.
Yallop plans to start Lars Hirschfeld in goal in Portugal. It's his turn after Greg Sutton was given the nod in Northern Ireland.