CP: Portugal Stiff Test for Canada....

[Winnipeg Fury]

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.

 

[Tallman]

How come you weren't playing these kind of matches before (for WCQ preparation)?

[Winnipeg Fury]

That's a very good question and the reason we aren't in the Hex.  Our squad is clearly Hex material and the squad below should be offering a serious challenge for a World Cup birth.    We can only wait to see how we perform at the Gold Cup.  It cost our last coach his job.



Wednesday, March 16, 2005
YALLOP ANNOUNCES ROSTER FOR FRIENDLY VS PORTUGAL
 

Ottawa, Ontario – Canadian Men’s World Cup Team head coach Frank Yallop today named his 16-player roster for the upcoming international friendly against Portugal on March 26. The game will be played in Barcelos, a town approximately 50 km north of Porto at 8:30 p.m. local time.

 

“This is a game that many of us have been eagerly looking forward to for some time,” said Yallop. “You always want to try to play the best countries in the World and to play last year’s finalists from the European Championships in their own country is a great challenge for us.”

 

Yallop has selected 13 of the 16 players who played in Canada’s 1-0 win over Northern Ireland in Belfast on February 9. Joining the team for the first time since World Cup Qualifying are midfielder Julian de Guzman, defender/midfielder Paul Stalteri and forward Tomasz Radzinski.

 

De Guzman is finishing up his season with Hanover 96 before moving to Deportivo La Coruna this summer. Stalteri, who featured regularly in Werder Bremen’s Champions League games this season, has not played for Canada since the first semi-final round game against Guatemala on August 18. Radzinski missed Canada’s final qualifier against Guatemala in November and the Northern Ireland game.

 

The squad will gather at a hotel outside Faro on Sunday, March 20 and will train there for four days before flying to Porto on March 24. The team will then train in Porto on Friday, March 25 before facing Portugal on Saturday, March 26 at 8:30 p.m.

 

Canadian Roster For International Friendly vs Portugal

 

Name                              Pos        Club                                                        DOB              Caps    Goals/Shutouts

1     Greg Sutton             GK     Montreal Impact, USL First Division     4/19/77         2          2

33   Lars Hirschfeld         GK     Leicester City, League Championship    10/17/78       17        5

4     Kevin McKenna        D       Hearts, Scottish Premier                    1/21/80         26        7

5     Marco Reda             D       Aalborg, Danish First Division              6/22/77         1          0

6     Julian deGuzman     M      Hanover 96, German Bundesliga             3/25/81         13        0

7     Paul Stalteri          D/M     Werder Bremen, German Bundesliga      10/18/77       49        6

8     Daniel Imhof            M      St. Gallen, Swiss First Division             11/22/77       30        0

9     Tomasz Radzinski    F       Fulham, English Premier                       12/14/73       26        7

10   Patrice Bernier         M      Tromso, Norwegian Premier                 9/23/79         7          0

11   Jim Brennan             M      Norwich City, English Premier              5/8/77           35        3

12   Mike Klukowski        D/M   FC Brugge, Belgian First Division           5/27/81         4          0

13   Atiba Hutchinson     D/M   Helsingborg, Swedish Premier               3/8/83           11        1

14   Dwayne de Rosario M/F   San Jose Earthquakes, MLS                  5/15/78         28        7

15   Josh Simpson          D/M   Millwall, League Championship              5/15/83         7          0

16   Olivier Occean         F       Odd Grenland, Norwegian Premier        10/23/81       8          1

17   Jaime Peters            M      Ipswich Town, League Championship   5/4/87           6          0

Staff
Les Wilkinson                     Head of Delegation

Frank Yallop                      Head Coach

Mark Watson                     Assistant Coach

Paul Dolan                         Goalkeeper Coach

Morgan Quarry                   Team Manager

Victor Mendes                    Equipment Manager

Dave Foley                        Physiotherapist

Ed Johnson                        Doctor

 

For more information please contact:

Morgan Quarry

(613) 237-4580 ext: 230

media@soccercan.ca

 

Visit our web site at www.canadasoccer.com <http://www.canadasoccer.com/>

 

[arrow]

Have to admit that squad looks good on paper.  Too bad when they play football for Canada they look like they should be on toilet paper. 
Just kidding WF, no need to post your customary attack on T&T and start another flame war on this new board.

[AB.Trini]

'WiniperFury" you must be frozen  on Portage and Main for to long. Imagine Saying Canada is "HEX Material?"

Years ago I drove 15 hours to atach Canada play Cuba in Winnipeg. You know they had that game in  football field that looked like a playground!!! that would be one that did not even come close to Skinner Park!!!! At least they could have hosted the game in the stadium wheer the  Blue Bombers play but then again that is artificial turf.

This past summer I drove 12 hours to Vancouver to See Canada play in Burnaby aganist Guatemala. Canada looked like a junior side.Defensively weak and lacking in an attack.

I would give kudos to thier U-20 team and their women's national team. But there senior men's team is tata.

[Winnipeg Fury]

Our opening match against Guatemala was the worst match we have played in years.  Not surprising considering half the team had never played together.  Like I said before, our preperation was nothing short of amatuer.  Heads should have rolled at the CSA, but that's our (Canada) ongoing problem that has held Canada back.

Our last two games have been victories against Guatemala and Northern Ireland, and all the more impressive is that they were on the road.

On the road against Portugal's best  will be extremely tough, but will still serve as prepertion for Gold Cup, regardless of the result.

[AB.Trini]

Go CANADA GO ;  Lucky for Canada they trying to use all the players who have West Indian heritage.
Dat is they only saviour.

[AB.Trini]

if dem boys were my sons ah cut dem arse and make dem play fuh Trinidad; Hul yuh skin in winterpeg and stay frozen.

[Winnipeg Fury]

Go CANADA GO ;  Lucky for Canada they trying to use all the players who have West Indian heritage.
Dat is they only saviour.

Which above player has West Indian Heritage ?

[Trini _2026]

which west indian players
look them

Atiba Hutchinson     D/M   Helsingborg, Swedish Premier               3/8/83           11        1

   Jaime Peters            M      Ipswich Town, League Championship   5/4/87           6          0

Julian deGuzman     M      Hanover 96, German Bundesliga             3/25/81         13        0

Dwayne de Rosario M/F   San Jose Earthquakes, MLS                  5/15/78         28        7

Olivier Occean         F       Odd Grenland, Norwegian Premier        10/23/81       8          1

[Savannah boy]

Now that Adrian Serioux left de Toronto Lynx and went to Milwall, why isn't he being picked?  That guy is really skillful and can throw the damn ball in as if it's a corner kick.  Guess where his family is from?  Sweet Sweet T&T.

[Winnipeg Fury]

which west indian players
look them

Atiba Hutchinson     D/M   Helsingborg, Swedish Premier               3/8/83           11        1

   Jaime Peters            M      Ipswich Town, League Championship   5/4/87           6          0

Julian deGuzman     M      Hanover 96, German Bundesliga             3/25/81         13        0

Dwayne de Rosario M/F   San Jose Earthquakes, MLS                  5/15/78         28        7

Olivier Occean         F       Odd Grenland, Norwegian Premier        10/23/81       8          1

All these guys were born and raised in Canada.  I know Occean's parents are from Haiti, Peters are from Grenada, Derosario has links to Guyana, and DeGuzman has links to Jamaica. 

Serioux is being rested.  He played in our last match in Belfast.  Serioux was also born and raised in Canada.  He may have relatives in T&T, but he is as Canadian as Maple Syrup !

[Winnipeg Fury]

Portuguese soccer coach takes few risks for Canada, Slovakia games
 
Canadian Press

 
LISBON (CP) - Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari named a star-studded squad Wednesday for Portugal's upcoming friendly game against Canada and a crucial World Cup qualifier four days later against Slovakia.

Scolari's strike force includes Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United, Luis Boa Morte of Fulham, Pauleta of Paris Saint-Germain and Helder Postiga of FC Porto.

Others in the squad include Paulo Ferreira of Chelsea, Deco of FC Barcelona and Hugo Viana of Sporting Lisbon.

Ninth-ranked Portugal meets No. 85 Canada on March 26, before a Group Three qualifying match in Bratislava.

Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho, Benfica right-back Miguel Monteiro and FC Porto left-back Nuno Valente all return to the Portuguese lineup after recovering from injuries.

Scolari is likely to test their fitness against Canada in Barcelos, northern Portugal, before choosing his side to take on Slovakia.

He preferred Porto midfielder Nuno Maniche over Chelsea's Tiago Mendes.

Scolari may try out Benfica goalkeeper Quim Silva against the Canadians. Regular goalie Ricardo Pereira made a series of recent blunders for his club Sporting Lisbon.

Marco Caneira of Valencia, Benfica's Manuel Fernandes and Rogerio Matias of Guimaraes - three young players tried out in last month's exhibition loss at Ireland - lost their places.

The Bratislava encounter is key in Portugal's qualifying campaign. The Portuguese have a three-point lead at the top of their group, but have played one more game than closest rival Slovakia.

Scolari, who clashed with clubs over the availability of players for friendly matches in the past, complained that some clubs failed to let him know what shape the players are in.

"It's been difficult to get information on some of them," Scolari said. "We send faxes to clubs asking for information. Some reply, some don't."

He didn't name the clubs that failed to respond.

-

Portugal

Goalkeepers: Ricardo Pereira (Sporting Lisbon), Quim Silva (Benfica).

Defenders: Fernando Meira (Stuttgart), Jorge Andrade (Deportivo de La Coruna), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Miguel Monteiro (Benfica), Nuno Valente (FC Porto), Ricardo Costa (FC Porto).

Midfielders: Armando Petitq(Benfica), Francisco Costinha (C Porto), Deco (FC Barcelona), Hugo Viana (Sporting Lisbon), Nuno Maniche (FC Porto).

Strikers: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Luis Boa Morte (Fulham), Pauleta (Paris Saint-Germain), Simao Sabrosa (Benfica), Nuno Gomes (Benfica), Helder Postiga (FC Porto).

© The Canadian Press 2005

[arrow]

Scolari, who clashed with clubs over the availability of players for friendly matches in the past, complained that some clubs failed to let him know what shape the players are in.

"It's been difficult to get information on some of them," Scolari said. "We send faxes to clubs asking for information. Some reply, some don't."

He didn't name the clubs that failed to respond.

What's this coach wasting his time sending faxes for?  Doesn't he realize it's far more efficient to fly half way around the world to the respective clubs to look at the players in person?  He could learn something from BSC.

[Winnipeg Fury]

Scolari, who clashed with clubs over the availability of players for friendly matches in the past, complained that some clubs failed to let him know what shape the players are in.

"It's been difficult to get information on some of them," Scolari said. "We send faxes to clubs asking for information. Some reply, some don't."

He didn't name the clubs that failed to respond.

What's this coach wasting his time sending faxes for?  Doesn't he realize it's far more efficient to fly half way around the world to the respective clubs to look at the players in person?  He could learn something from BSC.

Yes, I too was shocked to read that.  For a top-ten ranked side in the world, that's truly pathetic.

[Savannah boy]

Yeah Fury, yuh ever see Black maple syrup?  Is called molasses and it does reach Canada thru importation.  Why yuh such an arse?  I jes arks yuh how come Serioux not playing, yuh reply with dat horse shite.  Allyuh no different dan de blasted Yankees.  Entertainers and Sportsmen with dark complexion confined to de living room, strictly for entertainment, by way of the tube only.   If De Rosraio or Serioux stand up outside yuh house, how long it go take you and your neighbours to call de RCMP?  You is jes a joker yes...totally incapable of carrying on a decent conversation.  Yuh always escalating thing.  Steups. 

[Savannah boy]

WF - Yes, I too was shocked to read that.  For a top-ten ranked side in the world, that's truly pathetic.

Doh worry bout who playing for Portugal.  Scolari only giving allyuh a lil confidence.  Is only Canda dey playing.  Dey could beat allyuh blindfolded while drunk.  Licks in yuh arse.

[truetrini]

Dat is not maple is molasses////Oh Gard!

[Winnipeg Fury]

Yeah Fury, yuh ever see Black maple syrup?  Is called molasses and it does reach Canada thru importation.  Why yuh such an arse?  I jes arks yuh how come Serioux not playing, yuh reply with dat horse shite.  Allyuh no different dan de blasted Yankees.  Entertainers and Sportsmen with dark complexion confined to de living room, strictly for entertainment, by way of the tube only.   If De Rosraio or Serioux stand up outside yuh house, how long it go take you and your neighbours to call de RCMP?  You is jes a joker yes...totally incapable of carrying on a decent conversation.  Yuh always escalating thing.  Steups. 

RCMP,Yankees and people confined to the living room ?

That's a crazed tangent if I have ever seen one.  Time for therapy SB.

[Savannah boy]

Yeah boy Truetrini, dat post gone way over Fury Head.  Not much can penetrate that thick skull.  Too much maple syrup inside...poor fool trying to deny he real Caribbean roots.  He must be went BIM without velcro shoes and Bumseeblast tackle him so now he hate all of we.

[truetrini]

Yuh really feel he have West Indian roots?  I eh feel so.  Cyar be so, I like him posting here thoug, he eh so bad!

[Winnipeg Fury]

Canadian goalie expects busy outing Saturday against Portugal in soccer friendly

NEIL DAVIDSON

The Canadian Press
Goalie Lars Hirschfeld knows what to expect Saturday when Canada plays star-studded Portugal in Barcelos in an exhibition soccer match.
``I think I'm going to be a little busy,'' the 26-year-old from Edmonton said Friday from the Canadian team hotel in Porto.
``But we should do OK. We've done well with the young guys. I think we'll give it a good go.''
They'll need to. The Portuguese are ranked ninth in the world, 75 places above Canada. And coach Luiz Felipe Scolari says his team won't be pulling its punches against Canada, with a key World Cup qualifying game against Slovakia looming Wednesday.
``While I'm coach of Portugal, there aren't any friendly games. I don't want excuses, I want victories,'' Scolari told reporters.
He has the offence to do it. Portugal has scored 20 goals in its five qualifying games. Pauleta of Paris Saint-Germain leads all European scorers with six goals in the group round, one more than Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo.
Canada's World Cup dream is already over. Coach Frank Yallop is rebuilding.
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.
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.
Hirschfeld played in the Czech game.
``We did well the first half ... then we got buried the second half,'' Hirschfeld recalled.
With Pat Onstad having left the international scene, Yallop is rotating his goalies. Greg Sutton got the start in the recent 1-0 win in Northern Ireland and Saturday is Hirschfeld's turn.
It's a chance to reclaim the job he made his under former coach Holger Osieck. At the 2002 Gold Cup, despite having just two caps to his credit, he put on a shot-stopping show leading Osieck to declare Canada had found its next great goalie.
Injuries and lack of action at the club level have slowed Hirschfeld's progress somewhat.
At England's Tottenham, he found himself behind American Kasey Keller, a good friend who never missed a game. There were short loan spells with smaller clubs before he left Spurs in May 2004. He landed in Scotland's Dundee United that August, hated it there, and caught on with Leicester City in January.
At Leicester, a once proud club that has battled financial problems and a drop one level below the Premier League, Hirschfeld is backup to veteran Ian Walker.
Unlike at Spurs, where Hirschfeld and Keller used to make the most of London's music scene, Hirschfeld and Walker don't hang out together.
``He's an old dog. The older dogs usually hang out with old dogs,'' Hirschfeld said of the 33-year-old Walker. ``That's just how it is.''
The six-foot-four Canadian 'keeper doesn't much like the business side of his game — ``It really takes away from the game'' — but his head is screwed on straight. While other footballers drive flash cars, Hirschfeld still has the used VW Beetle he picked up while at Spurs.
Saturday's friendly comes four days ahead of Portugal's World Cup Group 3 qualifier at Slovakia. The Slovaks lie second in the group, three points behind Portugal with a game in hand.
Francisco Costinha and Nuno Maniche are likely to miss the Canada and Slovakia games through injury.
The Portugal game is not on TV in Canada.
    

[AB.Trini]

I DONT GIVA A FORKING ARSE ABOUT CANADA'S TEAM AT THIS TIME. FULL FORCE AHEAD TRINIS