Canada’s Group

For the next round of World Cup qualifying Canada will face Mexico, Honduras, and Jamaica.

From the CONCACAF site it looks like the first two games will be in Canada — must wins of course.

The old adage being you have to win at home, and fight for a tie away to make it through.

Here’s a rough schedule. I don’t know how accurate it is, seeing as they’ve seemingly put two Canada games in Mexico.

Good news is we won’t be playing in Azteca in the middle of August (though Mexico City will be still hot in September)

Anyhow – we have a good team. If they plan to play in the games in Montreal, that may require a road trip.

20.8.2008	Canada – Jamaica	TBD	TBD, CAN
6.9.2008	Canada – Honduras	TBD	TBD, CAN
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10.9.2008	Mexico – Canada	TBD	TBD, MEX
11.10.2008	Honduras – Canada	TBD	TBD, HON
15.10.2008	Canada – Mexico	TBD	TBD, MEX
19.11.2008	Jamaica – Canada	TBD	TBD, JAM
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Canada to kick it on grass tonight

Canada continue their world cup qualifying campaign tonight against St. Vincent & the Grenadines tonight at 7:30 in Montreal.

Some Canadian players were saying they’d like all their qualifying games to be at Montreal’s Stade Saputo – and seeing as there isn’t real grass at the National Soccer Stadium in Toronto I don’t blame them.

Is it inconvenient to put grass on the Toronto field once a year?

Yes

Is it more expensive to put in and maintain?

Probably.

Is it something that the players would want?

Certainly.

While you’re not going to hear guys on Toronto FC saying that they wouldn’t play without grass, I’m certain they’d quietly cheer if the team (Toronto FC) decided to go with real grass for the season. Real grass is preferable.

Yes field turf is FIFA legal. The real question is, is it player friendly?

Canada start World Cup qualifying run

The Canadian Men’s National Team started their 2010 World Cup mission with a 3-0 win yesterday against Saint Vincent & the Grenadines.

While Canada was watching European soccer on Sportsnet, there was no TV coverage of the NATIONAL team’s game.

Come on Canada. More people turn out in England for a friendly against the Faroe Islands than demand to see our national teams games. This is one day after TFC have had another sell-out at the National Soccer Stadium in Toronto.

But the National Soccer Stadium in Toronto isn’t going to see the return match between Canada and Saint Vincent & the Grenadines – that’s going to be this Friday night in Montreal at the Stade Saputo.
While I’d prefer to see the game in Toronto – as a fan – I’m also very pleased that it’s going to be in Monteal because then, perhaps, there’s more of a chance that the stadium will be packed and cheering our Canadian boys onto the next round of World Cup qualifying.

Seriously Canada — get behind this team. They’re good. They’re for real. And they’re making it to the World Cup.

Go Canada.