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      Covering the world’s game from a Canadian perspective, the 24th Minute has been at the forefront for Toronto FC coverage since 2008. It is the source for breaking news, analysis and all things Canadian soccer.

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      Mike Crampton has been an avid follower of Canadian club soccer and participant in the emergent Canadian soccer supporters scene for over a decade. When not playing, watching, or writing about the game he continues to serve the grassroots as an administrator at the local level. You can follow Mike on Twitter @BHTC_Mike

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      James began covering the game in 2011 after a slow process of two decades saw him gradually consumed by it. He contributes to The Shin Guardian, Waking the Red, and had a piece featured in Issue Two of The Blizzard, as well as maintaining his own site, Partially Obstructed View. He covers the rest of MLS in the hope of providing context to fans on the edge.

    • Sober Second Thoughts: Shameful

      by
      Duane Rollins
      Published on 10-17-2012 12:09 PM
      14 Comments Comments
      Losing to Honduras last night would have been disappointing. Losing the way Canada did was inexcusable.

      They gave up. There really isn’t any other logical explanation. Honduras is not seven goals better than Canada. They are when the players on the pitch lack pride. Bluntly, there is ample evidence that many of the players that have represented Canada in the last couple cycles are lacking on the character front.

      Some countries have a golden generation. Canada is at the end of a selfish one. Although the current group is more talented than any other that has preceded them, they are spineless.

      The evidence was there in 2008 when the senior players gave up on Dale Mitchell and put up a pathetic two points. Ten points this round looks good, but with six coming against Cuba one must keep things in perspective. In retrospect it was ludicrous to believe that had a chance to get anything from yesterday. It’s embarrassing to think that we cared.

      Before the game many talked about this being the biggest game of their career. The key word in that sentence is “their.” They wanted to get to the World Cup to fulfill their dreams, not to see Canada advance.

      They care, in a way, but they don’t care passionately. In Honduras, yesterday’s game was seen as life and death. Amongst the Canadian team it was clearly seen as something far less.

      Again, this isn’t about the loss. A two or even three goal defeat would have been understandable, if not pleasant.

      But, to lie down? To sit back and take a beating?

      Come on.

      Let’s make something clear. Yesterday was not the CSA’s fault. Sure, they have made mistakes in the past, but it wasn’t the blazers capitulating on the pitch. That mess is all on the players.

      There are a few exceptions, but for the most part there was little passion in this group. I don’t think I’m alone in hoping that the majority of that team retires from international football. I’d rather lose with kids that care than deal with what we saw yesterday.

      The Canadian national team has hurt me many times over the years. They’ve never before made me feel ashamed. They did yesterday. As they slink back to their club teams I hope they share that feeling.

      But, I’m not sure they do.
      Comments 14 Comments
      1. Simon B's Avatar
        Simon B - 10-17-2012, 12:16 PM
        aaaaaaaaaaaagreed.
      1. Unregistered's Avatar
        Unregistered - 10-17-2012, 12:43 PM
        Embarrassing. I couldn't help but imagine how people around the world checking soccer scores on ESPN must've scoffed when they saw the 8-1 result between Canada and Honduras. What a joke.
      1. Initial B's Avatar
        Initial B - 10-17-2012, 12:54 PM
        Totally agree Duane - never in all my years as a supporter have I ever felt ashamed of the team until yesterday. If they gave their best, it would hurt but I would understand the result. But this... the majority of players on the pitch simply did not try their best.

        The CSA should simply disband the Senior Men's National Team for the next two years and hire a Technical Director (or put Stephen Hart back in that slot). Use any freed-up funds to train the U-23, U-19, and U17 squads and arrange for corporate funding to prepare the way for a new CMNT (with a complete high-level coaching staff, physiotherapist and sports psychologist) to take the field in 2014.
      1. Unregistered's Avatar
        Unregistered - 10-17-2012, 12:58 PM
        Over the last 4 or 5 months the national spotlight has turned to the sport of soccer thanks to the Men's National teams World Cup qualification run and the Women's National teams performance at the London Olympics. With soccer naysayers, casual soccer and casual sports fans not anxiously watching to see Canada through to the Hex they put that performance out on the pitch. The sad sad reality is that Stephen Hart is certain to resign that will see a great coach fall when, as you say Duane, it was down to players who have no spine. Sadly, the only heart Canada had yesterday was standing on the sideline and that Hart is soon to be gone.
      1. Unregistered's Avatar
        Unregistered - 10-17-2012, 01:06 PM
        "[I]The Canadian national team has hurt me many times over the years. They’ve never before made me feel ashamed./I]"
        -Well said. I'm not sure what would be considered a "knee jerk" reaction, or too drastic a response to this capitulation, but I'd like to see some response (other than a collective shrug of the shoulders) from: media, fans, sponsors, players, Hart, and the CSA. What we witnessed yesterday was simply unacceptable.
      1. D to the C's Avatar
        D to the C - 10-17-2012, 02:01 PM
        with TFC and Canadian soccer over, I vow to never return to BMO until the Argos play their home games there......
      1. Kent Martin's Avatar
        Kent Martin - 10-17-2012, 02:35 PM
        Not really anything to say about the game yesterday. Embarrassing, shameful, bewildering, soul-sapping. The win against Panama was my single greatest sporting event that I attended, and this loss yesterday was the single worst sporting event I ever watched.

        I hope the Gold Cup team next year looks a lot like our youth teams. Bring a few guys over 25 but bring in a lot of young guys and lets start trying to groom them for 2018 or more likely 2022.
      1. Unregistered's Avatar
        Unregistered - 10-17-2012, 07:51 PM
        Quote Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
        Embarrassing. I couldn't help but imagine how people around the world checking soccer scores on ESPN must've scoffed when they saw the 8-1 result between Canada and Honduras. What a joke.
        Yes, it would be something like looking at the South American scores months from now and seeing something like Colombia 8 Ecuador 1 with Ecuador needing a draw to qualify.
      1. Unregistered's Avatar
        Unregistered - 10-17-2012, 08:46 PM
        It's important to remember that the selfish generation wanted only to play in Toronto, and Duane fully supported this initiative.
      1. Registrado's Avatar
        Registrado - 10-17-2012, 09:02 PM
        As much as I agree with the overall assessment, these are human beings here, not robots from an alternate universe. I'm sure they wanted to win personally and the yet unanswered question is "how do they become a team"?

        Thanks for doing your best boys, even if yesterday, your best, was complete shite.

        ...and I thought being a TFC fan was painful enough, maybe all that was preparation for this in the end? Would make sense in some way...
      1. Unregistered's Avatar
        Unregistered - 10-17-2012, 09:28 PM
        Was I the only one who thought that the ref in this heartbreaker looked not so much like Stephen Hart, as some have suggested, but Duane Rollins with a Hawaiin Tropic tan?
      1. Unregistered's Avatar
        Unregistered - 10-17-2012, 09:37 PM
        I have a sad stat. Only two teams have conceded 8 or more goals in a game in Concacaf qualification for this world cup (all rounds): The US Virgin Islands, and Canada.
      1. Unregistered's Avatar
        Unregistered - 10-18-2012, 10:12 AM
        Quote Originally Posted by D to the C View Post
        with TFC and Canadian soccer over, I vow to never return to BMO until the Argos play their home games there......
        Well said.....
        With no Ivor Wynne in 2013 imagine Labour Day @ BMO - wow!!
        Argos to BMO in 2013!
      1. Unregistered's Avatar
        Unregistered - 10-18-2012, 11:24 AM
        Quote Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
        It's important to remember that the selfish generation wanted only to play in Toronto, and Duane fully supported this initiative.
        It'sa also important to realize that it's not about me.

        That and you're misrepresenting my position (specifically by simplifying it and stating it without context).
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