Massive Attack Posted July 13, 2003 Share Posted July 13, 2003 Cubans next as Canada looks to advance Canadian Press http://www.tsn.ca/soccer/news_story.asp?ID=47240&hubName=soccer 7/13/2003 WALTHAM, Mass. (CP) - One game into the Gold Cup and Canada is already in the driving seat in its group. Fresh from a 1-0 win over favoured Costa Rica, an upbeat Holger Osieck looked ahead to Cuba on Monday night at Gillette Stadium knowing that a positive result will send the Canadians into a more favourable quarter-final matchup at the 12-team CONCACAF championship. Osieck was unfazed by negative post-game comments from Costa Rica's American coach Steve Sampson, who dismissed Canada's defensive-minded approach and said the Canadians would never be able to survive against the world's best playing that way. ``We did our job, we resisted, we tried to play as long as we had the energy,' Osieck said Sunday after an upbeat practice session. ``Then later on when we really ran out of gas, we resisted and we showed great spirit. That's what counts for me. ``And I never claimed to be a top team of the world.'' Osieck then fired back at Sampson. ``You see, coaches, when they lose, they have all kinds of excuses.'' Costa Rica, ranked 18th in the world to No. 78 for Canada, has only itself to blame for Saturday's loss. The Central Americans put just four of 13 shots on goal, misfiring time and time again. Canada had three good chances and Paul Stalteri put one away in the 59th minute, holding off a defender to tuck the ball past the goalkeeper after a Costa Rican failed to cut off a long ball from Jason Bent. Should Canada win its group, it will avoid a likely matchup with the defending champion Americans, ranked ninth in the world. Instead the Canadians would likely face No. 85 El Salvador in Saturday's quarter-final in Foxboro, Mass. The winner of that game will advance to Mexico City for the semifinal, possibly against the co-host Mexicans. Osieck's approach to Saturday's game was limited in that he is missing three key players: his top strike force of Tomasz Radzinski and Dwayne De Rosario (both injured) and influential winger Jim Brennan (back in England with his new club side Norwich City). Lacking strikers and knowing the Costa Ricans are strong on the ball, Osieck opted for a 4-4-1-1 formation in a bid to blunt the silky Central American buildup. Nick Dasovic and Daniel Imhof operated as holding midfielders, shifting to tackle the Costa Rican onslaught with Imhof attacking the ball carrier and Dasovic tucking in behind to shield the back four. But with midfielder Wilmer Lopez, the key to the Costa Rican, playing up high in the hole behind the strikers, Osieck switched strategy and had Dasovic man-mark him. When the Central Americans - whose starting 11 featured nine members of their 2002 World Cup squad - had success slashing through the Canadian left flank, Osieck sent on the more mobile Maycoll Canizalez to harry the Costa Ricans. The frustrated Ticos, who man for man were technically superior to the Canadians, resorted to long balls in an attempt to find holes behind the Canadian back four. The blue-collar Canadian strategy worked. And when the Costa Ricans did find an opening, goalkeeper Lars Hirschfeld stopped them. Hirschfeld, who was playing his first game since injuring a hamstring March 19, notched his fourth shutouts in 12 starts for Canada - he shared one of those shutouts with Craig Forrest - and showed once again how important he is to the Canadian cause. A team with a limited arsenal up front cannot afford mistakes at the back. Hirschfeld is an athletic shot-stopper who keeps his team in the game. The goalie is even more important when the team in front on him is lacking game fitness - and playing in sapping heat. The new summer scheduling of the Gold Cup - it used to be played in January - is bad for Canada because most of the top Canadians play in Europe and are coming out of the off-season. As for Monday night's opponent, the Cubans are a bit of a mystery. Athletic and sometimes unorthodox is Osieck's assessment. ``Pretty tough to beat,'' he added, noting the Cubans are coming off a win over Jamaica in Kingston. Cuba has never won a game at the Gold Cup, exiting after the first round in its previous trips to the tournament. Canada's record against Cuba is 3-1-3. Notes: Midfielder Jason Bent is the only question mark for Monday's game because of blisters on his feet ... Stalteri's goal was the sixth of his international career, tying him for eighth on the all-time scoring list with Kevin McKenna ... The Canadian Soccer Association has scheduled a news conference for July 21 in Toronto on its Toronto stadium plans. The CSA needs the federal and provincial government and Toronto Argonauts to commit money to the project, although companies have apparently already stepped up to discuss naming rights. The CSA is looking at a 25,000- to 30-000-seat stadium on the grounds of the CNE. ------------------------- "Ever onward to victory! Our country or death!" Che Guevara Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Massive Attack Posted July 13, 2003 Author Share Posted July 13, 2003 Just to comment on the note about the CSA wanting to put the new Toronto Stadium at the CNE. The parking lot that they want to build the Stadium on, apparently makes $1 million a year. I don't see how the CSA will be able to get its hands on that land. ------------------------- "Ever onward to victory! Our country or death!" Che Guevara Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettermirror Posted July 14, 2003 Share Posted July 14, 2003 that was a nice little article! bring on cuba!!!!! there ain't gonna be any middle any more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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