My first senior international: Ireland 1, Romania

[BC supporter]

Not a big deal to some, I’m sure, but I’m in my mid-40s and just saw my first full international game. So indulge me as I jot down a few thoughts:

I came down on the bus from Belfast – which, setting aside the politics (and the cost) is a fine town – and took the DART out to Lansdowne Road. Lansdowne Road is at the end of its usefulness, with few modern amenities, and the DART train almost comically runs at street level right outside, which means every couple of minutes they have to put the barriers down while the train passes through and hundreds of fans have to wait patiently before they can cross the street. The match had been sold out for months, but a security guard gave me the basic advice to wait till close to game time and pay a tout no more than the face value of 20 euros (about $34) for the terraces, which is exactly what I did. So at 7:30 I found myself standing 3/4 of the way up in the south terrace, part of a full house of 42,300.

The match was most memorable, of course, for the return of Roy Keane to international football. The lineups were announced twice prior to the game, and he got by far the biggest reaction. His first few touches were met with cheers – and some boos – but after a while I heard no booing. It’s obvious even to those (like me) who thought Keane a loser for walking out on the World Cup squad that the Irish side is much superior with him in midfield.

The atmosphere at the game was rather subdued, I guess because it was only a friendly and Ireland’s not going to Euro 2004. The Irish fans had all of 3 basic cheers: “Come on you boys in green” (to the tune of the old Mary Hopkin song “Those were the days”), “Come on, Ireland”, and, of course, the inevitable “Keane-o”. And that was it. The several hundred Romanian fans, scattered in 3 areas of the park, were in better voice. (BTW, no surprise there was a good Romanian contingent: one thing most noticeable to me about Dublin as compared to my trip two years ago is the significant number of eastern Europeans in the city.)

Anyway, I found the game fairly lackluster, redeemed by Matty Holland volleying home the winner with five minutes left. The Irish had an edge in play, with Shay Given never really tested. I would have liked to have seen Damien Duff, out injured. Andy Reid, the Nottingham Forest left-footed winger, and Liam Miller, the future Man U midfielder caught my eye. Keane was solid, precise in his passing with some occasional bite to his tackles, and unlucky not to actually score. He could have been man of the match, though that went to Miller.

Was there beer somewhere for sale? Not that I saw. Five euros for a program, 3 euros for some fries and that was it for me till I was back in the city centre after the match downing pints at The Celt on Talbot Street. So, overall, not the greatest occasion for my international debut, but satisfying nonetheless. Now if Canada would play a full international sometime soon here on the west coast...

[Mimglow]

Nice! Which begs the question: What was everyone's first full international?

Mine was Canada v. Trinidad & Tobago in Toronto in 2000. 1-0 to Canada on a Jeff Clarke free kick.

[bettermirror]

Canada v. El Salvador during World Cup 98 Qualifying at Swangard - The Pesch Incident. 0-0 draw. Canada out of chances.

[Winnipeg Fury]

quote:Originally posted by BC supporter

Not a big deal to some, I’m sure, but I’m in my mid-40s and just saw my first full international game. So indulge me as I jot down a few thoughts:

Good to hear from you BC Supporter, it's been a while !

Sounds like a good match.

I honestly can't remember which was my first international. I remember seeing Canada-Honduras at Swangard in the early 90's, but the wife doesn't think that was the first. I don't think the CSA has a full list of Canada's matches, so I'm stumped.

[canadiankick97]

Canada vs Costa Rica at Varsity Stadium for a friendly in '95 or might have been 96'.

The score finished 1-0 in favour of Costa Rico.

[Winnipeg Fury]

quote:Originally posted by Sigma

1993 (WC 1994 Qualifying)

Mexico at Canada (Varsity stadium)

As everyone knows a 2-1 loss...

One of the all-time great Canada games that unfortunetly ended in heartbreak. I think Pesch had a goal disallowed for offside, but replay clearly showed the goal should have counted.

If it counted, Canada would have gone to the World Cup.

[nolando]

Funny, mine was the same as bettermirror- Canada vs. El Salvador '97...It was fun taking along three foreign students (a Korean, a Mexican, and a Colombian)to cheer on the Nats with all of us in full Canadian makeup and gear. Great memory but a pretty bitter aftertaste.

[matthew]

Canada 0 v Iran 1 in Edmonton 1999 Canada Cup.

Met Holger after the match too.

cheers,

matthew

[Guest Ed]

First Cdn international was the 1-1 draw vs Brazil in June 1994. Went with a friend and his elderly father. His father was Hungarian and the last game he had attended was in the early 1950s in Vancouver to see Puskac (spelling?). He had a bit more spring in his step leaving the game after watching Canada tie Brazil in front of over 50,000 fans. Never seemed to be able to get to see the Nats in the 80s or early 90s.

[Guest Jeffery S.]

Scoreless draw vs. Paraguay at B.C. Place, January 1986. I really don't know why I didn't see the nats before this, as I had gone to Whitecaps games as early as 75. Was very boring if I recall correctly.

Puskas reference, the fellow I went with who was older than me spoke of going to a soccer camp with him in Vancouver (note sure when that would have been, in the 1960s or early 70s), the first I had ever heard of this player.

[Vancouver Fan]

quote:Originally posted by Jeffrey S.

Scoreless draw vs. Paraguay at B.C. Place, January 1986. I really don't know why I didn't see the nats before this, as I had gone to Whitecaps games as early as 75. Was very boring if I recall correctly.

Puskas reference, the fellow I went with who was older than me spoke of going to a soccer camp with him in Vancouver (note sure when that would have been, in the 1960s or early 70s), the first I had ever heard of this player.

I was going to say England v Canada in May or June of 86 but I remember going to the Paraguay match as well.Remember being really impressed with Paraguay.They had a player that was burning the Canadians with his speed.Wish I remebered his name.Wish I bugged my dad for a program.

There was also a Mexico visit at Empire Stadium that I attended.I think it was an Olympic qualifier.Forget the year though.

[RS]

I remember attending the Sir Stanley Matthews Cup matches in Toronto at Varsity, although I don't remember the opponents. (I was 8 or 9 at the time)

I attended the Canada/Scotland match at Varsity in the early 90's. My first WCQ was the infamous Mexico match in '93. Others include the Caribana Cup (Jamaica/T&T), a Canada/Jamaica WCQ for WC98, Canada vs. Iran in '97 (Stalteri and DeVos' first caps IIRC) and the last match on Canadian soil, the Canada/Mexico WCQ in November 2000. All of these matches were played at Varsity, so you can count me in as one of the people that hopes that the new Varsity will be deemed acceptable for int'l matches, but that's a discussion for another thread.

EDIT: Just remembered that I was at the SkyDome Cup matches (Canada vs Portugal and Denmark) that were played in 1995. If ever there was a turf not meant for soccer, AstroTurf is it. The ball bounced around like a pinball, and the players looked as though they were consistently afraid of getting rugburn, and were therefore playing at about 50% speed.

And reading through this thread just brought back memories of the incredible ovation that immediately followed Pesch's disallowed goal (I could have sworn it was Hooper, but I'll go with WF's account instead of my own), as well as the stunned silence when the crowd, which at that point had been 50/50 in terms of supporting both teams, realized that the clearly onside goal was called back. I think that was the first time my dad ever heard me swear

[Metro]

Canada v. Belize, June 13, 2004, Kingston.

I'll let you know how it turns out. [8D]

[Winnipeg Fury]

quote:Originally posted by Rudi

EDIT: Just remembered that I was at the SkyDome Cup matches (Canada vs Portugal and Denmark) that were played in 1995. If ever there was a turf not meant for soccer, AstroTurf is it. The ball bounced around like a pinball, and the players looked as though they were consistently afraid of getting rugburn, and were therefore playing at about 50% speed.

And reading through this thread just brought back memories of the incredible ovation that immediately followed Pesch's disallowed goal (I could have sworn it was Hooper, but I'll go with WF's account instead of my own), as well as the stunned silence when the crowd, which at that point had been 50/50 in terms of supporting both teams, realized that the clearly onside goal was called back. I think that was the first time my dad ever heard me swear

That match was many games ago, and if you remember Hooper, then it probably was. I'm sure Pesch had some part in it. Still one of the classic Canuck matches, and probably the biggest heartbreaker of all time for Canadian fans.

I remember that CSA officials were incensed by the pro-Mexican crowd and stated afterwards that it would be a long time before a World Cup Qualifier was held in TO. If I recall, the players were also choked.

That game really opened the door for Edmonton to begin hosting matches. If we had a strong home crowd that match, the ref may have made the right call and Canada would have gone to 1994 World Cup.

[jonovision]

Canada - Cuba, WCQ match... sometime in May 2001 (I think). Winnipeg Soccer Complex. 0-0, Bent had a 40-yard drive go off the crossbar and Pesch hit the post.

[Gian-Luca]

I'll say it before & I'll say it again, if the CSA officials were incensed about at the 8000 Mexicans in the crowd they shouldn't have sold so many tickets to them, which would have been an easy thing not to do since almost none of them were from Toronto or Canada. Maybe then the thousands of Canadians who were turned away from the stadium on the day of the game would have gotten a ticket. Those Mexicans were not locals, but from the US & Mexico as people from Toronto do not take chartered buses from the US to get to Varsity Stadium. The CSA or whoever handled ticket distribution was to blame

I was at the match (luckily got there early enough to get a ticket) & remember it vividly - it was Hooper that scored the goal but it was Pesch who sent him the past who was adjudged to be offside even though 2 Mexicans played him on-side. I don't think the call had anything to do with the crowd, it was just a missed call.

As for my first match, I guess I currently hold the longevity record in the thread - Summer 1985, Canada 1 Costa Rica 1, World Cup Qualifying for 1986. I know Bob MacDonald went to some matches in the 1970's though, which probably gives him the Voyageurs record.

[matthew]

quote:Originally posted by Rudi

I remember attending the Sir Stanley Matthews Cup matches in Toronto at Varsity, although I don't remember the opponents. (I was 8 or 9 at the time)

They played Greece and I don't remember the other off the top of my head, but I have the program at home in a Canada Soccer magazine(one of Forest's first caps) so I'll look it up.

cheers,

matthew

[bmac]

The first game I recollect attending [not sure if this qualifies as "a full international"] was England v. Mexico I believe at the Autostade in Montreal. It was part of a tournament during Expo 67 I think. England was represented by their '66 World Cup Side and eventually won the tournament beating a club or all-star [rather than national team] team from West Germany which I also attended.

My Canadian national team game was their 8 to 1 loss also in Montreal to the strong Polish national team in July of '75.

Followed that the following year with all of Canada's games at the Olympics in the "Big Owe" as well as the final with East Germany prevailing over Poland with my high school soccer coach as interpreter/liaison on the German bench.

Lots of games since then whenever Canada plays at Commonwealth.

[Gian-Luca]

Greece & Chile were the opponents at Sir Stanley Matthews' Cup.

[Canuck Oranje]

Canada/Scotland - May 1992 at Varsity

[redhat]

My first live international/s were 1999 Pan Am Games in Winnipeg, featuring

USA vs. Jamaica, and Canada-Mexico (0-0, with Dwayne DeRosario).

Full team international was Canada-Honduras friendly in 2000, with

Kevin McKenna scoring his first goal, as well as a homecoming for ex-Winnipeg

Fury players Onstad, Fenwick, and Corrazin.

[Varsity Tyler]

Canada vs Jamaica, 1998 @ Varsity - what was supposed to be the last match at the Stadium on Bloor. Oh that Breannan run down the left to start the second half! I remember it like it was yesterday.

[JayWay]

Canada vs. Costa Rica, Gold Cup 2003 in Boston.

The best part of the day wasn't even watching my team triumph over their heavily favoured opponents. No. The best part was break dancing on top of a giant Voyageurs banner to the tune of ridiculously off-beat hardcore trance with some 6,000 bewildered Costa Ricans looking on.

Good times.

Toronto Ultras -- Reinforcing the stigma that pastey white boys can't dance since 2001.

[Guest Jeffery S.]

quote:Originally posted by Gian-Luca

I'll say it before & I'll say it again, if the CSA officials were incensed about at the 8000 Mexicans in the crowd they shouldn't have sold so many tickets to them, which would have been an easy thing not to do since almost none of them were from Toronto or Canada. Maybe then the thousands of Canadians who were turned away from the stadium on the day of the game would have gotten a ticket. Those Mexicans were not locals, but from the US & Mexico as people from Toronto do not take chartered buses from the US to get to Varsity Stadium. The CSA or whoever handled ticket distribution was to blame

I was at the match (luckily got there early enough to get a ticket) & remember it vividly - it was Hooper that scored the goal but it was Pesch who sent him the past who was adjudged to be offside even though 2 Mexicans played him on-side. I don't think the call had anything to do with the crowd, it was just a missed call.

As for my first match, I guess I currently hold the longevity record in the thread - Summer 1985, Canada 1 Costa Rica 1, World Cup Qualifying for 1986. I know Bob MacDonald went to some matches in the 1970's though, which probably gives him the Voyageurs record.

Gianluca, your post made me think of that Hispanic-American who wanted to see the States play, was not from the country the visitors represented, and they would not sell him a ticket as he talked with a Spanish accent, arguing they had sold enough already to the fans of the visiting side. He took them to court and got a lot of press, don't know the final legal result though.

But will you please explain to me just how in a democratic society you can refuse entry to a person willing to pay for a sporting event, living in Canada, just because of who he happens to be supporting? I think it is unconstitutional. All you can possibly do is designate an area, and if it is full remind the fan that he won't be sitting with his fellow fans if he buys tickets for elsewhere. Must say I am a bit shocked by your post.

[Gian-Luca]

quote:Originally posted by Jeffrey S.

But will you please explain to me just how in a democratic society you can refuse entry to a person willing to pay for a sporting event, living in Canada, just because of who he happens to be supporting? Must say I am a bit shocked by your post.

Rather than being shocked by my post you might have done well to actually read it a bit more carefully. The 8000 Mexicans that came to the match that day were not "living in Canada", as I clearly mentioned. They came up that day from the US & Mexico. Obviously you can't discriminate against people living in Canada, but that was never the issue. You do a designated section for visiting fans and that is it.

And it's a good thing that the match was not held in Swangard, as there might not be much more room for Canadian fans with 8000 Mexicans there. And you can be sure that they would have been.