Canada-Belize Preview.......

[Winnipeg Fury]

Canada-Belize

Preview of Canada-Belize from Planet World Cup:

   There are two Canadian soccer teams: the one that goes out on the field and the one that exists in the minds of their supporters. Canadian fans are among the best in the world: they're dedicated, knowledgeable, cheerful, and absolutely convinced their players are as good as Brazil's. As far as they're concerned, their lads can win every time they take the field, and they know deep down that it won't be long before the maple leaf soars triumphantly over the great football globe.

    The reality, though, is somewhat less joyous. It's been a long time since 1986, Canada's one and only appearance at the World Cup. They came ever so close in the 1994 cycle, actually leading Mexico in the decisive game before going down. They entered the 1998 Hexagonal with optimism and brio, but were hammered by Mexico and USA in their first two outings, and never really recovered. But certainly in the 2002 qualifiers their time had come; hadn't they just stunned the region with a Gold Cup championship? Alas, they didn't even make the Hexagonal: in their semifinal group, they were humiliated twice by Trinidad & Tobago, and scored a grand total of one goal in six games.

    So what's the deal with Canada? Hopeless mediocrity or unfulfilled potential? Are the fans deluding themselves, or is the talent really there to make a run at things?

    It's hard to say. Certainly Canada has produced some very good players over the years. Right now they can boast striker Tomasz Radzinski (Everton), fullback/midfielder Paul Staltieri (Werder Bremen), midfielder Julian de Guzman (Hannover 96), and exciting young attacker Iain Hume (Tranmere Rovers). And a surprisingly large number of Canadians play in the lesser European leagues. Yet they really haven't shown the depth of talent necessary to produce a consistent side. There's some encouraging news from the youth program: the U-20's have qualified for the FIFA championship the last two times out, and at UAE 2003, they even made the world quarterfinals, losing to Spain only in extra time. On the other hand, the U-17's haven't qualified since 1995, and the last time Canada saw the Olympics was all the way back in 1984.

    Compounding the problem is that there's no real domestic league. In fact, Canada is the largest country in the world without a functioning first division. Five Canada-based teams play in the A-League, which is the USA's second division--and that's it. You can send as many players abroad as you want, but without a place for the second-line veterans and young stars to get consistent experience, you won't have a deep enough talent pool. The USA learned this lesson well: it was only after MLS had been in place for several years that they finally made an impact at the World Cup.

    Anyway, the question is pretty much moot until August. The opponent in this round, Belize, shouldn't be much of a test. In their first WC qualifiers, 1998, they were beaten by Panama 2:6 on aggregate; in the 2002 cycle they managed only a draw in four group stage games with Guatemala and El Salvador. Geographically part of Central America, their real affinity is with the Caribbean: they're a former British colony, and take their cricket seriously. They've played fewer than 20 full internationals in their history, and to date they have yet to win a single tournament game of any kind.

    So what are they doing here, you ask? After all, this is a second-round match; how did they get past the first round? In the boardrooms. Because they're from Central America, they (and Nicaragua--see below) got a pass, and were allowed to sit on the sidelines while the Caribbean teams, several of them stronger, had to play to make it this far. It sounds like a good deal, but they probably would have been better off with a first-round tie. Then they could have played someone in their own class, and had a chance to score an historic victory. Now they'll just go home empty.

    But at least they're here. Over the past two years they've been involved in one of the crazier domestic disputes, with the league (BPFL) and the federation (FFB) at considerable odds. The usual issues: corruption, accounting failures, etc. At the nadir, the FFB, led by director Bertie Chimilio, simply refused to show up for a mediation meeting set up by the national sports council. Last January, the national government decertified the FFB, and it looked as if FIFA sanctions would be forthcoming; in February, an about-face recertified the FFB and a local court ordered the BPFL to begin; a few weeks ago, the BPFL players withdrew from the national squad; finally, the Prime Minister himself intervened, brokered a deal, and got things going forward (for the moment, anyway).

    Belizean football fans are understandably thrilled the worst is over, but the dispute has crippled the team. Belize's last tournament game was more than 3 years ago, and they haven't even played a friendly since April 2002. Stadium upgrades were set aside as well, so both games of the tie will be played in Canada. Belize isn't by any means a superminnow, and at their best, they might give Canada some nervous moments. But under the circumstances, they have next to no chance. (All the more reason for Canadian fans to stay optimistic!)