2010 CONCACAF U20 Tournament

[Vic]

Time to get setup for the first big event of the year beginning on the 20th in Guatemala City. Three U20 World Cup berths on the line in Germany later this year.

GROUP A: [b]Canada[/b] / Costa Rica / Cuba / Guatemala

GROUP B: USA / Mexico / Trinidad and Tobago / Jamaica


Group

Wed Jan 20 @ 15:00:  [b]Canada[/b] vs. Costa Rica

Fri Jan 22 @ 15:00:  Cuba vs. [b]Canada[/b]

Sun Jan 24 @ 13:30:  Guatemala vs. [b]Canada[/b]

Thu Jan 28 @ 14:30:  Semi-Final 1: Group B winner vs. Group A runner-up

Thu Jan 28 @ 17:30:  Semi-Final 2: Group A winner vs. Group B runner-up

Sat Jan 30 @ 14:30:  Bronze (Winner qualifies for World Cup)

Sat Jan 30 @ 17:30:  Gold (both teams qualify for World Cup)


* all times EST

In 2008 all the games were streamed tape-delay on-demand from http://www.concacaf.com and if we're lucky we'll get the same chance again in a couple of weeks.

Any Canadian women's team beating the Americans in any competition is truly an incredible feat, and major kudos to the CSA for setting up tribute pages for 2008 CONCACAF Champions pictured above (as well as their 2004 predecessors):

http://www.canadasoccer.com/tourney/FIFA_U20WWC/CW20C_2004roster.asp

http://www.canadasoccer.com/tourney/FIFA_U20WWC/CW20C_2008roster.asp

Our 2004 champions placed 7 into our 45 player senior national pool, similar to the U.S. program which has 7 of their 42 player senior pool from their 2004 U20 side.

There is a very different and interesting comparison of the 2008 teams though. We have already placed 11 players from our 2008 team into our 45 player senior national pool, while the Americans have only graduated 1 (Christine Nairn who scored the game-winner against us this past summer).

Also interesting is the future for these players as they near the end of their college careers. Of the 14 Americans who hit the field in their loss to Canada in the 2008 CONCACAF final, six will be drafted high in the WPS draft in two weeks, as well as another two with senior college years remaining who would go as well, for a total of at least eight future pros. While the only Canadian from the golden U20 team that gave all eight silver medals expected to be drafted is Sophie Schmidt of Portland.

TFC, the Whitecaps and the Impact (representing Canada's three largest areas) have all made inroads or are well no their way to the top level of professional men's soccer in North America. It's too bad our women don't have the same opportunity.

[Sam]

Morace's first real test in a competitive environment. Anything outside qualification would be a failure and hopefully the girls have a shot at knocking off the US and repeating as champions.

Any hope we'll get some sort of TV coverage for this.

[Vic]

I believe broadcast coverage of women's regional youth qualifiers only happens in Europe. Possibly Asia too but North America's a dream. But if you're willing to take a bite in quality and have an LCD or plasma and a laptop (or desktop computer and long DVI, HDMI, component or svideo cable), you can stream it right off CONCACAF.com onto your flat panel. I'll post up the on-demand video links when they are available if they air the whole thing again this year. If you want to test out your rig you can pick from a number of games here:

http://www.concacaftv.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Video/0,,12907~1479940,00.html

A good one would be the 2006 Women's Gold Cup Final:

http://www.concacaftv.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Video/0,,12907~1479156,00.html

[Soccer9]

Does anyone know if the final team has been confirmed?

[MM2]

Camp roster, Laval Comets well represented

http://www.canadasoccer.com/news/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=3921

[devioustrevor]

I didn't even realize there was a regional U-20 for the ladies.

Looking at the Groups though Canada is looking good. The other group has the Americans, Mexicans, Jamaicans and T&T while we get the Ticos (or is it Ticas since it's Women?), Guatemalans and Cubans.

[Vic]

Good point Trevor, they would be Ticas. Here is some info carried over from the old board on the tournament:

The opening game is this Wednesday, January 20th at 3:00pm EST.

"All 16 games can be watched at CONCACAF.com's video portal, CONCACAF TV, the first time a continental confederation has offered free comprehensive live coverage of a youth tournament online. Users will have to sign-up to view the games, but there is no charge for the one-time registration."

CONCACAF tv link:

http://www.concacaftv.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Home/0,,12907,00.html

They will also be available on-demand after they are over.

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=52458600422

Twitter:

http://twitter.com/CONCACAF

Tournament Previews:

http://www.concacaf.com/page/WUnder20s/VideosDetail/0,,12813~1934156,00.html

http://www.concacaf.com/page/WUnder20s/VideosDetail/0,,12813~1936771,00.html

And some interesting comments on the widespread use of American players in the tournament:

- [Leonard] Cuellar used 12 U.S.-born players when Mexico competed in the 1999 Women's World Cup.

- Every country in the CONCACAF championship except Cuba listed on its preliminary 30-woman roster at least some who play in the United States.

- While Mexico's team will have six U.S.-based players, including key defender Alina Garciamendez and her Stanford University teammate Teresa Noyola, it will be without five others because of the U.S. academic calendar which will require those players to remain in school. Either they didn't do well the previous semester, or they're in their senior year, and they need to complete a class, or they've already used dates and they can't miss any more…," Cuellar said explaining some of the reasons why some players are not always available.

[Vic]

Jamaica played no internationals because they had no money. But they did have the money for camps for both their domestic and international players with daily practices at 5:00am and 3:00pm, no cellphones, and daily prayer (probably their best tactic against the Americans). They also had the money to bring in 10 overseas players, most of whom are probable starters according to their coach, including at least five Ontarians:

Sherene Clarke, Rogers State University

Zovel Hyre, La Salle University (Scarborough, Ontario - Wexford Jaguars youth system)

Lia Blake, La Salle University (Nepean, Ontario - Ottawa Fury Soccer Club)

Cathryn Rogers, Ohio University (Toronto, Ontario - West Rouge Soccer Club)

Kemeisha Woodfine, Quinnipiac University

Katrina Rose, Florida International University

Jamila Campbell-Henny (Scarborough, Ontario - CSA profile)

Monigue Pryce

Leigh Ann Jaggon

Nicole Campbell (St. Catherine's, Ontario - Richmond Hill SC - CSA profile)

The coach has referenced his strong "back five," which combined with Jamaican speed and physicality probably gives you an indication of the style of football they will be playing. He also said he likes playing the USA first because they have noticed the Americans are usually slow out of the gate.

James Bond puns aside, their domestic player to keep an eye on is striker Simone Honeyghan.

[Vic]

If tournament nerves aren't enough, they had a 6.0 earthquake just 100km South of Guatemala City yesterday.

[Sam]

Any predictions for today's kickoff against Costa Rica?

[mtlfan]

Any predictions for today's kickoff against Costa Rica?

Canada 2 Costa Rica 0

[Vic]

We've played twice and beat them 4-0 both times including a year and a half ago where they never threatened our back line. The CSA release also say's the Costa Rican team is mainly their U17 team from New Zealand a year ago so you would expect little trouble.

Group play is almost pointless in our pool. Our other opponents are Cuba and Guatemela both of whom have fledgling women's programs.

With three bids and the group draw the only way we don't go through is to lose to both Costa Rica and Mexico, or Costa Rica twice. A rare luxury in CONCACAF World Cup qualification.

[oreo]

Jamaica played no internationals because they had no money. But they did have the money for camps for both their domestic and international players with daily practices at 5:00am and 3:00pm, no cellphones, and daily prayer (probably their best tactic against the Americans). They also had the money to bring in 10 overseas players, most of whom are probable starters according to their coach, including at least five Ontarians:

Sherene Clarke, Rogers State University

Zovel Hyre, La Salle University (Scarborough, Ontario - Wexford Jaguars youth system)

Lia Blake, La Salle University (Nepean, Ontario - Ottawa Fury Soccer Club)

Cathryn Rogers, Ohio University (Toronto, Ontario - West Rouge Soccer Club)

Kemeisha Woodfine, Quinnipiac University

Katrina Rose, Florida International University

Jamila Campbell-Henny (Scarborough, Ontario - CSA profile)

Monigue Pryce

Leigh Ann Jaggon

Nicole Campbell (St. Catherine's, Ontario - Richmond Hill SC - CSA profile)

The coach has referenced his strong "back five," which combined with Jamaican speed and physicality probably gives you an indication of the style of football they will be playing. He also said he likes playing the USA first because they have noticed the Americans are usually slow out of the gate.

James Bond puns aside, their domestic player to keep an eye on is striker Simone Honeyghan.

jamaica will be using a 532 pattern of play , if they lose to USA its not the end of the world I doubt mexico

will make it from that Group .

[The Ref]

The link to concacaf live is not working for me. Just get a black screen, no video, no audio. I did open an account.

[AlanDouglas]

Me too. Blank screen

[Vic]

CONCACAF... sigh.

[Vic]

Quite funny then. How is the game progressing?

[The Ref]

Link is working just fine for me here in the Czech Republic.

Some people have all the luck. Could you update the forum with scores and other good stuff. Thanks.

[Guest Ed]

Jack's minions are checking out VISA, MASTERCARD and AMEX sites for any chance of your new username and password gaining entry. When all searches are exhausted, we can expect an error message to appear telling us to register with a new username password. Clever.

[Vic]

I just logged in through a remote server in the American south and have video. Seems they have blocked it in Canada. That takes a special skill.

[hc1]

Same here Vic - I needed to use http://hotspotshield.com/ to log in. Its nuts.

[The Ref]

I just logged in through a remote server in the American south and have video. Seems they have blocked it in Canada. That takes a special skill.

How do you access a remote server?

[Vic]

I emailed the Tech Director of the company doing the production for CONACAF about 5 minutes ago. It just came on live.

[VPjr]

Canada wins 1-0

Nice goal by Canada...lovely little passing play to set it up and the goal scorer's technique was quite good.

However, from what I was able to watch (about 30 minutes), CR looked pretty good. They had plenty of chances, more than Canada. Canada's GK was very good.

Nice to get a win in game 1. They will need to be better to win the tournament.

The one thing I loved to see was how committed the girls were to running to the corner with 4-5 minutes to go and try to kill time. That has Morace's name written all over it. well done.

[The Ref]

I just logged in again and I still get no video no sound. Why me?