Canada vs. Canada.

[Robert]

Having capitulated on the time zone issues that confront our national team players when it comes to playing an international match west of Toronto, because it would just tucker those poor lads out too much when they have to come all the way from Europe, I've come up with a solution. (Personally, if I were playing in the South Pole League, I would have to think twice about answering the call to represent my country for a match in the Great White North.)

During the off-season in Europe, why not play a series of international matches featuring a Canadian team comprised of European based players against a Canadian team comprised of North American based players during the summer. This would be an excellent why to market the national program throughout Canada and to get a read on much support they would receive in various different cities. Matches could be played in cities that traditionally are not awarded international matches, such as Moncton, Calgary and many others.

Now I know for my Toronto-centric (just wanted to see what it feels like using that word) friends this just would not sell. But, because these matches would be taking place in the summer, maybe the CSA could arrange a couple of home and home matches with the USA, on say July 1st in Canada and July 4th in the US. The Canada vs. Canada matches could serve as preparatory games for the matches with the USA, and the Canadian team that plays against the USA could be selected from the two Canadian squads that have just toured the country. My feelings are that the North American-based players would give the European based players a good run for their money.

The issue of those opposing BC Place because of the FieldTurf still comfuses me. These same voices never had a problem with BMO field being used for the U20 World Cup Final back in 07. Most of the prime matches in that tournamnent of course had to be played on a surface they now so vehemently oppose. My lasting impression of that tournament was a photograph on page 82, of the August 2007 issue of World Soccer magazine, where Argentina's Piatti and the Czech Republic's Kuban are pictured in the Final on BMO's GLAD garbage bag.

[RS]

North American based players are somewhat busy in the summertime, don't you think?

[Scottie]

North American based players are somewhat busy in the summertime, don't you think?

Of course someone from Toronto would be opposed to the idea

[TFCRegina]

Of course someone from Toronto would be opposed to the idea

You know, it's that Toronto hating on North America thing.

Of course, if we'd have tried to schedule the friendly in the Fall/Spring/Winter, it would be called a Toronto hating on Europe thing.

[RS]

Of course someone from Toronto would be opposed to the idea

I do have a reputation to uphold.

[Cheeta]

You know though, ignoring what is becoming the all too common fixture congestion which plagues the NA club sides over the summer it might be worth exploring the possibility of a Canada B team doing a tour against the domestic club sides. Again, with the express purpose of raising awareness of the MNT.

Not next season, what with the Gold Cup and all, but perhaps going forward. Not a money maker but if all the parties concerned were to get on board there might be a useful purpose in the exercise.

Lot of things would need to come together to make it worth while and we'll be getting into WCQing by that point but that's the point isn't it? Marketing (raise awareness) and development (gaining experience/familiarity).

[hamiltonfan]

Canada B vs. the three big clubs isnt a bad idea...Canada vs. USA, Canada vs. Mexico, and Canada vs Iceland(as*holes still owe us a friendly) tour across those three cities would be better.

[Robert]

You know though, ignoring what is becoming the all too common fixture congestion which plagues the NA club sides over the summer it might be worth exploring the possibility of a Canada B team doing a tour against the domestic club sides. Again, with the express purpose of raising awareness of the MNT.

Not a bad idea. The MNT vs the Impact, TFC and Whitecaps would probably draw larger crowds right now than international friendlies. But why "with the express purpose of raising awarenes of the MNT" written in stone? These are the three Canadian markets that probably have the greatest awaness already. If the sole purpose is to raise awareness throughout Canada, then the product has to be brought to those markets. It might be a challenge to get the Big Three to go on the road.

Not next season, what with the Gold Cup and all, but perhaps going forward. Not a money maker but if all the parties concerned were to get on board there might be a useful purpose in the exercise.

Agreed, timing is everything, but some warm-up matches prior to Gold Cup or World Cup qualifying can only be beneficial, right?

Lot of things would need to come together to make it worth while and we'll be getting into WCQing by that point but that's the point isn't it? Marketing (raise awareness) and development (gaining experience/familiarity).

All of these points need to be considered. In the end it is the whole that is the greater good of the game in Canada, but to get there we need to focus on all the individual components that make up the whole.

[Reality Bites]

Having capitulated on the time zone issues that confront our national team players when it comes to playing an international match west of Toronto, because it would just tucker those poor lads out too much when they have to come all the way from Europe, I've come up with a solution. (Personally, if I were playing in the South Pole League, I would have to think twice about answering the call to represent my country for a match in the Great White North.)

During the off-season in Europe, why not play a series of international matches featuring a Canadian team comprised of European based players against a Canadian team comprised of North American based players during the summer. This would be an excellent why to market the national program throughout Canada and to get a read on much support they would receive in various different cities. Matches could be played in cities that traditionally are not awarded international matches, such as Moncton, Calgary and many others.

Now I know for my Toronto-centric (just wanted to see what it feels like using that word) friends this just would not sell. But, because these matches would be taking place in the summer, maybe the CSA could arrange a couple of home and home matches with the USA, on say July 1st in Canada and July 4th in the US. The Canada vs. Canada matches could serve as preparatory games for the matches with the USA, and the Canadian team that plays against the USA could be selected from the two Canadian squads that have just toured the country. My feelings are that the North American-based players would give the European based players a good run for their money.

The issue of those opposing BC Place because of the FieldTurf still comfuses me. These same voices never had a problem with BMO field being used for the U20 World Cup Final back in 07. Most of the prime matches in that tournamnent of course had to be played on a surface they now so vehemently oppose. My lasting impression of that tournament was a photograph on page 82, of the August 2007 issue of World Soccer magazine, where Argentina's Piatti and the Czech Republic's Kuban are pictured in the Final on BMO's GLAD garbage bag.

Why would the USA agree to play Canada?

[Robert]

Waarom speelt Nederland tegen Belgie? Because we're neighbours for one. Because it seems to be what most neighbours do. Because its convenient. Because it creates rivalry. But hey, maybe their scared to get their ass kicked in Canada by what they might perceive to be a minnow. Canada goes down south all the time to play in their little Gold Cup tournament, so why wouldn't the USA come up here every now and then to enjoy some of our northern hospitality?

[Lord Bob]

The USA might play Canada because it would be cheap to get players over here, a game against us would have a higher profile than a game against the likes of Belize, and we're sufficiently poor that they could send a "B" squad, give some of their depth players a look, and still be competitive.

[Reality Bites]

Waarom speelt Nederland tegen Belgie? Because we're neighbours for one. Because it seems to be what most neighbours do. Because its convenient. Because it creates rivalry. But hey, maybe their scared to get their ass kicked in Canada by what they might perceive to be a minnow. Canada goes down south all the time to play in their little Gold Cup tournament, so why wouldn't the USA come up here every now and then to enjoy some of our northern hospitality?

Because we're neighbours with them? How often does England play Scotland or Wales? If you have a choice between playing Netherlands, Brazil, Poland, Colombia, Turkey (etc) vs Canada, who would you choose? It doesn't improve your team by playing lower level competition.

[Robert]

To use your examples; how often do the Netherlands, Brazil, Poland, Columbia or Turkey send their national teams to play a match in the USA? My point is to try and find ways where it is feaseable and constructive for the CSA to every year arrange a few friendly internationals in Canada. Why?

1) Because the game needs to develop greater exposure within Canada. Despite the year after year boasts by the CSA that Canada has more registered players than hockey does, the bottom line remains that "SOCCER DOES NOT COME NATURAL TO CANADIANS!" We are programmed from birth, from generation to generation, by family, friends and the media at large that we are a Hockey Nation. This undisputable fact will probably never change in our lifetimes, but we can most certainly cut into that popularity, because despite what the Don Cherrys and Harry Neils try to sell as the greatest game; Soccer or Association football does not have to resort to some cheap car-salesman's pitches. Why? Because the WHOLE effing WOLRD feels diffently! The beautiful game doesn't need rediculous characters to sell itself. The game does that all by itself!

2) Because these matches would provide an additional opportunity for our younger North American talents to gain valuable international experience, thus deepening our talent pool in the process.

3) Because an international match played in Toronto, featuring Canada and the USA, on a National holiday, would be the only reason I would ever want to travel to Toronto. There's probably a few Voyageurs petitioning the CSA right now to never host a USA match in Toronto.

I also disagree with your last statement. A team can improve and learn from a match whether the opposition is weaker or stronger. If that was not the case, why would the World champions, or the number one ranked team, ever play friendlies? A team, like anything else in life, gets better through practice, practice and more practice. That is why Canada is ranked so low and rarely qualifies for the World Cup Finals. Until very recently, we haven't practiced very much.