CanadianSoccerFan Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 So the Algeria game fell through and the CSA's looking for a game. Who would you guys like to see us play? More importantly what teams are available to play in March? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Keeper Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Atleast according to the FIFA home page Iran, Ecuador, Paraguay, Columbia, El Salvador and Guatemala are all free in late March. Any one of these countries would be acceptable to me. With two international dates so close at the end of march a South or Central American tour would be awsome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadianSoccerFan Posted January 11, 2011 Author Share Posted January 11, 2011 Considering the CSA wanted to play Algeria in Europe it's safe to assume that's where they want to have a camp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarnado1555362291 Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 With that said not many European or African teams are available due to continental qualification matches. A couple decent sides are Iran and Gabon. Otherwise we would have to look to South America or Asia for matches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TFCRegina Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Atleast according to the FIFA home page Iran, Ecuador, Paraguay, Columbia, El Salvador and Guatemala are all free in late March. Any one of these countries would be acceptable to me. With two international dates so close at the end of march a South or Central American tour would be awsome. Shame we can't play El Salvador and Guatemala for FIFA boosters pre-WCQ draw... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadianSoccerFan Posted January 11, 2011 Author Share Posted January 11, 2011 For the March 25/26 date, the UEFA teams still available include Turkey, Scotland, Sweden, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Faroe Islands, San Marino, and Liechtenstein. Any of the first three would be nice. The last three not so much. For the Tuesday March 29 date there's still a massive boatload of teams available from UEFA and Africa. Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers are only on during the weekend so almost all teams are still free for the midweek date. It would be a bit ridiculous if we can't find a game on this date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TFCRegina Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 For the March 25/26 date, the UEFA teams still available include Turkey, Scotland, Sweden, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Faroe Islands, San Marino, and Liechtenstein. Any of the first three would be nice. The last three not so much. For the Tuesday March 29 date there's still a massive boatload of teams available from UEFA and Africa. Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers are only on during the weekend so almost all teams are still free for the midweek date. It would be a bit ridiculous if we can't find a game on this date. Well we do need to boost our FIFA ranking. Faroe Islands, San Marino and Liechtenstein! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loyola Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 4 years ago at the same March date we held a 1 week training camp in Bermuda and we played them to finish the camp. I think a similar camp in a CONCACAF country with 2 games would be a nice option. http://www.canadasoccer.com/news/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2638 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kusch to the Corner Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 The MLS guys should be available for this date right? If so, I say we play a concacaf team, somewhere in North America. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redcoatsforever Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 For the March 25/26 date, the UEFA teams still available include Turkey, Scotland, Sweden, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Faroe Islands, San Marino, and Liechtenstein. Any of the first three would be nice. The last three not so much. For the Tuesday March 29 date there's still a massive boatload of teams available from UEFA and Africa. Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers are only on during the weekend so almost all teams are still free for the midweek date. It would be a bit ridiculous if we can't find a game on this date. This all depends one what's more important, a strong, well tested squad going into the Gold Cup and then WCQs? Or a better FIFA ranking going into WCQs? To my mind, it's the first one, and so I think Scotland at BMO Field would be the best bet. Scotland are not so strong as to be insurmountable, yet good enough to give us a strong test going into the Gold Cup. FIFA rankings be damned! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gator Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Scotland would be a good opponent and probably a decent draw at BMO! Who knows if they'd be interested in crossing the pond to play us? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarnado1555362291 Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 I think the squad can be tested while at the same time increasing their ranking. Rather than play a team in the top 50, one in the 50 to 75 range can provide good competition but is also realistically beatable. I don't think we need to play a tiny minnow to assure a victory. As far as UEFA is concerned Scotland may be that team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grizzly Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Lets be realistic here. Scotland is a big enough team that I doubt they want to play outdoors in Toronto at the end of March nor indoors on aritificial turf. On the other hand they are also to not a big enough team to warrant the expense of putting natural grass in an indoor venue. Plus TFC in classic MLS ignore FIFA dates has their home opener on March 26th. If we are going to play Scotland it will be in Scotland but we are not a big draw so they will only be interested if they can't find anyone more attractive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gator Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Lets be realistic here. Scotland is a big enough team that I doubt they want to play outdoors in Toronto at the end of March nor indoors on aritificial turf. On the other hand they are also to not a big enough team to warrant the expense of putting natural grass in an indoor venue. Plus TFC in classic MLS ignore FIFA dates has their home opener on March 26th. If we are going to play Scotland it will be in Scotland but we are not a big draw so they will only be interested if they can't find anyone more attractive. You're right, they aren't coming over here that time of year! I missed the Canada-Scotland match at Easter Road, one of very few regrets I have in life, it would be a great road trip if they played in Scotland again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpg75 Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 In terms of preparing for WCQ i'd much rather play Turkey then Scotland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Keeper Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Shame we can't play El Salvador and Guatemala for FIFA boosters pre-WCQ draw... Seconded. Most of the time I am all for playing sides of slightly lesser, equal or greater quality for development and preperation. However, why the CSA hasnt caught on to the importance of planning friendlies that will boost our ranking before WCQ is beyond me. Although Im sure there are many people here whom can enlighten me. Some balance has to be struck between the two realisticly. But, the more games the better. Ideally I would like to see us play 9 plus games a year with a combination of minnow, lower middle, upper middle, and top 20 sides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearcatSA Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Away to Turkey would be great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edgar Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 However, why the CSA hasnt caught on to the importance of planning friendlies that will boost our ranking before WCQ is beyond me. You have to realise Canada isn't quite a special team - so many FAs will pass on this opportunity. Basically the CSA have to take what's being offered. The CSA have contacted a bunch of European and African teams but none were interested. Now, they're focusing on CONCACAF/CONMEBOL teams with Grenada and Cuba at the top of the list. It's easier for teams like Honduras and Costa Rica to play the FIFA Ranking game, but for Canada it's quite difficult. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moldy9 Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Atleast according to the FIFA home page Iran, Ecuador, Paraguay, Columbia, El Salvador and Guatemala are all free in late March. If Canada plays Ecuador I'm off to Quito! Would like to see Canada play Romania one day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuscan Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Two sides I believe we need to play are Cuba and Panama. Both are a head of us, both I see as over-rated, and both I believe we should be able to beat home or away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpg75 Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Panama have been playing well in the past year or so. Beating them in Panama would be a tough task. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuscan Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Might as well at least try now so that when we come up against them in Panama during WCQ we'll at least have gained some experience of playing in Panama. They are the hump I see us having to overcome before even taking on Honduras or Costa Rica. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redcoatsforever Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Might as well at least try now so that when we come up against them in Panama during WCQ we'll at least have gained some experience of playing in Panama. They are the hump I see us having to overcome before even taking on Honduras or Costa Rica. When IS the WCQ draw for CONCACAF? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Might as well at least try now so that when we come up against them in Panama during WCQ we'll at least have gained some experience of playing in Panama. They are the hump I see us having to overcome before even taking on Honduras or Costa Rica. I agree 100% with this. We are comparing ourselves to the elite of CONCACAF in Costa Rica, Honduras etc. When we've yet to prove we are above the mediocre. We need to start proving we can beat Panama, El Salvador, Trindad and Tobago, Jamaica on a regular basis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpg75 Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Might as well at least try now so that when we come up against them in Panama during WCQ we'll at least have gained some experience of playing in Panama. They are the hump I see us having to overcome before even taking on Honduras or Costa Rica. I have no problem with trying to beat them, but saying we should beat them in Panama is stretching it. If we can swipe a draw down there that would be a good result. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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