El Hombre Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Canada to face Mauritania in first pair of friendlies under Coach Floro Canada’s Men’s National Team will hold its first camp under the leadership of Head Coach Benito Floro 1-11 September in Valencia, Spain. The camp will also feature a pair of Men’s International Friendly matches against Mauritania on 8 and 10 September (kick-off times to be decided). Coach Floro, announced as the new Men’s National Team Head Coach on 5 July, will get his first comprehensive look at the group of players he currently has available for selection. The full roster will be announced in the week leading up to camp. Canada has never faced Mauritania in an International Friendly. However, the small African nation has recently become one of five qualified for the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) by surprising Senegal with a 2:0 win. It will be Mauritania’s first ever participation in the finals of an African football tournament. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youllneverwalkalone Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Interesting opposition. I like it. Do we want our best 18-22 guys? Or do we want some young, under employed guys who might be able to use this as a showcase to help their professional career? I'm leaning toward a mix, but I'd like to see a guy like Fresenga installed at RB and get him some help to start playing regular professional football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Bob Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Mauritania is probably better than the Ventura County Fusion, so an ambitious target set here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcalibre Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Just tweeted this, but... is it possible this was arranged as some kind of trade-off for the release of Aaron Yoon? https://twitter.com/scott_ferguson/status/368423413590663169 It's far-fetched, I know, but mostly because I can't imagine that friendlies against Canada are seen as having that kind of worth. Just odd timing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Hombre Posted August 16, 2013 Author Share Posted August 16, 2013 Do we want our best 18-22 guys? Or do we want some young, under employed guys who might be able to use this as a showcase to help their professional career? I'm leaning toward a mix, but I'd like to see a guy like Fresenga installed at RB and get him some help to start playing regular professional football. We want the guys who will make up our best 22 in 2 year's time. With any luck, we'll be learning a new system and new tactics during this camp, so I want our best there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esco0428 Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 We want the guys who will make up our best 22 in 2 year's time. With any luck, we'll be learning a new system and new tactics during this camp, so I want our best there. Which should be interesting when it comes to MLS teams and releasing these players. Will find it very hard to see Toronto FC releasing Osorio and Henry; VWFC with Teibert, Portland with Johnson, etc. Its the home-stretch for the MLS season and unfortunately they play through these FIFA windows. Question for everyone, if Floro does decide to call these aforementioned players, and since it is a FIFA date, are the teams "Obligated" to release the players? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonovision Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Vancouver and Toronto both have two matches between September 1st and 11th; Montreal has 1. Teibert being away for 2 matches would be a big loss for Vancouver. Toronto would suffer even more if some combination of Henry, Morgan, and Osorio were selected, although they are likely to be playing for almost nothing by then. It will be interesting to see if Montreal's Bernier figures into Floro's plans. Portland (Johnson), D.C. United (De Rosario, Jakovic, Porter), and San Jose (Attakora) all have only one match scheduled during this stretch. I would be surprised if Floro selected any NASL players, but FC Edmonton also play on the 1st and the 7th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TFC07 Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Which should be interesting when it comes to MLS teams and releasing these players. Will find it very hard to see Toronto FC releasing Osorio and Henry; VWFC with Teibert, Portland with Johnson, etc. Its the home-stretch for the MLS season and unfortunately they play through these FIFA windows. Question for everyone, if Floro does decide to call these aforementioned players, and since it is a FIFA date, are the teams "Obligated" to release the players? Yes. I hope Canada calls up Osorio and Henry only. They can leave Bekker and Morgan home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonovision Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 By the way, I want to see Canada's best players for this camp. Hopefully Floro does too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addona Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 I love the fact that we have a long camp, and 2 games that we can, just maybe, win. Doing research on Mauritania is fun too. From wiki: Current squad # Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club 14 DF {{{name}}} 2 0 Mauritania Tidjikja Sabkha Here's the guy we need to be careful with ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toje Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Full match against Senegal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcalibre Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Full match against Senegal Cheers, just tweeted that to Floro's son. Would expect they're on top of stuff like that but hey, it's the CSA. Apparently the president General Aziz is a big fan of the Mauritania MNT. Suddenly my hair-brained "prisoner for friendly" exchange theory gets slightly less far-fetched. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamboAl Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 I'm cautiously optimistic about this camp if for nothing else who Senor Floro will bring in as well as the opposition being very different from what we are used to dealing with. Just waiting for the thread that talks about which SN platform (if any) will be broadcasting the matches or where we can find a stream for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obinna Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 I like the idea of this camp. 10 days to get acquainted with the new coach. If it is a European based selection, I think we should call our best players. We have already cast a wide net, I do not think we should still be giving young players preferential treatment. Young and old deserve a look if they warrant it. Assuming we call nobody from MLS, I would like to see... Bojan Stama Lars De Jong Edgar Hainault Fresenga Ledgerwood Klukowski Straith deGuzman Hutchinson Piette Nakajima Aleman REB Jackson D. Haber M. Haber Cavallini Occean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingback6 Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Man, this is good news. I can't wait!!! Here I was worried we might have to wait until the new year for something to go down. How's about a Gentleman's over under on when the call ups are made? That will be the first indicator of the kind of mark Floro will/is having on this team. I'm gonna say ... next Friday... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grizzly Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Just tweeted this, but... is it possible this was arranged as some kind of trade-off for the release of Aaron Yoon? https://twitter.com/scott_ferguson/status/368423413590663169 It's far-fetched, I know, but mostly because I can't imagine that friendlies against Canada are seen as having that kind of worth. Just odd timing... No one outside his immediately family really wanted him back. The Conservative government doesn't even try very hard to get citizens back who should be brought back so I doubt they gave a toss about someone who went to Mauritania to participate in terrorism being in prison for terrorism. There was no public pressure to bring him back either. If there were ever going to be a trade off we need to get something we want. I don't see anything strange about this. Despite the surprise victory over Senegal in the African Nations Championship they are a pretty lowly ranked team that likely has a hard time finding quality opponents to play. The African Nations Championship is a competition held every 4 years alternating with the Africa Cup of Nations. The Africa Cup features the A teams of each country while the Championship only allows players playing in each country's domestic league. The competition will be held in 2014 so Mauritania needs a training camp with decent opposition to prepare for that. On our part with a new coach a long training camp with a decent enough opponent to challenge the team and allow the coach to see the players abilities/deficiencies is needed but not one that is too strong either. Once the coach knows the players and has a better idea of how to use them it will be the time for a more serious opponent. I think these friendlies make total sense for both sides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keegan Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 I like this, glad we've got something for Floro to work with but I really hope we're not just letting Floro and his son run our national team from Spain at their convenience. Our best young players are located in the Americas so I don't really understand having a camp in Spain when that almost completely rules out guys like Teibert, Osorio, Henry, Johnson, Porter, Jakovic, Attakora and Cavallini who are going to be key players for us moving forward. At least if this were in Canada the European guys are on international break anyway so it wouldn't be too much trouble to travel over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThiKu Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 Why do you guys keep talking like the MLS teams can refuse these players be released? This is an official window. The players themselves can ask not to be called, or extremely politely decline. BUT, this is a new coach, and we need our best players. However, what I don't know is if FIFA rules allow for CSA to demand players be available the entire window. Floro should and must call whom he sees fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keegan Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 Why do you guys keep talking like the MLS teams can refuse these players be released? This is an official window. The players themselves can ask not to be called, or extremely politely decline. BUT, this is a new coach, and we need our best players. However, what I don't know is if FIFA rules allow for CSA to demand players be available the entire window. Floro should and must call whom he sees fit. Actually very true. I hope Floro doesn't burn any bridges but I hope he takes control and explains to these coaches that he needs these players and these players themselves need the opportunity to be there. Hopefully his pedigree will hold some water with MLS managers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob.notenboom Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 OTOH Floro at least saw many of these players during the Gold Cup. Perhaps he is trying to round out his view of the squad by focusing this time on European based players. I agree that he shouldn't be setting up shop in Spain. I'm also curious to see what links Floro has that the team can take advantage of ... getting players in to train/sign with better clubs in Spanish/European leagues and the like. Perhaps none, but here's to hoping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forster01 Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 Bojan Stama Lars De Jong Edgar Hainault Fresenga Ledgerwood Klukowski Straith deGuzman Hutchinson Piette Nakajima Aleman REB Occean Where is Fresenga these days? Still in South America? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unnamed Trialist Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 I first thought the camp dates were pretty long, but I see most Euro top flights end the weekend of the 1st. Players go to national team duty that Monday, WCG games played anywhere from the 6th to the 10th acc FIFA calendar, but mostly those two days, Friday and Tuesday. Canada thus plays the Sunday and Tuesday. We will have lower division players that will be in conflict as some lower divisions play, though I see The Championship does not. Will have to go player by player there. The long camp does allow players to be brought in for a part if that is all they can swing, and playing the friendly on the Sunday would mean that perhaps under FIFA rules he cannot call them a week before. As for Mauritania, I know from a former coach of my kid that some Gulf States put up the money to set up camps for young Muslim Africans in a certain area of Mauritania, he was there for a year, and some though not many were Mauritanian kids. Senegal being pretty good and Morrocco too I am not surprised they are playing well, only that it has a very low population. I might be able to swing the Sunday match depending what time it is played. As for Floro doing this in Spain. I admit I am surprised that after agreeing with him being with our team at the Cotif, which is logical, just 15 m from his home, which sounds perfect, he is going to continue to hang out at home for another 3 weeks (lives in Silla south of Valencia and just north of Alcudia). Especially since the one time of year you can see MLS is summer and it happens to be the best time to be in North America for the weather. Does anyone expect him to spend Nov-Feb in Toronto? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unnamed Trialist Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 Reading about Mauritania: they were suspended by the African Confederation for pulling out of the Cup of Nations in 2012, three year suspension. They are only one of four countries in FIFA who chose to not try to qualify for the 2014 WC, but I am not sure that was because of the suspension or because of the recent coup d'état. http://magharebia.com/en_GB/articles/awi/features/2010/11/09/feature-03 Are we playing a suspended nation and does that mean these friendlies are not official? This article is not only interesting, the comments are hilarious: http://deadspin.com/5817146/why-these-four-countries-are-the-only-ones-not-trying-to-qualify-for-the-world-cup Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertuzzi44 Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 New coach, new regime.. wonder if he calls Junior Hoilett. Don't see why not. Just sayin' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ob1 Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 New coach, new regime.. wonder if he calls Junior Hoilett. Don't see why not. Just sayin' I think you mean to say ...I wonder if Junior excepts a call. After all its not as if Hart didn't try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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