AC_Slater Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 That Begovic could be our number 1 if only our coaching staff had the vision to play him in one of the friendlies he was sitting on the bench for. I don't hold against him his decision to play for his birth country, unlike JDG. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpg75 Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 20/20 hindsight. Under the old rules he was already cap-tied so there was no need to have him play in that qualifier in Jamaica. Having him get shelled wouldn't have been a positive for his development. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red card Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 Begovic played for us at u20 in 07. He starred in adidas ads showing how Canada gave his family a home. So, he made the calculated decision to turn his back on Canada when the rules changed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 That Begovic could be our number 1 if only our coaching staff had the vision to play him in one of the friendlies he was sitting on the bench for. I don't hold against him his decision to play for his birth country, unlike JDG. You don't hold the decision against Begovic who was happy to take all the development money Canada poured into him, but you hold JDG accountable? I am not happy with either, but at least JDG didn't take anything from us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trueviking Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 If love to see that commercial again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuzzAndSting Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 There was a rumour floating around for a while that Begovic was pressured by some unsavory characters to make the switch... Has anyone else heard this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addona Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 If love to see that commercial again. It's on YouTube ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youllneverwalkalone Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 Hard to know which is the bigger shit hole, Bosnia or Stoke? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
narduch Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 The thing that bothers me the most about these players is that you know they will end up living in Canada when they are retired. We are a country of convenience for some people. And its our own fault for mostly cheering on these jerks (minus the handful of people on these forums that know the real story). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmonte Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 Begovic very likely would make the move back to Canada. Back in 2011 there was this article. http://the11.ca/2011/04/04/asmir-begovic-makes-charitable-move-in-canada/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grizzly Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 There was a rumour floating around for a while that Begovic was pressured by some unsavory characters to make the switch... Has anyone else heard this? It was one of the more ridiculous of the excuses floated for him turning his back on the country that gave his family refuge during a war. I guess none of these players are ever going to come out and say, "I am a whore and mercenary" but the constant excuses/lies are maddening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeta Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 You know, just once I'd like to hear one of these players say "Thanks." I'm moving on, but Thank You. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gian-Luca Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 There was a rumour floating around for a while that Begovic was pressured by some unsavory characters to make the switch... Has anyone else heard this? Yes, I had, and from an extremely legit. source. Can't say more though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gigi riva Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 What really bothers me is that since 1986 we have not qualified for the WC and have been really embrassed in the meantime, We are watching our neighbours to the South playing in huge matches every year, Costa Rica, Mexico Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grizzly Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 Yes, I had, and from an extremely legit. source. Can't say more though. LOL. Don't talk if you know what is good for you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tethys Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 What really bothers me is that since 1986 we have not qualified for the WC and have been really embrassed in the meantime, We are watching our neighbours to the South playing in huge matches every year, Costa Rica, Mexico Amen to that. I'd like to see Canada in the World Cup another time in my lifetime but I don't know if i can bet on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 If love to see that commercial again. It's on YouTube ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescottc Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 20/20 hindsight. Under the old rules he was already cap-tied so there was no need to have him play in that qualifier in Jamaica. Having him get shelled wouldn't have been a positive for his development. And under current rules a friendly wouldn't have cap-tied him, so really he'd be gone either way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Bob Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Yes, I had, and from an extremely legit. source. Can't say more though. So you understand why none of the rest of us take that rumour to be worth anything, I hope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finchster Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Sometimes the simplest answer is the best one. I don't believe there was any criminal element because FIFA rules are very specialized information. The vast majority of people have no idea how FIFA rules on nationality work, this is a group of 'soccer nerds' and we often bicker about how these rules work (not me I am always right ). At the time, Begovic was cap-tied to Canada and unable to switch. If the criminal element was harassing him to play for Bosnia prior to the rule changes , I'd be interested to know how that conversation went. If they started after the rule changes, these criminals had a high level of knowledge about FIFA regulations, something only a handful of people really understand. As soon as the rule changed, the rumors started. Bosnia was close to qualifying for a World Cup and keeper was a weak position for Bosnia. It's far more likely someone like Begovic's agent understood this new rules and advised him about this potential. Let's be honest, if there was a criminal element they probably twisted Begovic's rubber arm. Anyone could see Bosnia had a kind of golden generation, he would play in UEFA and it would improve his career opportunities. Who wants to play in Honduras getting killed 8-1? If someone heard rumors from a legit source, I am convinced it was someone close to the Begovic camp who wanted to disseminate this to pacify people in Canada who had a hand in his development. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuzzAndSting Posted June 27, 2014 Share Posted June 27, 2014 Sometimes the simplest answer is the best one. I don't believe there was any criminal element because FIFA rules are very specialized information. The vast majority of people have no idea how FIFA rules on nationality work, this is a group of 'soccer nerds' and we often bicker about how these rules work (not me I am always right ). At the time, Begovic was cap-tied to Canada and unable to switch. If the criminal element was harassing him to play for Bosnia prior to the rule changes , I'd be interested to know how that conversation went. If they started after the rule changes, these criminals had a high level of knowledge about FIFA regulations, something only a handful of people really understand. As soon as the rule changed, the rumors started. Bosnia was close to qualifying for a World Cup and keeper was a weak position for Bosnia. It's far more likely someone like Begovic's agent understood this new rules and advised him about this potential. Let's be honest, if there was a criminal element they probably twisted Begovic's rubber arm. Anyone could see Bosnia had a kind of golden generation, he would play in UEFA and it would improve his career opportunities. Who wants to play in Honduras getting killed 8-1? If someone heard rumors from a legit source, I am convinced it was someone close to the Begovic camp who wanted to disseminate this to pacify people in Canada who had a hand in his development. Well thought out. Makes total sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearcatSA Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 Anything is possible but to assume that the Bosnian "powers that be" are unaware of developments related to things that they feel would have political benefit, such as a successful football team, or are above using criminals to further those political ends, would be very naive indeed. Personally, I'm 100% sure that people who could have encouraged criminals to make the alleged approaches would have been aware of the impact of the FIFA rule changes and the affect on Begovic's status. The other flaw in your argument is to assume that the rest of the world is as clued out as North America when it comes to football - it is the opposite! I always felt there was the intimidation angle when you read about the (too many) match fixing scandals over the years, world wide. Haven't read Declan Hill's book, so has he mentioned such things in there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finchster Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 Anything is possible but to assume that the Bosnian "powers that be" are unaware of developments related to things that they feel would have political benefit, such as a successful football team, or are above using criminals to further those political ends, would be very naive indeed. Personally, I'm 100% sure that people who could have encouraged criminals to make the alleged approaches would have been aware of the impact of the FIFA rule changes and the affect on Begovic's status. The other flaw in your argument is to assume that the rest of the world is as clued out as North America when it comes to football - it is the opposite! I never said the Bosnia powers that be, the rumor was some sort of Bosnia 'mafia' made threats. I have no doubt that the Bosnian Federation knew or had some idea about the rule changes, but I reject the notion some sort of criminal element or extortion played a role. There would be no need for 'shady' types to do so "Hello Asmir, It's the Bosnian Federation, we are close to qualifying for the World Cup and think you could play a major role in our team as we need a starting keeper of your quality." "Hi, sorry I am committed to Canada." "Canada? You mean the country that hasn't qualified for the World Cup since 1986, started Pat Onstad over you, and just crashed out of qualifying without winning a game? Ok well if you change your mind you know where to reach us." Why all of a sudden is Asmir this victim of circumstance when we have seen almost every player with options make the same decision over and over again? The players who play for patriotism instead of career advancement are few and far between. Second, obviously the world knows more about football than North America, but I reject the notion that the vast majority of people would understand a change in the FIFA nationality laws and understand how they work. The rules changed in June 2009, as soon as they changed the rumors started immediately. It makes me believe this had been in the works for a while, so I doubt some 'criminals' made any advances. There was communication between Begovic, his agent, and the Bosnian Federation and it happened in a normal fashion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gigi riva Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 What really bother's me is that seeing Costa Rica, U.S.A. Mexico having consistant World Cup Births seeing Soccer become huge in the States yet we are left behind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOcanadafan Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Why all of a sudden is Asmir this victim of circumstance when we have seen almost every player with options make the same decision over and over again? The players who play for patriotism instead of career advancement are few and far between. This is the reality of modern football. Just look at the Bosnian team. Pjanic screwed Luxembourg in the same way Begovic screwed us. Ibisevic was raised in the US (although never represented them at youth level) and would have been a #1 striking option for them. And then we can start talking about the other side of the nationality issue - players with distant ties to other nations who don't represent the country in which they were born/raised because they aren't good enough. The number of French and German raised players playing on other national teams is incredible. I'm all for ripping into Begovic and JDG and consider them "traitors", but the reality is there are too many people (agents, clubs, families) with a lot of influence are making tonnes of money off of the talent of these players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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