Match Thread: CONCACAF U-17, Quarter-Final: Canada v Puerto Rico - Wednesday, February 22, 2023 - 2pm PT/5pm ET

[Corazon]

The boys looked much better today than previous games I’ve watched.  Congratulations to the boys.

One comment I want to add.  As with most Canadian soccer players, most of these players are dual citizenship so clinching a berth at the U17 World Cup will hopefully go a long way in helping recruit and maintain youth players in our Canadians system.  It’s going to be an experience that these players will hold fondly for their life.

[Corazon]

Double post.

Edited February 23, 2023 by Corazon

[Aird25]

Well done boys! I hope this is part of a trend 

[Acid-Tone]

Just watched the highlights. Way to go boys. Lots of chances created.

Damn, we scored off a set piece even.  

We're playing with house money now, so no need to be cautious, go out on the front foot and try to win that rematch against the US!

[El Hombre]

9 hours ago, dyslexic nam said:

Will be in Miexico tomorrow night  

 

(Riviera Maya) 

With that spelling you look like you're already into the cervezas.

[El Hombre]

9 hours ago, gator said:

Silly and maybe harsh Yellow for De Montigny, I would take him off at the half, I think @El Hombre cursed him with his praise a couple of matches ago, I was buying into the hype but he hasn't been all that impressive to me since!

I absolutely cursed him.  Totally on me.

[El Hombre]

9 hours ago, Ottawafan said:

He doesn't seem to have much soccer sense out there.

You don't need soccer sense when you're a certified baller(tm)

[El Hombre]

9 hours ago, kacbru said:

That's a bit harsh.  @El Hombre occasionally comes up with something worthwhile.

Fuck you!  Everything I say is gold dammit!  Everything!  You're lucky I'm here!

[El Hombre]

*fart*

[El Hombre]

9 hours ago, kacbru said:

That's a bit harsh.  @El Hombre occasionally comes up with something worthwhile.

And fuck those seven bastards that laughed at this!  Goddamit, I'm so pissed right now!  No respect, I tall ya....

[El Hombre]

8 hours ago, Jack1997 said:

14 years old and being a crucial player on this team, so damn impressive.

He's going to be the best 18 year old at the 2026 world cup.  Book it!

[El Hombre]

2 minutes ago, El Hombre said:

He's going to be the best 18 year old at the 2026 world cup.  Book it!

Great post!!!! I agree 100%!!!  Your posts are the only thing that keep me coming back to this forum!

[CanadaFan123]

15 hours ago, Kadenge said:

This team is not fast, but the lads  are good on the ball, pass well and have composure. PR trying to catch us on the break

That’s been a surprise. Always expect a Canadian squad to have some speed but maybe this age group had more Ricketts than Buchanan in the speedsters. 

[Metro]

6 hours ago, El Hombre said:

And fuck those seven bastards that laughed at this!  Goddamit, I'm so pissed right now!  No respect, I tall ya....

[shorty]

6 hours ago, El Hombre said:

*fart*

I don’t know what’s more funny— a virtual fart, or a virtual fart that clears the room for 5 hours… 😂 

[dyslexic nam]

8 hours ago, El Hombre said:

With that spelling you look like you're already into the cervezas.

I am going to use alcohol to sanitize your hurtful comments from my mind over the course of the next week.  

[Obinna]

This will be the 8th tournament Canada has qualified for at the U17 level. We've never gone past the group stage. Can we finally do that in Peru? I haven't watched the team closely (last match was the first full match, rest was highlights), but so far it seems like a sum-of-all-parts squad without a standout like a Jayden Nelson. Maybe that's a good thing. 

[Obinna]

I'll correct myself - Biello is a standout. He's more of a does-everything-right kind of player. No flash but very effective. Reminds me of Justin Smith, actually. 

[Ivan]

11 minutes ago, Obinna said:

I'll correct myself - Biello is a standout. He's more of a does-everything-right kind of player. No flash but very effective. Reminds me of Justin Smith, actually. 

I've watched every game and I think there are 3 standouts - Biello, Stefanovic and Oseme.  After those 3, Ozimec and Badwhal seem like really good, key players.

[Obinna]

4 minutes ago, Ivan said:

I've watched every game and I think there are 3 standouts - Biello, Stefanovic and Oseme.  After those 3, Ozimec and Badwhal seem like really good, key players.

Ozimec reminds me of one of those players with average talent but a big knack for making plays, which is a talent in itself. 

[Shway]

19 minutes ago, Obinna said:

I'll correct myself - Biello is a standout. He's more of a does-everything-right kind of player. No flash but very effective. Reminds me of Justin Smith, actually. 

He actually plays with a swagger, which I like. 
He plays like he believes he's a baller.

[Ivan]

4 minutes ago, Obinna said:

Ozimec reminds me of one of those players with average talent but a big knack for making plays, which is a talent in itself. 

He makes the "right" play a lot of the time as well. When he gets service (I think that keeps him off the standout list for me) he seems to make something happen.  Sometimes, that something is a shot way over the bar, but usually does something good rather than over-dribbling or bad touches that a lot of the others do much more frequently.

I will add, I think the 14 year old Chukwu, although maybe not a key player on this team, has been impressive for someone that young at this level.  However, as @Shwayalluded to earlier, we have seen a lot of players excel at this level and quickly fizzle away later in their careers.

[Ottawafan]

8 hours ago, El Hombre said:

You don't need soccer sense when you're a certified baller(tm)

Don't want to judge a kid based on one viewing but was not impressed with his play.  

[Shway]

19 minutes ago, Ivan said:

I will add, I think the 14 year old Chukwu, although maybe not a key player on this team, has been impressive for someone that young at this level.  However, as @Shwayalluded to earlier, we have seen a lot of players excel at this level and quickly fizzle away later in their careers.

Jordan Hamilton was 14, and one of the main strikers (which is more impressive than being a striker) who led Canada to the Concacaf runners up in 2011. He was subsequently dropped from the squad for Yassine Essa (I remember the hype around that kid who completely disappeared).

All that to say...Chukwu could get dropped for the final WC squad. (possibly for his brother)
 

Edited February 23, 2023 by Shway

[Shway]

What's also interesting to note is that we have done well within recent years at this U17 level, but at the U20 we have done notoriously bad. We haven't qualified since we hosted in 2005...nearly 20 years! Confirming that we have a clear development issue (pathway) at that age.