Soccer in Canada | Canada Hosting the 2026 World Cup - Page 33

elly63 · #**641** Posted **Nov 17, 2021, 6:04 AM**

Tg11 · #**642** Posted **Nov 17, 2021, 10:38 AM**

I love this...WHAT A FAMOUS RESULT!!! Canada beats Mexico at home 2-1 in Edmonton last night...I still can't believe it nor can I remember ever beating Mexico especially in such a high stakes game!!! It seems the frozen tundra worked in our favor. But Larin scores twice for us while Hector Herrera scored for Mexico but no matter Canada we are 1st in the table...still undefeated in CONCACAF qualifying!!! ��

elly63 · #**643** Posted **Nov 17, 2021, 1:08 PM**

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megadude · #**644** Posted **Nov 17, 2021, 1:22 PM**

Huge call to start Larin over David. Really shows the depth of the program right now.

TSN was asking if this is the biggest win in team history. Is it this or beating Colombia to win the Gold Cup, which, you know, resulted in a trophy? Well, yesterday was more impactful as a whole to the country. It also produced a multitude of memorable moments and memes. Iceteca, snow bank celly, Larin equalling the goals record, last second Borjan clearance, Phonsie's homecoming...

This squad is basically like England right, on a relative scale. So many talented youngsters breaking through in the last three years or so to the point of it being a challenge for a coach to pick their squad. Do you use as many of your bright, creative players as possible in an attacking formation or do you still go for balance with some defensive cover and leave guys who would be regular starters for Canada in the past on the bench?

England didn't have room for guys like Bellingham, Rashford, Sancho, Mount, Foden and Grealish to regularly start. Mason Greenwood didn't even make the squad. Now people are saying Smith-Rowe has a bright future and he just got his first cap. Then there's having four RBs in the squad because it was hard to leave any of them at home. Their fourth best RB was their starter not that long ago. Canada has similar predicaments, on a Canada scale of course.

JHikka · #**645** Posted **Nov 17, 2021, 1:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by megadude

It also produced a multitude of memorable moments and memes. Iceteca, snow bank celly, Larin equalling the goals record, last second Borjan clearance, Phonsie's homecoming...

Atiba also got the caps record last night.

Honestly a great win and a defining moment for the program and sport in this country. At this point we're well and truly on our way to something special, we just need to ensure some points away and keep winning at home. Couldn't be any prouder of this team given where we've been and where we've come from, and especially happy for players like Atiba who were there when we weren't so good. Iain Hume was practically crying watching the post-match last night and I don't blame him.

Tg11 · #**646** Posted **Nov 17, 2021, 1:35 PM**

Our next window of games

January 27th, 2022- Honduras (Away)
January 30th, 2022- USA (Home)
February 2nd, 2022- El Salvador (Away)

megadude · #**647** Posted **Nov 17, 2021, 1:38 PM**

Regarding the whole point of choosing Edmonton, both opposing keepers spilled the ball resulting in goals. One on a cross and one on a shot that should at least have been parried away but was instead pushed back into danger. Cold fingertips for the guys not used to it?

Proof Sheet · #**648** Posted **Nov 17, 2021, 1:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by megadude

England didn't have room for guys like Bellingham, Rashford, Sancho, Mount, Foden and Grealish to regularly start. Mason Greenwood didn't even make the squad. Now people are saying Smith-Rowe has a bright future and he just got his first cap. Then there's having four RBs in the squad because it was hard to leave any of them at home. Their fourth best RB was their starter not that long ago. Canada has similar predicaments, on a Canada scale of course.

Mason Greenwood has asked to not be picked until 2022 which to me could be career suicide in terms of playing for your national team. Good connection between the selection problems for Canada vs England. A few years ago, Canada lost players like Hargreaves and Tomori to other countries as they found the CSA so bush league and the organization of the team so poor.

Now if Sportsnet/One Soccer could do something about the Homer announcers they have.

A pet peeve of mine. They talk too much and a lot of it is waffle.

In this World Cup we could be missing Italy and Portugal and Uruguay and maybe USA or Mexico. That would be a shock.

JHikka · #**649** Posted **Nov 17, 2021, 1:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proof Sheet

Now if Sportsnet/One Soccer could do something about the Homer announcers they have.

A pet peeve of mine. They talk too much and a lot of it is waffle.

Sportsnet let all their soccer talent walk. It's all OS people.

And I don't know what you're expecting from NT broadcasters, total impartiality? I don't have an issue with them being excited and into the team. We have commentators like Nigel Reed who are fine but also incredibly tedious and boring. Wheeler's divisive but at least he puts energy into it.

Complaining about the team's broadcaster being too 'homer' is like complaining that the home crowd is cheering too loudly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proof Sheet

In this World Cup we could be missing Italy and Portugal and Uruguay and maybe USA or Mexico. That would be a shock.

I mean, Italy, Holland, and the US all missed 2018. Europe is difficult to qualify out of these days. Finland and Norway are both good teams that can't even make the qualifying playoffs.

Proof Sheet · #**650** Posted **Nov 17, 2021, 1:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHikka

Sportsnet let all their soccer talent walk. It's all OS people.

And I don't know what you're expecting from NT broadcasters, total impartiality? I don't have an issue with them being excited and into the team. We have commentators like Nigel Reed who are fine but also incredibly tedious and boring. Wheeler's divisive but at least he puts energy into it.

Complaining about the team's broadcaster being too 'homer' is like complaining that the home crowd is cheering too loudly.

I mean, Italy, Holland, and the US all missed 2018. Europe is difficult to qualify out of these days. Finland and Norway are both good teams that can't even make the qualifying playoffs.

Agreed about the commentators won't be impartial. I think I'm used to the 'world feed' commentators for euro qualifiers and the world cup. Nigel Reed is a consummate professional and to some ears he could sound boring.

Terry Dunfield is the one who gets on my nerves. Hey, at least it isn't Alexi Lalas.

HomeInMyShoes · #**651** Posted **Nov 17, 2021, 2:14 PM**

Congrats to the squad on a great pair of home games. 4 points would have been good. 6 is brilliant.

Panama and Costa Rica also won yesterday and there's not much breathing room and shows how important these results are.

Great job hosting the games Edmonton. 44,000+ yesterday in terrible conditions is a great turnout.

JHikka · #**652** Posted **Nov 17, 2021, 2:55 PM**

Supposedly the team isn't too high on the travel logistics of hosting in Vancouver in January so the hot rumour for hosting in January isssss Hamilton!

The January window requires Canada flying to Honduras for a match Jan 27, then in Canada for Jan 30, then to El Salvador for Feb 2.

MonctonRad · #**653** Posted **Nov 17, 2021, 3:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHikka

Supposedly the team isn't too high on the travel logistics of hosting in Vancouver in January so the hot rumour for hosting in January isssss Hamilton!

If we want to maximize our chances against the Yanks in that January game, we should host it in Iqaluit.

Proof Sheet · #**654** Posted **Nov 17, 2021, 3:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHikka

Supposedly the team isn't too high on the travel logistics of hosting in Vancouver in January so the hot rumour for hosting in January isssss Hamilton!

The January window requires Canada flying to Honduras for a match Jan 27, then in Canada for Jan 30, then to El Salvador for Feb 2.

January 30 in Hamilton sounds balmy

I've played myself outside when the temp was just below 0 c with wind and snow in the air on an artificial turf and it is miserable to play in and you don't want to fall to the ground quickly on frozen turf.

Having said that, Mexico basically always host games at altitude in Mexico City but really the only players who have an advantage are those who are based in Mexico City itself. Players from other parts of Mexico or based overseas don't have an advantage.

elly63 · #**655** Posted **Nov 17, 2021, 3:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHikka

especially happy for players like Atiba who were there when we weren't so good.

I'm happy because that POS Trash Madani said Atiba's NT career was a waste. Well, it's not a waste now.

elly63 · #**656** Posted **Nov 17, 2021, 3:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proof Sheet

January 30 in Hamilton sounds balmy

The sole reason may be not being able to count on a turf field at BMO to be cleared in the event of something like what we saw in Edmonton. An artificial surface can be cleared fairly readily without major damage.

esquire · #**657** Posted **Nov 17, 2021, 3:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by elly63

• Video Link

I vaguely remember the excitement surrounding that 2000 Gold Cup win. Not much happened after that until now, though. Why couldn't Canada sustain that success?

elly63 · #**658** Posted **Nov 17, 2021, 3:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

If we want to maximize our chances against the Yanks in that January game, we should host it in Iqaluit.

It's just logistics now, there is no real advantage to be gained against the US. I even have to commend the Mexicans, although I heard an announcer say that even at the anthems he seemed to think they had less "energy" than the Canadians, and may not have been as up for the fight. I thought they did they did pretty well. As a player and Herdman both said, they grew up playing in the cold on plastic pitches, it was an advantage vs Mexico, against the US, I don't think so.

elly63 · #**659** Posted **Nov 17, 2021, 3:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

I vaguely remember the excitement surrounding that 2000 Gold Cup win. Not much happened after that until now, though. Why couldn't Canada sustain that success?

High performance infrastructure and organization lacking, we have that now thanks to the leadership of one guy who coordinated it all together with capable, willing people. We had players playing for big clubs, maybe more so than now. The difference now is our players play a big part in their clubs, the depth we now have from MLS (which we didn't have before) And the biggest thing we have now is some pretty competitive, dare I say, all world pace, Laryea, Buchanan, Davies, better than the USA, better than Mexico who were a top ten ranked team.

elly63 · #**660** Posted **Nov 17, 2021, 3:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by megadude

Huge call to start Larin over David. Really shows the depth of the program right now.

Larin was more suited to the structure for this game than David, it wasn't a guess. Almost every player can be substituted now with the right guy facing that game's planned structure. You see it most with the defenders. Johnston (who has been a lock) sat out (came in later) against CR.