Canada completes first part of South American trip

Canada’s men’s national team has completed the first part of its South American trip, falling 0:5 to two-time FIFA World Cup™ champion Argentina. The match was played in front of 66,000 fans at the Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The crowd gave a rousing ovation to the home side, who later this week will depart for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.



“This was school for us,” said Canadian national head coach Stephen Hart. “We know where we have to go. This gives us the experience to approach games with more confidence in the future.”



Argentina’s five goals were scored by Maximiliano Rodríguez (two), Ángel Di María, Carlos Tévez and Sergio Agüero.



“We knew it was going to be difficult,” said Canada’s Dwayne De Rosario. “(Our time in Argentina) was a great experience for the team. It is not every day that you get to play a game against one of the best teams in the world in their country.”



Canada had a few days of training in Argentina, although coach Hart did not have his full lineup before Saturday’s training session. Several players will now return to their professional clubs while others will join the Canadian national team in Mérida, Venezuela. Canada plays Venezuela on 29 May, the second match on this South American trip that will also be televised on Rogers Sportsnet.



“There were three or four goals that were scored on direct errors on our part,” said Hart. “We were not confident with our possession. We gave the ball away in bad areas. A team like Argentina will punish you every time for those simple errors.”



After the match, coach Hart congratulated Argentina on the bicentenary anniversary of the Revolución de Mayo. He also commended Argentina for its great crowd support and wished Argentina all the best of luck in the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.