Canada announces roster for Jamaica match

Canada’s men’s national team has announced its roster for next week’s FIFA World Cup™ Qualifiers match in Kingston, Jamaica. Coach Dale Mitchell has called 18 players for match-day six of CONCACAF Stage III in the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ Qualifiers. The Canada-Jamaica match will be played at the National Stadium on Wednesday 19 November.

Canada is facing Jamaica in FIFA World Cup™ Qualifiers for the sixth time. In five matches (including a recent 1:1 draw on 20 August 2008), Canada has one win, three draws and one loss. Canada’s all-time record against Jamaica is six wins, five draws and two losses.

Both Canada and Jamaica are on the outside looking in from the Group of Death in CONCACAF Stage III. Jamaica still has a chance to sneak into the top-two positions, although it will be watching the Mexico-Honduras closely (played simultaneously on the same night). Canada, on the other hand, was officially eliminated last month in Honduras.

Canada’s 19 November roster will feature some new faces, although the most experienced player remains captain Paul Stalteri. Stalteri has made 73 appearances for the national team, third most in Association history. At the other end of the Canadian list, Simeon Jackson is making his debut with the national team and hopes to make his first appearance. Former Canadian U-20 Players of the Year David Edgar and Asmir Begovic are also hoping to make their first appearances, although both have had previous experience with the Canadian team.

All three Canadian teams are represented at the same time for the first time since 30 January 2008. Toronto FC’s Kevin Harmse and Vancouver Whitecaps’ Charles Gbeke have both been called back, but added for the first time in 2008 is Impact de Montréal’s Sandro Grande. Grande has had a terrific season in Montréal, helping the Impact win the Nutrilite Canadian Championship and advance in CONCACAF Champions League competition. Grande played in Canada’s last FIFA World Cup™ Qualifiers campaign in 2004, but has not played for Canada since 2006.

So far, Canada has scored in every match of this FIFA World Cup™ Qualifiers campaign, a first in Association history. Canada’s current goal-scoring string extends back nine games, one off the Association record set in 1980 (started by coach Eckhard Krautzun in 1976 and continued by coach Barrie Clarke in 1980) and matched in 1985 (by coach Tony Waiters).

Canada arrives in Jamaica this Sunday and begins training on Monday 17 November. The Wednesday night match kicks off at 20.00 ET (17.00 PT).

Of note, Will Johnson’s participation depends on the success of his club’s 15 November semi-final match in the Major League Soccer playoffs. Johnson and Real Salt Lake kick off at 21.30 ET on Saturday night against New York Red Bulls in Salt Lake. Should Real Salt Lake win, Johnson will miss the Canadian match and travel to Carson, CA for next weekend’s 2008 MLS Cup (to face either the Chicago Fire or Columbus Crew).

Also, Iain Hume had been selected to the squad before suffering a skull fracture in a Barnsley-Sheffield derby last Saturday in England. Coach Mitchell and the team have been in contact with Hume and his family and wish him a speedy recovery. Patrice Bernier, Julian de Guzman and Adrian Serioux were all unavailable due to injuries while Michael Klukowski and Tomasz Radzinski were unavailable due to suspensions.

CANADA
Asmir Begovic | G | Edmonton, AB | ENG / Portsmouth
Lars Hirschfeld | G | Edmonton, AB | ROM / CFR Cluj
Adrian Cann | D | Thornhill, ON | DEN / Esbjerg fB
Marcel de Jong | D/M | Newmarket, ON | NED / Roda JC
David Edgar | D | Kitchener, ON | ENG / Newcastle United FC
Charles Gbeke | F | Montréal, QC | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Sandro Grande | M | Montréal, QC | CAN / Impact de Montréal
André Hainault | D | Hudson, QC | CZE / FK SIAD Most
Kevin Harmse | D | Vancouver, BC | CAN / Toronto FC
Simeon Jackson | M | Mississauga, ON | ENG / Gillingham FC
Dejan Jakovic | D | Etobicoke, ON | SRB / Red Star Belgrade
Will Johnson | M/F | Toronto, ON | USA / Real Salt Lake
Nik Ledgerwood | M | Lethbridge, AB | GER / TSV 1860 München
Issey Nakajima-Farran | M | Calgary, AB | DEN / FC Nordsjælland
Andrzej Ornoch | M/F | Scarborough, ON | DEN / Esbjerg Fb
Chris Pozniak | D/M | Aurora, ON | SCO / Dundee FC
Paul Stalteri | D/M | Brampton, ON | ENG / Tottenham Hotspur
Chris Williams | M | Toronto, ON | USA / Charleston Battery

Head of delegation / Chef de délégation : Vince Ursini
Head Coach / Entraîneur-chef : Dale Mitchell
Assistant Coach / Entraîneur adjoint : Stephen Hart
Assistant Coach / Entraîneur adjoint : Nick Dasovic
Goalkeeper coach / Entraîneur des gardiens : Paul Dolan
Manager / Gérant : Morgan Quarry
Equipment manager / Gérant d’équipements : Mike Moretto
Physiotherapist / Physiothérapeute : Ted Tilbury
Massage Therapist / Massothérapeute : Garret Kusch
Doctor / Docteur : Dr. Michael Campbell