Foxboro, MA - Canada's Men's National Team will conclude Group B action of the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup™ today at Gillette in Foxboro, MA when they entertain Cuba at 9pm ET. 

If the Canadians hope to advance beyond the opening round, they must win tonight and hope that results in Miami fall their way (see below). In fact, since the Colombia vs. Trinidad match in South Florida will have concluded by the time the Canadians kickoff this evening, the young Canucks will know just what they need to do in order to stay alive and book their passage to Houston, TX for the Quarter-finals.

The last meeting between Canada and Cuba was almost two years ago to the day (July 14, 2003). On that day, Canada stumbled to a 2-0 defeat after defeating Costa Rica just 2 days previous. The loss had eliminated Canada from the 2003 Gold Cup and was the last game for Canada's then-Head Coach Holger Osieck. Only four players from that team are on the 2005 team – Kevin McKenna, Atiba Hutchinson, Iain Hume, and Chris Pozniak. On the flip-side, more than half of the Cuban team in 2003 is back for 2005.

The United States will host Costa Rica in curtain-raiser in Foxboro, MA on Tuesday, July 12 at 7pm ET. Both teams have already secured berths in the next round and will play tonight for first and second.

GAME-DAY INFORMATION
Teams – Canada vs. Cuba
Competition – 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup™
Venue – Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, USA
Kickoff – 9:00pm ET
TV (Canada)
•Rogers Sportsnet Pacific – 6pm PT/7pm MT/8pm CT/9pm ET (LIVE)
•Rogers Sportsnet West – 6pm PT/7pm MT/8pm CT/9pm ET (LIVE)
•Rogers Sportsnet Digital – 6pm PT/7pm MT/8pm CT/9pm ET (LIVE)
•Rogers Sportsnet Ontario – 10pm PT/11pm MT/12am CT/1am ET
•Rogers Sportsnet East – 10pm PT/11pm MT/12am CT/1am ET
TV (USA)
•Galavision – 6pm PT/7pm MT/8pm CT/9pm ET (LIVE)

Probable Starting Line-up – CANADA: 1–SUTTON Greg; 2–BRAZ Adam; 3–POZNIAK Chris; 4-MCKENNA Kevin; 5–GERVAIS Gabriel; 6–BERNIER Patrice; 9–GERBA Ali; 10–OCCEAN Olivier; 12–GRANDE Sandro; 13–HUTCHINSON Atiba; 14–DE ROSARIO Dwayne 
Subs: 7–HUME Iain (Inj.); 8–SERIOUX Adrian (Susp.); 11–BRENNAN Jim; 15–SIMPSON Josh; 16–LEDUC Patrick; 17–PETERS Jaime; 18–DODDS Rhian; 33–FRANKS Mike
Injuries – HUME (quadriceps – questionable)
Suspensions – SERIOUX (sent off 9/7/04 vs. USA)

Last Meeting…
July 14, 2003 – 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup
Gillette Stadium - Foxboro, MA
Canada\t0 (0)
Cuba \t2 (1)
Cautions: Canada - Paul Stalteri (45+), Paul Fenwick (67); Cuba - Jaime Colome (34)
Goals: Cuba - Lester More (13, 46)
Canada: 22-Lars Hirschfeld; 2-Paul Fenwick; 3-Richard Hastings (9-Carlo Corazzin, 76); 5-Jason deVos (C); 7-Paul Stalteri; 8-Daniel Imhof; 10-Kevin McKenna; 11-Martin Nash (13-Atiba Hutchinson, 81); 12-Nick Dasovic; 15-Maycoll Canizalez (17-Iain Hume, 46); 16-Chris Pozniak; Head Coach Holger Osieck.
Subs not used: Pat Onstad; Jason Bent; Nevio Pizzolitto; Davide Xausa; Carlo Corazzin
Cuba: 1-Odelin Molina; 3-Jeniel Marquéz; 4-Silvio Pedro Miñoso; 5-Alexander Cruzata; 6-Liván Pérez ; 7-Jorge Ramírez ; 10-Lester Moré; 13-Maikel Galindo Castañeda (9-Lazaro Dalcourt, 81); 14-Jaime Colome; 16-Reizander Fernández (2-Nayuri Rivero, 57); 17-Pedro Adriani Faife 

What It Will Take…
There are a few scenarios that would allow Canada to advance to the Quarter-finals of the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup – all involve a Canadian victory over Cuba on Tuesday evening. However, Canada could defeat Cuba but still not qualify if some of the results on Tuesday and Wednesday don't go their way. The first tie-breaker between teams in separate groups will be goal-difference. The second will be goals for in group play. If the teams are still tied, lots will be drawn.

If Trinidad wins over Colombia and Mexico secures a single point against Jamaica, Canada will be eliminated. 

Here are the scenarios that would lead to qualification for the Quarter-finals – 

If Trinidad draws with Colombia 0-0, Canada must defeat Cuba by 4-0 to advance. If Canada defeats Cuba 3-0, lots would then be drawn. If Trinidad draw the match with Colombia but manage to score, Canada must score four more goals than T&T in order to claim one of the two best 3rd place positions.

If Colombia defeats Trinidad 1-0, Canada must defeat Cuba 3-0 to advance. If Canada defeats Cuba 2-0, lots would then be drawn. If Colombia manages to score or win by more than one goal, Canada must score two more goals than Colombia in order to claim one of the two best 3rd place positions.

The other scenarios are far less likely to occur. They involve a huge Mexico loss to Jamaica on Wednesday, July 13, coupled with a big Canada win over Cuba. 

Seeing Red…
Canada's Adrian Serioux will miss the final opening round match against Cuba after receiving a red card for a second bookable offense. In Canada's opening game, Calgary's Kevin McKenna was also given his marching orders late in the game. The Canucks have received nine yellow cards and two red cards in just two games at the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Youth Movement…
Almost 70% of Canada's 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup Team had less than 10 caps prior to this year's tournament. In comparison, the US team that played Canada on July 9, 2005 had an average of 32 caps per person with only 33% having fewer than ten caps.

The average age of Canada's squad is approximately 25 years old. Brossard's Gabriel Gervais is the oldest player in the team at 28 years, 10 months while the youngest is Jaime Peters (Pickering, ON) at 18 years, 2 months.

About the GOLD CUP™…
The eighth edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup™ will take place in a record seven stadia in six cities across the USA from 6-24 July. The 2005 event features more games in more cities than ever before will once again crown the region's top national team.

Group A will be based in Miami's Orange Bowl, and will feature Central American Qualifiers Honduras and Panama, Trinidad & Tobago from the Caribbean and one of two guest teams, Colombia.

Group B will be playing its games in Seattle's Qwest Field before moving to Gillette Stadium in Foxboro near Boston. The group features Central American champions Costa Rica, both Canada and the USA from North America and Cuba from the Caribbean.

The final group, Group C, will see games between the other guest team, South Africa, Central American qualifier, Guatemala, recently-crowned Caribbean champions, Jamaica and the reigning CONCACAF Gold Cup™ champions Mexico. Group C games take place in two venues in the Los Angeles Area, Carson's Home Depot Center and the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, before moving to Reliant Stadium in Houston for the last day of first round play.

The quarterfinal matches, taking place on Saturday, 16 July (two games in Foxboro), and Sunday, 17 July (two games in Houston) will comprise of the first and second-placed team from each of the three groups along with the two best-finishing third-place teams. 

The 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup™ semifinals and final are scheduled for Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Thursday, 21 July and Sunday, 24 July, respectively.