Canada announces roster for European matches

Canada’s men’s national team has announced its 17-player roster in advance of the upcoming international matches in Europe. The Canadian squad will play FYR Macedonia on 14 November and Poland on 18 November. The first match will be played in Strumica, Macedonia and will kickoff at 13.00 local time (07.00 ET / 04.00 PT), while the second match will be played in Bydgoszcz, Poland and kickoff at 17.00 local (11.00 ET / 08.00 PT).



Interim head coach Stephen Hart has named an experienced squad for the European matches. Fifteen of the 17 players named play professional football in Europe. The two other players come from North American-based clubs – Toronto FC’s Julian de Guzman and DC United’s Dejan Jakovic.



“These two matches provide an excellent opportunity to bring our European based players together,” said Hart. “Playing quality European opposition at their home fields is a challenge I am sure the players will look forward to.”



The international friendly matches will be Canada’s first following its strong run to the quarter-final stage of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Thirteen players who took part in the month-long competition in July under Hart have been named to the roster for the European matches.



Paul Stalteri is the most experienced player on the roster with 77 career appearances at the international level. Following Stalteri are Richard Hastings (56), Tomasz Radzinski (45), and Atiba Hutchison (45). Should Stalteri feature in either of the two matches, he will tie Mark Watson in second place all-time in most appearances for Canada (78). Stalteri, 32, is closing in on Randy Samuel’s all-time record for most appearances (82).



Polish-born Tomasz Radzinski will have the opportunity to play in the country of his birth after being called into the squad. Radzinski leads all players on the roster with 10 career goals for Canada. Kevin McKenna is second with nine, followed by Stalteri with seven.



“For us, the match in Poland provides an opportunity to bring Tomasz in to play against the country of his birth,” said Hart. “We felt the game would mean a lot to him at this stage of is career.”



Iain Hume returns to the national team for the first time since suffering a head injury on 8 November 2008 while playing for his club side Barnsley. Hume only recently returned to action in September of this year.



Hart is looking at the possibility of adding an 18th player to the roster.



Canada and FYR Macedonia share a short competitive history. The two sides have faced each other only once before in international play. Canada won that match 1:0 on 18 May 1998 in Toronto (Niall Thompson scored the lone goal). Canada and Poland, meanwhile, have faced each other three times. Poland has won all three “A” matches (1973, 1974 and 1988).



CANADA



GK- Lars Hirschfeld | GER / Energie Cottbus

GK- Josh Wagenaar | SCO / Falkirk

D/M- Mike Klukowski | BEL / Club Brugge KV

D- Kevin McKenna | GER / FC Köln

D/M- Paul Stalteri | GER / Borussia Mönchengladbach

D- Richard Hastings | SCO / Hamilton

D- Dejan Jakovic | USA / DC United

M- Julian de Guzman | CAN / Toronto FC

M- Atiba Hutchinson | DEN / F.C. København

M- Patrice Bernier | DEN / FC Nordsjælland

M- Iain Hume | ENG / Barnsley

M- Marcel de Jong | NED / Roda JC

M- Jaime Peters | ENG / Ipswich Town FC

M/F- Josh Simpson | TUR / Manisaspor

F- Simeon Jackson | ENG / Gillingham FC

F- Tomasz Radzinski | BEL / Lierse

F- Rob Friend | GER / Borussia Mönchengladbach



Head Coach / Entraîneur-chef : Stephen Hart

Assistant Coach / Entraîneur adjoint : Tony Fonseca

Goalkeeper coach / Entraîneur des gardiens : Paul Dolan

Manager / Gérant : Morgan Quarry

Video Coordinator / Coordinateur de vidéo : Vic Mendes

Equipment Manager / Gérant des équipements : Mike Moretto

Doctor / Docteur : Dr. Michael Campbell

Physiotherapist / Physiothérapeute : Ted Tilbury

Physiotherapist / Physiothérapeute : Dave Foley

Head of delegation / Chef de délégation : Mike Traficante