Canada looks ahead to first-time opponent St. Lucia

Canada will be facing a new opponent this Friday 2 September 2011 in the opening match of 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers™. That opponent is St. Lucia, one of 29 remaining CONCACAF nations in the hunt for 3.5 spots to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™.



In July of this year, St. Lucia escaped CONCACAF Stage One of the Brazil 2014 tournament by knocking off Aruba in a home-and-away series. Both sides won 4:2 at home, so kicks from the penalty mark were required to determine a series winner after the 12 July match. St. Lucia won 5-4 on kicks.



Since those two matches, St. Lucia has played once in a Men’s International Friendly, an 0:4 loss to Barbados on 21 August. The U-23 team has played in three Olympic Qualification matches, all three losses to St. Kitts and Nevis (1:2 loss on 21 July), Haiti (0:2 loss on 23 July) and Antiga and Barbuda (1:2 loss on 25 July).



In the 21 August match, coach Alain Providence’s starting XI featured Iran Cassius (goal), Kurt Frederick, Bernard Edward, Pernal Williams, Fabian Joseph, Kevin Edward, Enderson George, Guy George, Rickson Augustin, Zaccheus Polius and Caddius Emmanuel. In all, coach Providence featured 16 players in the loss.



Coach Hart and his staff have received a few reports on the opposition.



“They can be very physical, so that is something always to consider,” said coach Hart. “They will also be very athletic as are most of the Caribbean nations.”



It was reported that St. Lucia was booked three times in the friendly match against Barbados. In the two-match series against Aruba, St. Lucia was shown six yellow cards and one red card (Bernard Edward in the first match).



In terms of goals scored, St. Lucia’s top scorer in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers™ was Jamil Joseph. He scored a hat trick in that 12 July victory that helped secure St. Lucia a spot in the second round.



As for Canada’s preparations, the team trains early this week in Alliston, ON before arriving in Toronto on Wednesday 30 August. St. Lucia, on the other hand, will not train in Toronto in advance of the 2 September match.



Media, fans and local coaches can meet the Canadian team at training either Tuesday 30 August or Wednesday 31 August in Alliston, with both training sessions set for a 10.30 start. On Wednesday afternoon, the team will meet the press at the Official Press Conference at Intercontinental Bloor in downtown Toronto (media are asked to arrive at 15.00 ET).



As for tickets, fans can purchase tickets to the Friday FIFA World Cup Qualifiers match for as little as $20. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster (Ticketmaster.ca / 1-855-985-5000). It should also be noted that purchased tickets to the 2 September Canada match include free entrance to the Canadian National Exhibition (starting that morning at 10.00 ET). Without a ticket, fans that pay entrance to CNE can purchase a $25 match ticket for just $9 that evening (kick off at 20.00 ET).