Yallop Announces Roster For Game Against Guatemala on November 17

Ottawa, Ontario– Canadian Men’s World Cup Team head coach Frank Yallop today named his 16-player roster for the upcoming World Cup Qualifier against Guatemala on November 17 in Guatemala City, Guatemala (8:15 p.m. local time).

The Canadians were eliminated from qualifying for the 2006 World Cup following a 3-1 loss to Costa Rica on October 13 and Yallop will use the upcoming game to begin the process of developing the team that will attempt to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. Guatemala has already qualified for the Final Round of CONCACAF Qualifying.

“Obviously everyone is very disappointed that we have been eliminated from advancing but this game is by no means meaningless. It will provide a number of players with an opportunity to start a game against a CONCACAF country on the road,” said Yallop. “We have to start looking at players who can help us in qualifying in 2008 and that process starts now – several young players are going to get the chance to show me what they can do.”

Hearts defender Kevin McKenna, who has been involved in UEFA Cup play in the last month, has been selected after missing the first five games of the semi-final round with a knee injury. Also picked for the first time in the semi-final round is Mike Klukowski of La Louviere in Belgium. Klukowski was on the 18-man squad that defeated Belize in the first round.

The only newcomer is midfielder Felix Brillant of Montreal who spent the season with the New England Revolution in MLS. The Revolution was eliminated in the East Conference Final on Saturday, losing to DC United. Dwayne de Rosario, who is in the running for MLS Goal of the Year, has also been called in.

Defender Nevio Pizzolitto, now playing indoor soccer with San Diego, has been recalled for the first time since the August 18 2-0 loss to Guatemala. Other defenders include the Toronto Lynx’ Tyler Hughes (who was recently on trial at Darlington in England), right back Atiba Hutchinson who is on his break from Helsingborg in Sweden and Gabriel Gervais of the A-League champion Montreal Impact.

In midfield, Patrice Bernier has been selected as well as Sandro Grande. Grande made his World Cup Team debut against Costa Rica on September 9 and has spent the last two weeks on trial at Ipswich Town in the English First Division.

Adrian Serioux marks his return to the national team after missing the last three games with a shoulder injury. He is joined by his Millwall teammate Josh Simpson. Midfielder Jaime Peters has been selected following his recent trial at Chelsea of the EPL.

In goal, Greg Sutton and Lars Hirschfeld have been chosen. Sutton earned his first senior cap for Canada against Barbados on January 18, 2004. He was named the MVP of the A-League this season after leading the Impact to a championship and has been on trial at Bolton of the English Premier League for the last several weeks. He will be joined by Dundee United’s Lars Hirschfeld who backed up Pat Onstad in each of the last five games.

Forward Olivier Occean, who finished the season as Odd Grenland’s leading single season goal scorer, rounds out the squad.

Canadian Roster For World Cup Qualifier vs Guatemala

No. Name Pos Club DOB Caps Goals/ Shutouts
1 Lars Hirschfeld GK Dundee United, SPL 10/17/78 16 4
22 Greg Sutton GK Montreal Impact, A- League 4/19/77 1 1
2 Gabriel Gervais D Montreal Impact, A-League 9/18/76 2 0
13 Atiba Hutchinson M Helsingborg, Swedish Premier 03/08/1983 10 1
14 Dwayne de Rosario F San Jose Earthquakes, MLS 5/15/78 26 6
15 Josh Simpson M Millwall, English First Division 5/15/83 5 0
11 Jaime Peters M Unattached 05/04/1987 4 0
9 Olivier Occean F Odd Grenland, Norwegian First Division 10/23/81 6 0
7 Sandro Grande M Montreal Impact, A-League 9/29/76 3 0
8 Patrice Bernier M Tromso, Norwegian Premier 9/23/79 5 0
10 Felix Brillant M New England Revolution, MLS 09/09/1980 0 0
4 Kevin McKenna D Hearts, Scottish Premier 1/21/80 24 7
11 Mike Klukowski D/M La Louviere, Belgian First Division 5/27/81 3 0
3 Tyler Hughes D Toronto Lynx, A-League 11/11/1980 0 0
6 Adrian Serioux M Millwall, English First Division 05/12/1979 1 0
5 Nevio Pizzolitto D Montreal Impact/San Diego 8/26/76 9 0

Staff

Jim Fleming – Head of Delegation
Frank Yallop – Head Coach
Morgan Quarry – Team Manager
Kevin Wagner – Equipment Manager
Dave Foley – Physiotherapist
Ed Johnson – Doctor