Canada had its full squad together today in Montréal at the Parc Gabrielle-Lalemand. Coach Dale Mitchell and his staff put the players through a two-hour training session, most notably a red versus yellow inter-squad exhibition. Canada is currently preparing for this Saturday’s FIFA World Cup™ Qualifiers match against Honduras at Stade Saputo. “The only thing we have in our minds is a win,” says Julian de Guzman. “We’re not going to this game in a panic mode. No one should panic at the moment. We have a whole week to prepare for this.”
For more information on Canada’s national team, please visit the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers section.
Canada is the sixth-ranked country in CONCACAF in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings. Canada stuck to 412 points in the September 2008 ranking, the same total it had one month ago. Mexico (807) and USA (788), meanwhile, are still the top-two ranked countries in the confederation.
The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings looks at each country’s international results from the last four years. The ranking takes into account the result, the importance of the match, the strength of the opponent, the regional strength, the time period, and the number of matches per year.
Canada had another day of training under the Montréal sun as the team continues its preparations for Saturday’s FIFA World Cup Qualifiers match against Honduras. The 6 September match kicks off at 20.00 ET at Stade Saputo.
“It will be a real tough game come Saturday,” said captain Paul Stalteri. “Honduras is playing as good as anyone in the region right now. Saturday is a big one for us.”
Canada will arrive in Montréal this Monday for a full week of training before this Saturday’s FIFA World Cup™ Qualifiers match. Canada will face Honduras on 6 September at 20.00 ET at Stade Saputo.
Canada is playing six matches against three teams in Stage III of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ Qualifiers. Three of those matches are in Canada: 20 August against Jamaica in Toronto (a 1:1 draw), 6 September against Honduras in Montréal (admission.com or 514.790.1245) and 15 October against Mexico in Edmonton (Ticketmaster.ca / 780.451.8000).
Canada has called upon 22 players for its next match in the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ Qualifiers. The Canucks will have a full week together before the 6 September match against Honduras at Stade Saputo in Montréal.
Canada is playing six matches against three teams in Stage III of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ Qualifiers. Three of those matches are in Canada: 20 August against Jamaica in Toronto (a 1:1 draw), 6 September against Honduras in Montréal (admission.com or 514.790.1245) and 15 October against Mexico in Edmonton (Ticketmaster.ca / 780.451.8000).
The FIFA World Cup Qualifiers™ are returning to Edmonton. Starting this 2 September, Canadian fans can purchase their tickets to the 15 October match at Commonwealth Stadium. The CONCACAF Stage III match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ Qualifiers will pit Canada against Mexico. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster (ticketmaster.ca or 780.447.6822). The Canada-Mexico match, presented by BMO, kicks off at 19.00 MT on 15 October. Tickets range in price from $20-$45. Group packages are available with the purchase of 15 or more tickets.
With the conclusion of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament, one can not help but look back on Canada’s 2008 season. This year was marked by the Association’s first-ever participation in the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament and its first in an Olympic Games since 1984. The team played in a record 24 international matches and gained valuable experience by reaching the quarter-final stage in China. “Our team has had a tremendous experience here at the Olympic Games,” said coach Even Pellerud. “Although it was a rough program with games in different cities, the organisation was very good, as was the food and accommodation.”
À la suite du Tournoi Olympique de Football Féminin, organisé dans le cadre des Jeux Olympiques d’été de Beijing, en Chine, on ne peut s’empêcher de réfléchir sur les événements de la saison 2008 pour la sélection nationale canadienne féminine senior. Le fait saillant de la saison a été la toute première participation canadienne au Tournoi Olympique de Football Féminin, la première fois depuis 1984 qu’une équipe canadienne de soccer se qualifie pour participer aux Jeux Olympiques d’été. La sélection canadienne a disputé le nombre record de 24 matchs internationaux au cours de la saison, et a même connu l’expérience d’atteindre les quarts de finale en Chine. Selon l’entraîneur-chef de l’équipe nationale canadienne féminine senior, Even Pellerud : « Notre équipe a joui d’une expérience merveilleuse ici aux Jeux Olympiques. Bien que le programme ait été difficile en raison des matchs organisés dans des villes différentes, l’organisation du tournoi était très bonne, sur tous les plans, de la nourriture jusqu’au logement. »
FIFA.com It was a case of Déjà vu as the USA beat Brazil to the gold medal in extra time for the second straight Olympic final on Thursday in Beijing. A Carli Lloyd goal in the 96th minute was the only difference between the sides as they collect their third top Olympic prize in four instalments. Brazil, as they did four years ago in Athens, and last year at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, have to tearfully settle for silver. The contest began cautiously with both sides unwilling to commit too much to attack. The best challenge for the holders came in the 16th minute when Angela Hucles’ corner kick nearly soared directly into the Brazilian net. The bending left-footed attempt could only splatter against the top of Barbara’s crossbar.