OTTAWA (ONTARIO) – All 12 preliminary rosters for the 2007 CONACACAF Gold Cup have been released this week at goldcup.org, the tournament’s official website. Canada has named 30 players to its preliminary roster
Canada’s final roster does not need to be submitted until 23 May, 15 days before their first match on 6 June. Canada’s final roster will consist of 23 players.
OTTAWA (ONTARIO) – Canada’s national men’s team will play Venezuela in an international friendly match on 1 June, less than one week before the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The match, to be played at the Estadio José Pachencho Romero in Maracaibo, Venezuela, will be the first international friendly between the two countries.
Canada will use the match as a tune-up for the CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States. Canada plays Costa Rica on 6 June, Guadeloupe on 9 June, and Haiti on 11 June. All three games will be played at the Orange Bowl in Miami, FL. From the tournament’s 16-year history (eight finals), Canada were Gold Cup champions in 2000.
The Canadian Soccer Association announced today that Dale Mitchell has been named Canada’s senior men’s head coach. Mitchell will be in charge of Canada’s qualification efforts for the FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010.
Mitchell will assume his new senior-team duties after the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007. Three years ago, Mitchell was an assistant coach under Frank Yallop with the senior team in World Cup qualifications. In the past year, he has led the Canadian U-20 team to victories over Brasil, Czech Republic and Scotland.
The Canadian Soccer Association announced today that Stephen Hart has been named Canada’s senior men’s assistant coach. Hart will assist newly-appointed head coach Dale Mitchell in Canada’s qualification efforts for the FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010.
As part of his role, Hart will coach Canada’s current senior team at the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States next month. Hart has been the interim coach since former head coach Frank Yallop’s departure in 2006. From September to March, Hart coached Canada in four international friendly matches: a win and a loss against Jamaica, a loss to Hungary, and a win over Bermuda.
OTTAWA (ONTARIO) – Canada’s national women’s team announced today a two-match international friendly series with New Zealand. This two-match series, to be played 3 June and 6 June, will mark Canada’s first trip to New Zealand. Both teams are currently preparing for the FIFA Women’s World Cup China 2007 which runs this 10-30 September.
“New Zealand is quite a new adventure for us,” says Canadian coach Even Pellerud. “New Zealand is also a World Cup team and they have had problems finding international competition in the past. We have limited knowledge of their team, but we are very much looking forward to another challenge and a new opportunity to refine and improve our game fitness.”
OTTAWA (ONTARIO) – L’équipe canadienne féminine senior a annoncé aujourd’hui la tenue d’une série de deux matchs amicaux internationaux qui l’opposera à la Nouvelle-Zélande. Cette série de deux matchs sera disputée les 3 et 6 juin et marquera la première visite d’une équipe canadienne en Nouvelle-Zélande. Les deux équipes se préparent actuellement en vue de participer à la Coupe du Monde Féminine de la FIFA, Chine 2007, qui se déroulera du 10 au 30 septembre.
« La Nouvelle-Zélande est une nouvelle aventure pour l’équipe, affirme l’entraîneur-chef de l’équipe féminine senior, Even Pellerud. La Nouvelle-Zélande fait également partie des équipes qui se sont qualifiées pour la Coupe du Monde, mais elle a connu des problèmes pour organiser des matchs internationaux. Nous n’avons que des connaissances limitées de cette équipe, mais nous avons hâte de relever le défi et d’en profiter pour peaufiner et améliorer notre condition physique. »
OTTAWA (ONTARIO) – Canada’s senior women’s team announced the roster today for their two-game series with China. The Canadian women will face China on 3 May and 6 May in Hangzou, China, one of the host cities on this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup China 2007.
“We are very fortunate to have this opportunity to visit the World Cup host country,” said Canadian national coach Even Pellerud. “It is important for us to identify travel issues, pollution issues, food issues, maybe even heat issues – all the small differences that are expected to become critical factors when we move into September (for the World Cup).”
OTTAWA (ONTARIO) – L’équipe canadienne féminine senior a dévoilé aujourd’hui le nom des joueuses qui prendront part à la série de deux matchs qui l’opposera à la Chine. L’équipe canadienne affrontera la Chine les 3 et 6 mai à Hangzhou, en Chine, l’une des villes hôtesses de la Coupe du Monde Féminine de la FIFA, Chine 2007.
« Nous avons de la chance de pouvoir visiter le pays qui accueillera la Coupe du Monde, déclare l’entraîneur-chef de l’équipe canadienne, Even Pellerud. C’est important pour nous de déterminer plusieurs des problèmes auxquels nous aurons à faire face, à savoir des problèmes de transport, de pollution, de nourriture, peut-être même des problèmes liés à la chaleur. Ce sont toutes de petites différences qui deviendront éventuellement des facteurs critiques au mois de septembre lorsque nous participerons à la Coupe du Monde. »
OTTAWA (ONTARIO) – Canada’s women’s senior team has drawn Norway, Ghana and Australia for the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup China 2007. The four countries were placed into group C during the Official Draw, held Sunday 22 April in Wuhan, China.
“I am quite pleased with the outcome” says Canadian head coach Even Pellerud. “Group B looks very strong while the other three groups are quite even, so I am satisfied with this result.”