With two losses in two games Canada’s hopes of advancing to the first knock out round of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup are hanging by a thread. Based on their displays over the last two games they are fortunate that they still have any hope at all.
While on Sunday Chile was streets ahead of Canada in every department, tonight they were up against an Austrian side that would struggle to be classed as average.
Canada made three changes with Nunez, Lombardo and Attakora-Gyan making way for Tosaint Ricketts, Stephen Lumley and Keegan Ayre. But rather than bringing some verve and life to the side, Canada spent almost the entire game looking as if they were still shell-shocked from Sunday’s 3-0 loss.
It was hard to pick out any decent performances from a Canadian team that lacked drive and intensity right up until the closing minutes. The Canadian midfield in particular was devoid of anyone who could make a telling pass, control the rhythm of the game or was willing to impose themselves on the game.
At times the Canadian performance left the impression that the players had been coached to the point were there was no spontaneity or creativity left. (Or is it a case that the Canadian system – like some other countries on show – cannot tolerate players with a spark of creativity and instead rely solely on producing “athletes” for the national program?)
Austria’s goal came after poor marking from a corner kick early in the second half. Okotie – the best player on the park – headed past Canadian keeper Begovic for what turned out to be the winning goal.
Shortly after Beaulieu-Bourgault hit the Austrian crossbar after a free kick was hoisted in. That was the last time Canada went close until the closing seconds when Ricketts was clean through with only the keeper to beat. He put the ball well wide.
So Canada has its work cut out if it wants to avoid becoming the seventh host nation not to make it past the group stage of the FIFA under-20 World Cup. And with a minus four goal differential (and with no goals scored) Canada is presently on track to record one of the poorest performances ever by a host nation. You would hope that that statistic should provide as much motivation as is needed when Canada plays Congo on Sunday in Edmonton.
You can send any information (fsr@mts.net) that you think might be of interest about the twenty-four countries and I will post a regular selection. If you have a FIFA Under-20 blog go ahead and post your link under comments.
well put bobby, i can sum it up in less words: canada sucks.
perhaps more disappointing than the obvious lack of ball control and passing skills needed to play this game at this level was the near-total lack of commitment showed by this canada team, by the last 10 minutes as the players floated about carelessly letting the seconds tick by, it looked like they really didn't care. they made no effort to run upfield as the keeper hoisted long balls forward in the hope of a miracle equaliser, but rather walked, WALKED errantly along the touch line seeming unconcerned with the need to provide support up front and a much needed, tournament-saving goal. i hate to be the bad guy here, but frankly if canada had tried to script a poorer advertisement for the game here (both effort-wise and skill-wise) they couldn't have come up with worse than this sorry and very discouraging display of a showcase for canadian soccer.
will anyone (worthwhile, like kids...) still be watching when canada plays congo on sunday?
pity, really...
then people wonder why the ethnic communities here stick to their old-world ties and players like young vittorio, even hargreaves, etc...turn down playing for canada.
does dale mitchell have to take the heat for this, your thoughts?
i think in large part he (and the csa) does.
i would like to pipe in briefly on behalf of the zambians who have been a joy to watch, and frankly have played well enough to deserve more than their single point so far. fast, incisive, not afraid to shoot, and pretty good at it too, zambia has been a welcome surprise and addition to the tournament.
i'd take 1 zambia over 10 canada/scotland/austrias, etc...anyday of the week!
that is the problem with North American kids. NO PASSION FOR THE GAME AT ALL!!! everything they learn about football, is in class... or ACADEMY, so they call it... and it's a boring process for the kids. they just finished school teaching and yelling.... they go into another soccer teaching and being yelled at... etc.
When I was young, I left my home at 9 during the summer, and come back late at night 8pm. My parents never knew where I was during all that time... just playing football... Nobody had to teach me how to play it. It just come through the competition against other kids in the streets of Africa.
How can these Canadian kids who have all the monies, stadiums, coaches, etc... get beaten by kids from Chile and Brazil, and I bet Congo kids who don't even have the money to buy shoes?
the answer is simple, the Canadian kids are over supervised and over coached. No creativity of any kind. You don't learn football in class... You learn football at Copa Cabana beach.
Last edited by Thierry_Henry on July 6th at 1:28 AM.
Bobby what is your thoughts on tevez at united, and where are the glazers getting this money with their debt
l think the british media will hail evetything english but the same question asked of barca when they added henry will have to be asked of man u, as an arsenal fan as long as eduardo plays as the poacher l am not worried if wenger does not add anyone l will be happy as if we finish our chances all this talk of being a poor side will be put to bed, going back to rooney and tevez will be fascinating because tevez clearly will not make your team bad, but will they suffer the old arsenal way of not having a penalty box striker to bury chances, it will be intresting how he will put out saha because a fully fit saha and on his game is as good as any centre forward, arsenal fans brag of how rvp had 13 goals in 18 prem games. but saha had 15 in that same time which is impressive ronaldo 's role will be fun to watch and although he will rest player he will have selection headaches, because think fergie is going hollywood
Thiery Henry. . . Get a clue maybe? While I can agree a tiny bit with your arguement, you kinda leave out some important facts like, maybe soccer or football isn't the number one sport in Canada or the USA, hell it isn't even the 3 biggest sport in both countries. Debatable if it is the fourth. Not to mention we are basically kids to the rest of the soccer world, in experience. Like the USA didn't have a respectable league till 1996. And what about all those countries in Europe, they aren't poor, yet they produce great soccer players. No it is love of the game this country lacks, but it is growing and it will take time, every year the game grows a little bit more.
Bobby-
Unfortunately I don't have ESPNU so I can't see much of the U-20 WC. I saw last saturday's Poland-Brazil match and according to the papers in the Bay Area today ESPN will show the US-Brazil match but it is not listed on my cable guide. Typical stuff down here in the lower 48.
Not sure if you saw the Portugal vs Mexico game but is there some one page tactical manual that all international coaches are sharing to deal with Portugal that reads: Sit back and play counter attack football as Portugal is playing with 4 defenders 6 mids and are of no real threat to score unless from a free kick or wonder strike. This lack of a pure striker at the u-20 u-21 and senior level is getting silly.
Gonga:
Thought you might be interested in this regarding today’s ESPN showing of the U20 Brazil vs. US match.
Comcast Cable, for Bay Area as noted in TV Guide web site channel line up shows the match to be broadcast starting at 4:30pm PDT.
Try this link: http://www.tvguide.com/Listings/def ault.aspx
As default settings are East Coast based you will need to edit your location by entering your zip code then select specific provider for more accurate results.
At least it gets you out from behind the keyboard and into your favorite TV viewing chair although no guarantee o####ood result for the US.
Cheers.
Thanks for the info. My brother called me and told me the same so hopefully they will air it. As of now, 10:30 AM PST, on my Comcast cable guide, ESPN still hasn't updated their data for the program. They have those two slobs eating Nathan's hotdogs at 4:30 PM PST.
Hopefully the match will air.
And how would you like to finance this deal, Sir Alex? Loan, rent or lease?
According to Sky … ”Carlos Tevez has agreed to join Manchester United on loan - sources have told Sky Sports News. The Argentine international is set to join United on a initial two-year term, with an option for a further three-year stay at Old Trafford.”
Well of course Man Utd can’t transfer Tevez from West Ham… West Ham never owned him. To get round the regulations West Ham only loaned him, which of course the FA know full well. I had thought that loan agreements could only be between clubs and not between a management company and a club? But I guess not since West Ham already worked that one.
Wow. If they get away with this then it unravels all sorts of things. …
Last edited by LosAngelesChelseaFan on July 6th at 10:39 AM.
…. They are all using (abusing) the flaky loan agreement to get round the FA’s transfer regulations. I’m sure that the FA or football league never intended for 5 year loan agreements, that are in effect rental agreements. Presumably Tevez will get paid a “huge salary” and he in turns pays his “agent” This would get around the rules that would prevent Man Utd paying/renting from West Ham or anyone else, which I again assume are disallowed in the loan agreements.
The FA really need step and stop this (which of course they won’t). If they don’t then it sets a precedent and might in time unhinge the whole transfer market, for the smaller clubs. If this happened everywhere it would be the agents that made the money from players not the developing clubs. At the very least it seems to unravel the player/club loyalty, if there still is any.
even if west ham loan him to man united to circumvent the fa it still leaves the entire ownership issue essentially in the hands of the agent kia. i expect that the fa is sooo sick of this thing and will make it such a headache for tevez to play for anyone other than west ham in the epl, and if tevez wants a big club its hola la liga.
More sport in the high court than on center court
There seems no agreement on who Tevez belongs to that I can understand. West Ham claim they have him till 2010 and Tevez is going nowhere. Kia Joorabchian /Tevez say that West Ham know that Tevez is going to Man Utd. Tevez says he can’t wait. I’d bet that West Ham don’t own him and therefore can’t loan him. Good luck if you know what to believe after reading the BBC site.
What a mess the FA have allowed to happen. High Court ticket anyone?
Last edited by LosAngelesChelseaFan on July 6th at 4:08 PM.
yeah i think ou are right that no one knows who owns tevez, but the fa r boxed into a corner when in april they fined west ham and re-certified his papers essentially leaving them no other position but to believe that tevez is owned by west ham, whether he actually is or not. thats why i say that the fa will be obstinent in preventing tevez from moving to another epl club without west ham pocketing a buckload of money, they have sheffield's 50 million pound lawsuit hangin over theoir heads. Im sure the fa would be very happy to see the large backside of tevez as he goes to real or inter or anywhere outside of england. i dont understand why man united would want to get into the middle of all this nonsense
I think Man Utd think they can get away with anything, including "managing" the FA. i.e. arrogance is the reason. It could mean that Sheffield United suddenly get of support from Arsenal, Liverpool and maybe Chelsea.
I had another thought. I thought that in the past, no matter how legal an agreement was in the country of writing, for an agent to own a player, the FA, under English law had elected not to recognize the validity of such contracts. i.e. Even if Man U trundle down to Venezuela and sign him up, having decided that Tevez is owned by West Ham, the FA would not allow Tevez to play for Man U.
Bobby,
You're dead on, with the comment that the kids have no creativity in their play. This must be encouraged at an early age from their youth coaches. Also, I personally know 4 players from this age group that are more creative than what we've seen so far, but they are not involved with the National program.Canada's play has been very negative or poor technique lets them down when they go forward. I attended the Spain & Zambia & Jordan & Uraguay
and hopefully the csa officials can see how far bwhind Canada is at this age. Big 2 thumbs up for Zambia "very entertaining" a very positive team and the crowd loved them. Now that's real football.
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