He's OK for Canada. With Canada, he's playing on a worse version of an MLS team, IMO. Against CONCACAF opposition, he's good enough to score consistently, but not good enough to do it without service. He's certainly not really the type to create his own shot. Yeah, but they don't play many friendlies either, it seems. Why not play Honduras/Nicaragua/El Salvador/Jamaica etc. as often as possible? They're close by, they're teams either at or somewhat above Canada's level, and Canada needs the regional experience. Yet they can hardly seem to get the games in. They play like 6-8 games a year, half of which are friendlies, but they never play similarly-talented CONCACAF teams. It's always either Curacao, or St Kitts, or someone like the US. What's up with that? They get games vs. Scotland, Ukraine, and others, but not Nicaragua?
A MLS team made up of the best Canadians would be bottom of the Supporters Shield and their defense would be worse than what Minnesota United were fielding to start the season. Their D is basically all NASL/USL level talent. Henry and Edgar might be exceptions, but who Henry isn't really playing in the Danish League and Edgar didn't make an impact for Vancover last year prior to injuring his knee. Their MF is basically Will Johnson and bit players in MLS at this point. They have a decent group of forwards especially with Larin. Obviously no depth since they don't even have quality starters. Outside of the Team in the Hex though plus maybe Jamaica not sure any other team in CONCACAF can field a team that can complete for the playoffs in MLS. Not even sure T&T could and they are in the Hex. Canada should be able to compete with and beat pretty much every Caribbean country outside Jamaica and at least hang with the El Salvadors' and Guatemalas' of the world. I actually think they have a fair amount of young talent in the pipeline though and they should be able to field fairly decent youth teams. Davies (if he gets citizenship), Tabla, Hamilton, etc. Lots of players in the pipeline that look like they will be better if not significant upgrades over what they are trotting out there now. Should be primed to not get embarrassed come 2024.
Canada U17s are currently trailing Cuba U17s 2-1. Cuba has not won a match at the CONCACAF U17 Championship in the last eight years, their last victory being against Canada. Over half of Canada's roster is from TFC's academy.
Canada really shouldn't have an auto-bid for the Gold Cup. Not only does Canada not really deserve it, but also the lack of competitive matches hurts their form and their FIFA rankings. At the very least, they should have a play-off against a Caribbean or Central American team for their spot. I do understand that it'd be somewhat out of place for Canada to be competing in the Caribbean Cup or the Copa Centroamericana (especially if they won). But until Texas secedes, Alaska declares independence, and the Quebecois finally ignite their revolution, the Canadians are not gonna be getting any sort of regular competitive football just kicking their heels in the North American zone. But in the end, Canadian Soccer Association is sitting there thinking, "If we had to compete fairly for a Gold Cup spot ... there's no way we'd make it." So they're not exactly going to make a fuss about getting some competitive games up there - even if it would mean more growth potential for the team.
I feel so bad for our neighbors. They really shouldn't be this poorly. New Zealand seems like they'd walk over them.
When the question could just have easily been "What's NOT wrong with Canada?", you've only got yourself to blame. They should compete, and they have not been competent for 15 years now.
Montagliani already divulged that the Gold Cup is going to 16 teams from 2019 on, so surely - I mean, surely Canada would be able to qualify...right?
1st team eliminated out of the U17 tournament. Surprising in that group. They used to be kind of a bogey team for Mexico in youth teams but now they were the 2nd and 1st team eliminated in both youth tournaments.
By the time qualifying starts again, Canada's front six should consist of Larin, Hoilett, Tabla, Davies, Arfield and either Will Johnson or Bryan Cristante. With a bench with Jackson-Hamel, Tesho, Ricketts, Osorio, Teibert, And Fraser Aird always plays well wearing the leaf. If a coach can't turn that into a productive unit at CONCACAF level, then there's something wrong. The emergence of Raheem Edwards at LWB for TFC means LB could be solid. They have a kid in Chile for RB, and Johnson or Aird could slide there. Their keeper situation is ... acceptable, maybe, but a concern. Borjan is OK, but that's a position where the top CONCACAF teams are better than OK. And they don't currently have much proven behind him. The CB situation continues to be a grease fire. The players might be there to solve it, but they're committed elsewhere atm. They've got to be furiously studying Matt Hedges' grandmother right now. And while Tabla, Davies and Larin are young enough to keep Canada competitive, their youth system isn't doing a whole lot. Their U-17 lost to Cuba today. So what surrounds those guys down the line remains a big question mark.
I wish them well, but I don't feel bad for them. They ride on the backs of others and their teams play without togetherness or heart.
Davies is eligible for Ghana (and Liberia), Tabla is eligible for Ivory Coast. There's no guarantee they'll play for Canada.
Canada has the same apathetic attitude towards soccer most of the USA has, plus cold weather everywhere. They also have a smaller population, fewer immigrants, less money, less national and regional influence and fewer teams in the MLS. That is allot of obstacles to overcome. If they want to get better imo, they need to go the Iceland route and make indoor soccer easily accessible. Once that is done, they need to find a way to funnel the top kids into academies either in Canada or abroad. TBH, they probably will never be on the level of Mex. and the US, but they could, and probably should be in that next tier with Costa Rica.
you mean fewer immigrants by numbers or percentage? Cause one could argue there is a higher number of immigrants percentage wise than the US. The scariest thing for me is it's now seen as normal for Canada to lose 8-1 to Honduras. Now it'd be one thing if that was Costa Rica.
Drake, ooh in soccer. I don't think they're underachieving I think they're right results go hand in hand with how big the sport is there. Aside from the MLS cities there isn't much interest as there is in Hockey or even American football, plus a lot of winter sports.
As European Hard-core Fanatic currently living in Canada I can tell you exactly what is with Canada. First, isn't it striking, that Americans have started this thread, and mainly Americans post under it, but no Canadians? This is the main reason: Canadians absolutely do not care about "soccer" and do not see it as a serious sport yet. There is much less interest in it here than there is in the US. In fact I have joined this forum, because there is so little people here, with whom I could exchange soccer ideas and have interesting discussion... The only people who would know something are really first generation immigrants - I know some German, Dutch and even Indian and Vietnamese guys here who would be able to have a discussion regarding soccer matters, but as soon as you ask "ethnic" Canadian (means more than two generations here), the only thing they would say is "Ohhh pro-soccer, we really suck at it..." Second: the weather is horrible to play it. Basically, you could do it maybe 4 months of the year when it comes to amateurs, otherwise you will have no grass, you will have snow, or mud with pouring rain. This is not to say, that Canadians do not like sports. They do; however, the dilemma soccer is facing here is the same as ice hockey is facing in Spain - as there is no good conditions to play it on a higher level, there are other dominant sports, and the sport has not been deeply embedded into Canadian society, it is facing an uphill struggle to take off. In addition 1:8 v Honduras does not help to create good image... So, is there hope? I think, there is, but it will take some time. I personally think, Canada does not need to reach level of the US, or Mexico - this will not happen. It should be aiming to be the level of Costa Rica or Honduras - basically 4-5 in CONCAF. This is possible. As more immigrants settle here from countries where soccer is huge, the interest will grow. It is not like back in the 50's, when you emigrated from your country you had little contact with it afterwards. Now there is Internet, Web-TV, you can watch soccer from all over the world, and will not be limited to traditional Canadian sports of Ice Hockey, Can Football, or Curling on the media. Obviously, local TV and Radio will want to get on board with this demand and will start showing more and more soccer from around the world and from MLS. The interest will slowly rise (it has begun already, but as I said, it will take some time). Having teams in MLS, or creating its own pro league (like CLS or something?) does help to promote the sport as well. I have noticed how games between Toronto and Montreal have electrified some ethnic Canadians, so this is going in the right direction. Beating the weather is also possible - Iceland is a good example. It is currently the best Nordic nation at Soccer (better than Sweden or Denmark!), but the worst at Ice Hockey (which you would expect to be other way maybe...?). Lot's of indoor facilities, grounds with heated surface could help amateurs to play. However, the costs of these would have to be lower, so that an average kid can use the facilities, and play all year around. At the end, Soccer is a growing business, and I am not sure economy as large as Canadian wants to miss on it, and its potential profits. If WC is awarded to Can/US/Mex this will help to promote the sport as well and I only expect interest of locals to grow. No, it will not replace Ice Hockey, or CFL, but it may just get to the level good enough to get Canada to 48 teams WC, and have a national team being able to play v Costa Rica as equals, and not being afraid of double digit humiliation.
Nice one, Skandal. Beyond all that, though, is the lack of daringness and heart and the semi-dependent mentality. It doesn't help, either, that its three largest cities are de facto denationalized city-states that turn their backs to the rest of the country. It would be nice to see them succeed, but I can't feel sorry for them; no real effort, no vision.
I agree that there is no long term vision now. But it simply will change, as Canadians will more and more realize, that they isolate themselves from the international sporting community by not caring enough about soccer. Canadian business will realize it, and ethnic population will realize it as they interact more and more with various people in the global world. I see it a bit like it was in the US back in the 80's. Some Americans (at first only some) started to realize, also through Latin, or Polish or new English/Scottish immigrants, with whom they interacted, that they are missing on the biggest sporting party around - the WC. American business, like Nike or MacDonald's also looked at the event and went like "Shit, there is some profit and exposure awaiting us here, how come we are not on it?". As Americans generally enjoy sport and well televised events, and US companies are important parts of various industries, it is obvious that they would not like to isolate themselves from the possibility of "new" (for the US) exciting competition like WC. This is how it begun, and now USA has made a fantastic improvement since the 1980's for both having a solid national team, and not bad of a league with good prospects. Canada could go similar way, on a lesser scale, of course, and I think it will eventually happen.
Canada has been grouped with Honduras in the last four Semifinals. The games at Honduras were 1-1 in qualifying for 2006, a 3-1 Honduras win in qualifying for 2010, and a 2-1 Honduras win in qualifying for 2018. The 8-1 in qualifying for 2014 was the exception, not what is "normal."