I wonder why a country as big as Canada has such difficulty fielding a competitive team, even when they have relatively competitive players and access to a professional league. It's unusual. To lose to Honduras occasionally is one thing. To consistently be a less competitive team than Honduras is a whole different thing. I really can't get my mind around it.
Well..................they're not actually "that big" of a country. A population roughly the size of Peru & Venezuela that isn't particularly soccer crazed. Geographically its big. The Central American nations like Honduras are soccer crazed. The Caribbean nations do a good job taking advantage of their diaspora around the world. Canada, meanwhile, seems to have to fight to keep dual nationals instead of recruiting them from around the world. [Canada fans can probably make a list of 50 dual-nationals they've lost out on.] I do think to some degree we on these boards massively under-rate the quality of what were refer to as CONCACAF "minnows." As if Haiti didn't beat Costa Rica right before they beat Canada. Haiti's not Andorra in terms of soccer.
Canada is the third-largest nation in CONCACAF behind the United States and Mexico, and has 26 million more people than the fourth-largest nation, Haiti. It has roughly six times the populations of Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Panama...all who are continual CONCACAF contenders. Canada has over 23 times more people than perennial contender Trinidad and Tobago. 327.2 million - United States 209.3 million - Brazil 191 million - Nigeria 129.2 million - Mexico 82.8 million - Germany 70.0 million - France 55.6 million - England 46.7 million - Spain 44.8 million - Ukraine 44.7 million - Argentina 37.1 million - Canada 32.7 million - Peru 32.0 million - Venezuela 28.3 million - Ghana 24.3 million - Ivory Coast 18.1 million - Chile 17.1 million - Netherlands 16.6 million - Ecuador 15.9 million - Senegal 11.4 million - Belgium 11.0 million - Haiti 10.8 million - Greece 10.6 million - Czech Republic 9.3 million - Honduras 7.0 million - Serbia 6.4 million - El Salvador 6.2 million - Nicaragua 4.9 million - Costa Rica 4.1 million - Croatia 4.1 million - Panama 2.9 million - Jamaica 1.4 million - Trinidad and Tobago 338,349 - Iceland 161,000 - Curacao
Let's not forget the difference in available resources and the fact that Canada has access to a pool of dual nationals with professional associations in England and France among others.
warning...long read Indifference. More precisely, "generational indifference" leading to a gap in talent Pre 90s Canada was actually a stronger nation than the US. The decline started in the mid 90s and was in full effect after the 2000 Gold Cup win. This graph explains a lot about what I mean by generational indifference Hockey has always been the top sport but you'll notice that the Boomers generation interest in soccer sharply dropped in comparison to their parents (by half). You'll also notice that where interest in soccer dropped, it doubled for baseball and football. When Boomers were the majority with the purchasing power (around late 80s-beginnng of 90s, soccer was left behind and fell in irrelevancy. The CSL which was launched after Canada successfully qualified for the 1986 World Cup, folded in 92. The players produced by that league went on to go play in Europe and were the reason Canada made the Hex in 94 (lost to Australia in Intercontinental playoffs on penalties), 98 and won the 2000 Gold Cup. Late 90s to 2012, the CSA was operating in total indifference and made little to no attempt to change course. Where the US had the World Cup in 1994 to help soccer and the program rise with MLS, we had a CSA realizing the same thing...no one cared, so they took their paychecks and sent guys on tournament with no direction, no vision in a toxic culture of entitlement. Why change? No one cared either way. It started to change around the late 2000s. I fit the "Millennial" bracket so, with the internet and social media, following the sport was much easier and "X" + "Millenials" jumped on the National team bandwagon. With our raising purchasing power, we consumed soccer and followed it, twice as much as the WWII generation who had strong ties to the UK. TFC, Whitecaps and Impact had joined MLS which was heavily supported by those 2 generations while still being snubbed by Boomers, we carried those teams when most (boomers) thought it would never fly. X & Millenials from Liberty Village carried TFC even at their worst, same generations filled the Olympic stadium for CCL in 2009 & 2015. We were "all in" during the 2014 WCQ. The lose at San Pedro Sula was another failure but this time, it was different. There was no hiding for the CSA. The outrage was so insane that the media started scrutinizing the CSA and the program. The pressure was too much and people got fired which allowed for Montagliani to have all the freedom in the world to impose his reforms. Where past WCQ were met with indifference, the Brazil failure was devastating and fans were furious at the CSA Even missing the 2014 World Cup didn't stop the fans to travel to Brazil and be among those who bought the most tickets with a high % (pop) without even having it's team in the tournament. So you could say that we've been actively trying since around 2012. It's not perfect but the CSA has changed, same with the culture. It wants to move away from USSF leagues, reform the Tier 3, introduced strict licencing requirements (academies, coaching) and launched the CPL attached to a 2026 World Cup bid which already showed some results Yes we missed the Hex for Russia 2018 but we were in the toughest group with Mexico, Honduras and Salvador. We lost both games against Mexico but won our home games. We tied in Salvador and lost at Honduras. We missed the Hex by 1 point. After that, we went all in with youth players and out with the previous generation. John Herdman was hire to reform the U14 to senior level pathway like he did for the women to finally fix the structural problems that caused us to bleed talents over the years. Yes, Haiti was disappointing but that was a very young team out there. Best they make their mistakes now so they come back solid for the League of Nation and qualifiers.
I would love to see a competitive Canadian football team. It would be great for the region and would make a fun rival for both the US and Mexico. Mexico rudely awoke to the US in the 2002 World Cup...resulting in over a decade of petulant Machismo displays as the US established regional supremacy in the Donovan/Beasley era. I imagine that Canada would receive the same treatment from both the US and Mexico should the Canadians rise up and take some points. It would be great fun and it would make Costa Rica and Jamaica raise their level too. So...get at it, fella. Make it happen, eh?
@Robert Borden check out Fraser's job on rooney playing cb for Toronto this weekend in the 1-1 draw. He was better than what I saw Herdman put out there in Gold Cup.
What sunk us was playing guys out of position, starting the wrong fullbacks and not bring enough of them. Our CBs actually did well with Cornelius being named to the Gold Cup best XI. Liam Fraser is a natural midfielder and we have better options at CB in Manjekar James and hopefully Lucas Gasparatto currently in CPL but a product of Rangers.
In league news from the Premier league The Spring season is now over and Cavalry has claimed the Title to qualified for the CPL Championship. They will face the Fall Champion in a 2 leg final.* *If Cavalry were to claim the Fall Title, they would face the 2nd best overall team in the finals Canadian Championship This will be the first matchup between USL / MLS and CPL on July 10th, the return leg will be on July 24th Ottawa Fury v. HFX Wanderers York9 v. Montreal Impact Cavalry v. Vancouver Whitecaps CONCACAF League Forge has claimed the CAN2 spot and will face the Guatemala club Antigua on August 1st 🇨🇦 @ForgeFCHamilton has qualified to the Scotiabank Concacaf League! The @CPLsoccer side will face @soyantiguagfc on August 1st and August 8th in the Preliminary Round of #SCL2019. #HazHistoriaFull Schedule 👉 https://t.co/fgDbuDxUOR pic.twitter.com/SR3xGxMYXt— Concacaf (@Concacaf) July 4, 2019
It's a berth in the CONCACAF League and it's not even the knockout round. It's the preliminary round.
If they finish anywhere from #1 to #6 in CONCACAF League, they will qualify for the Champions League of 2020. CPL teams have 2 chances to go to CCL with a guaranteed participation in CL MLS teams only have 1 shot to CCL via the Canadian Championship. The day might come where no Canadian MLS team make CCL that year
Certainly you don't mean that the CPL has a guaranteed spot in the Champions League because that's how this sentence reads. They have a guaranteed spot in the CONCACAF League and a not likely chance at a spot in the Champions League.
Access to a league is different than having a league. 3 teams in MLS, each with a modest number of Canadians in low jersey numbers, no domestic DPs. Handful others on US MLS teams. None of their teams seem committed to the Canadian player. I have been critical of how many Americans now start for MLS teams, but the Canadian teams are probably worse. Some mock MLS but the big step up in the past few decades for USSF came with professionalization of the pool in depth which came with MLS. Even if you think players should look abroad, there is value to having a few hundred professional players able to stay in the sport and pursue excellence, at good wages, who don't consider getting a normal job. It is now a shocker if someone leaves for school (Wenger), gets a day job, goes and becomes a priest or something. That used to be an annual thing like other "Olympic" sports. It's no longer do I want to play soccer or do I want to make professional money. CPL may help with that or it may be like USL for them. Whatever we say about our youth development, Canada rarely make world class players. It's like DeRo, and......who? Maybe Davies now. Versus about one every few years down here (Landon, DmB, Pulisic, keepers). They manufacture solid players but so do a list of regional teams. They don't make many stars. It feels to me that when they could have a dual national of quality like Hargreaves, they lose. That may be a circular function of not being competitive enough. We lose some but angst about it is almost an indication of our being spoiled by regularly winning jousts for players, or tripping over people who then want to play for us. "Oh, I am a Kiwi who plays in Turkey, how about me?" etc.
Congratulations to Mexico on their Gold Cup win On a positive note for Canada, 19 years old Jonathan David wins the Golden Boot at his first participation at the Gold Cup. He's the 2nd youngest player to win the award after Alphonso Davies, who won it at 16 years old at the 2017 Gold Cup.Jonathan David wins the Golden Boot at the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup with a #CANMNT record 6⃣ goals.⚽️⚽️ v 🇫🇷⚽️⚽️⚽️ v 🇨🇺⚽️ v🇭🇹#GoldCup2019 🍁 https://t.co/WviRNY1Cz1 pic.twitter.com/FaNSRe6vsT— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) July 8, 2019 Lucas Cavallini is tied at second place with Jimenez
Marcus Godinho has transferred to Zwickau FC in 3.Liga Germany. I agree with this move being the best path for him. He has demonstrated good skills but needs to learn to tighten his game and play more minutes, which wasn't going to happen at Hearts...not after costing us the game against Haiti on those 2 mistakes. With this move, these defenders are ahead of him at the position -Zachary Brault-Guillard (20), Montreal Impact (on loan from Lyon) -Juan Cordova (24), Huachipato, Chilean Primera División Marcus Godinho has moved to Germany https://t.co/M0eIUjxGV7— Canucks Abroad (@Canucks_Abroad) July 8, 2019
CPL first outbound* player is Emery Welshman who will sign with Haifa in Israel. *On loan from Cincinnati The first outbound @CPLsoccer transfer has arrived. Best of luck, @Esawelsh! https://t.co/HeOXoHBM0r#CanPL #CPL #Forge FC #FCCincy— Northern Tribune (@northtribune) July 8, 2019 This is a big week for CPL as 3 clubs will clash with USL and MLS teams for the 1st time. 🍁 Canadian Championship: Qualifying Round 3 🍁📅 Wednesday, July 10 ⚔️ @HfxWanderersFC vs @OttawaFuryFC ⚔️ @York9FC vs @impactmontreal ⚔️ @CPLCavalryFC vs @WhitecapsFC 📺 Exclusively on https://t.co/hishXepRT3 👈 Start your free trial now! 🇨🇦 #CanChampxOneSoccer pic.twitter.com/qfVWXsBCdi— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) July 8, 2019
Well, you're not wrong. Soccer is mostly an outdoor sport, and for big chunks of the year in Canada, the only sport you can play outdoors is hockey. Alaska isn't much of a soccer hotbed, either. Additionally, hockey is as dominant in Canada as soccer is in most countries around the world. It's been the only sport that has been consistently popular, year in and year out, from Vancouver Island to Newfoundland. In some ways, soccer has a tougher row to hoe in Canada than it did in the US. And I think the CPL will have a tough time establishing itself in the three big cities. Sports fans in those cities haven't shown much historical interest in lower-level sports, much like their American counterparts. That's why you see guys like Robert Borden getting positively giddy at the thought of the three MLS teams being forced to play in CPL, regardless of the wishes of their fan bases and ownership. They want CPL to piggy-back off MLS' success in order to get teams that are perceived as top tier in the three biggest markets.
Lucas Cavallini expected to sign with Cruz Azul. Not registered for the Apertura. https://www.sdpnoticias.com/deporte...e-llegar-a-cruz-azul-rayados-lo-podria-evitar
Round 3 Canadian Championship Tonight, history was made in Canadian soccer as Canadian Premier League faced USL & MLS clubs for the 1st time. This was a statement night for the CPL who gained lots of respect tonight from the media, fans and casuals with the performance they had. (CPL) HFX Wanderers 2-3 (USL) Ottawa Fury Ottawa had lots to proved as their organization and fans were speculating that the level of play and budgets of CPL were too low for them to join. Some of them were arguing that they were a tier above CPL. They have not demonstrated that tonight. Ottawa's finishing was clinical and would be a top 3 CPL club but not above Forge or Cavalry. The level of play was very similar with Halifax who got denied a goal by they were clearly onside. Halifax knows for its organized defense was didn't quite play up to their standards but Ottawa had the same problems. (CPL) York9 2-2 (MLS) Montreal Impact Montreal did not play their best XI while York9 did. Most experts argued that Montreal would make quick work of York who's a bottom tier of CPL regardless. Despite playing Piette and Brault-Guillard, Montreal's depth was exposed tonight. York9 attracted a lot of TFC & IMFC fans who knew little of CPL and left the stadium surprised at the level of play by York 9. Tweets from journalists covering the game mirrored that impression. York9 defense and keeper, who were praised in CPL, cost them the victory with 2 defensive mistakes. That lack of composure and concentration is where you saw the difference of tier, also, the midfield lacks depth. Too bad as for once, their attack showed up, against Montreal nonetheless. (CPL) Cavalry 0-0 (MLS) Vancouver This game was the measuring stick. Vancouver put out their best XI, same for Cavalry who are the reigning Spring season champions who truly are above the rest of the league. It was an even matchup and this was clearly Cavalry hardest match they had so far. However, they slowly started to take over the game near the end and got robbed of a clear penalty. If Cavalry was in MLS, no doubt in my mind they wouldn't be dead last and could compete in that league, but would be somewhat where Vancouver are at the moment. The manager Tommy Wheeldon is a name to remember. Wouldn't be surprised if he gets an opportunity at a higher level