Canada at Ireland --- Nov 18th Wow, two big European friendly matches announced by the CSA this week. Hopefully both will be on TV.
This is brilliant. What kind of squad will Canada bring? Are they likely to use the same players in the two matches? The match is on a Tuesday, might sportsnet show it live? Or is it more likely to be delayed? And what are your score predictions? And for the record, even though I'm a Canadian resident, my loyalties have and always will be with the Boys in Green.
Canada plays the Czech Republic on Nov 15th before they play Ireland. I would imagine to see an older Canadian squad because most of the U23 and U20 players will be involved in Olympic qualifying and U20 WYC. I would think Sportsnet (make sure you e-mail them about your desire to watch the game live) would show the Ireland game at the very least. Although I want to see the Czech Republic match for obvious reasons. To me the Czech Republic is a second home. Not sure about a prediction... Ireland 3 Canada 1?
The CSA had originally announced that the squad would just be 16 players for the Czech friendly. That would suggest that we'd likely see the same players in each game, but I would expect that the 16 number might be revised now that they will be playing 2 matches in four days. Hopefully these matches will be used to have a look at some of the other players in the player pool that haven't had much of a chance in recent times - players like Bernier, Reda & Aguiar, all of whom are too old for the Olympic team & would (in theory) be available.
The Republic of Ireland squad (v. Canada, 18/11/03): Goalkeepers: Given (Newcastle United), Colgan (Hibernian – on loan to Stockport County), Murphy (West Bromwich Albion). Defenders: O’Shea (Manchester United), Carr (Spurs), Cunningham (Birmingham City), Breen (Sunderland), O’Brien (Newcastle United), Harte (Leeds United), Finnan (Liverpool). Midfielders: Healy (Sunderland), Holland (Charlton Athletic), Miller (Celtic), Delap (Southampton), Kavanagh (Cardiff City), McPhail (Leeds United - on loan to Nottingham Forest), S. Reid (Blackburn Rovers), Kilbane (Everton), A. Reid (Nottingham Forest). Forwards: Duff (Chelsea), Doherty (Spurs), Keane (Spurs), Morrison (Birmingham City). It's a strong squad. Miller and Andy Reid are the newcomers. It will be interesting to see what kind of lineup Kerr plays.
If Shay Given's in net, hopefully he'll play like this... http://www.funpic.hu/fun-bin/picviewe.cgi?pic=ot940&kateg=sport(MPG video)
Canada vs. Republic of Ireland [R] So Canada lost 3-0. Why have there been no game-day posts on it? I will only be able to watch highlights tonight on FSW. You guys north of the 48th parallel had the chance to see it, right? Tell me how it went!
Sorry for not using a link, but I didn't have one at the ready. This pretty much sums it up. I've edited the report some what (removal of info for the sake of shorting it). (BBC) Rep of Ireland 3-0 Canada A wonder goal by Damien Duff and two Robbie Keane strikes earned the Republic of Ireland a somewhat flattering success over Canada at Lansdowne Road. Duff's first half solo effort was by far the highlight of a largely lacklustre contest. In addition to Duff and Keane, debutant Andy Reid impressed for the home team but the Irish defence looked hesistant on occasions and the Canadians will wonder how they failed to score. The first chance fell to the John O'Shea in the sixth minute but the unmarked Manchester United player glanced the header wide. A minute later, Stephen Carr's underhit backpass almost let in Tomasz Radzinski but Shay Given sprinted off his line to avert the danger. Andy Reid, earning his first cap after some superb recent displays for Nottingham Forest, threaded a delightful ball through to Robbie Keane in the 18th minute but the Tottenham striker failed to get enough elevation on the shot. However, the Republic did take the lead five minutes later thanks to Duff's sensational goal. The Chelsea star picked up possession just outside his own penalty area and after running unchallenged to just outside the Canadian box, then beat two tackles before steering the ball under Lars Hirschfeld. It was Duff's sixth international goal and surely his best. Canada should have been on terms within four minutes but Radzinski produced a weak shot with only Given to beat after a superb pass from Peschisolido. On the half-hour, Radzinski was left unmarked again in the Irish area but Peschisolido's cross was a fraction high and the Everton striker headed over the crossbar. A rare Kenny Cunningham mistaken then gifted the Canadians another chance but both Radzinski and full-back Richard Hastings miskicked with the goal at their mercy. Irish boss Brian Kerr introduced Clinton Morrison and Ian Harte at half-time with Doherty and Stephen Carr withdrawn. However, the changes did nothing to inject urgency in the Irish performance with some sloppy passing from the home side a feature of the 10 minutes after half-time. The Canadians thought they had levelled in the 55th minute when Jason De Vos stabbed the ball to the net from close range but the effort was ruled out for offside. (editors note, Brilliant save by Given on Pesch, DeVos was Offside opn the rebound - right call BTW) On the hour, the Irish notched a second goal which they scarcely deserved with Andy Reid's superb cross headed over the line by Keane despite the combined efforts of De Vos and Hirschfeld. With substitutions breaking whatever little pattern the game had, the final quarter saw little incident. However, Robbie Keane delighted the home crowd by producing some trickery in the Canadian box six minutes from time to notch Ireland's third goal.
To NEKsoccer Canada was crap again. Non existent midfield. Piss poor defence. Only player worth mentioning was Radzinski. Service to him was poor throughout the match but he had the Irish defenders on their heels when he got the ball. The first goal by Duff was a joke. He must have run 50 yards with the ball and nobody challenged him until he hit the top of the area. One deke and he's around 1st defender, nutmegs Stalteri and holds off deVos while he puts it home low. Another bad result by a bad team with a worse coach. 2006 is out of the picture boys.