Canada U20 - Road to WYC 2007 Thread [Archive]

Joe MacCarthy

10-13-2005, 01:26 AM

Men's Youth (U-20) Team
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Mitchell Names Squad for UK Tour

http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2330

Ottawa, Ontario – Canada’s U20 National Team Head Coach, Dale Mitchell, has named his squad for the team’s upcoming tour to the UK. Mitchell’s team will arrive in Manchester on October 16th and begin the training camp with a friendly against Huddersfield Town U18s on October 19th. The young Canadians will then play the U18s teams of Liverpool (October 25), Manchester United (October 27), and Everton (October 29) before returning home on October 30th.

The training camp will be Mitchell’s first with the squad that will compete in the 2007 FIFA World Youth Championship in Canada and will undoubtedly provide Mitchell a chance to solidify his core group of players.

“Leading into 2007, several players will get the opportunity to show that they can play at this level,” said Mitchell.

“We are early in the process of developing our team and this initial trip to England is really still about finding out what players are capable of. We are pleased with the quality of the opponents we will be facing because it will make the trip a realistic test for these boys.”

Several players included in Mitchell’s squad have had international experience with a number of Canada’s Youth teams in the past and will certainly be looked upon for leadership and experience.

Defenders Stephen Lumley and Nana Attakora, midfielders Kyle Oliveira, Hector Contreras, and Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault, forwards Shane Lammie, Cristian Nunez, Rudolph Mayard, and Massimo Di Iaio along with goalkeepers David Monsalve and Asmir Begovic have all played numerous times for Canada.

Begovic was Canada’s backup in the 2005 World Youth Championships in the Netherlands earlier this year but due to club commitments with La Louviere, will only be available for the matches against Liverpool and Manchester United.

Conversely, three members of the team will be making their debuts for Canada. Midfielders Simeon Jackson and Gavin McCallum along with defender Anthony DiBiase will be out to impress Mitchell and look to establish themselves as regulars.

McCallum is a name that may be familiar to many within the Canadian Soccer community. Gavin’s uncle, Trevor McCallum, played 18 times for Canada from 1983-1988.

Mitchell was also sufficiently impressed by the play of defender Kennedy Owusu-Ansah and midfielder Gabe Gala during the two-game series against New Zealand last month in Kelowna, BC to include the two in his team.

There are also several key absences of note. Like Begovic, several of Canada’s more experienced players will remain with their clubs.

The most notable absences are David Edgar, who will remain at Newcastle United; Jaime Peters will stay with Ipswich FC and Chicago Fire striker Will Johnson will likely remain with the MLS club during the run-up to the 2005 MLS playoffs.

Mitchell has also extended an invitation to Montreal Impact defender Andrew Hainault. Hainault, born in 1986, is one year too old for this squad but Mitchell saw the opportunity to include the no-nonsense defender in the training squad in hopes of bolstering the chances of landing a job in the UK.

Match Information

October 19 @ 13:00 GMT vs. Huddersfield Town AFC U18s
HTAFC Training Ground

October 25 @ 11:30 GMT vs. Liverpool FC U18s
Liverpool Academy Training Ground

October 27 @ 11:15 GMT vs. Manchester United U18s
Cliff Training Ground – Salford

October 29 @11:00 GMT vs. Everton FC U18s
Everton Academy Training Ground

Roster

# Pos. Player DOB Club Hometown Prov
1 GK BEGOVIC, Asmir La Louviere (Belgium) 20-Jun-87 Edmonton AB
1 GK KALTHOFF, Zach Southhampton FC (England) 20-Nov-88 Calgary AB
2 D ATTAKORA-GYAN, Nana NTC - Ontario 27-Mar-89 Orangeville ON
3 D LUMLEY, Stephen NTC - Ontario 16-Apr-87 Mississauga ON
4 D HAINAULT, Andre Montreal Impact 17-Jun-86 Hudson QC
5 M OLIVEIRA, Kyle NTC - Ontario 4-Mar-88 Oakville ON
6 M CONTRERAS, Hector NTC - Quebec 24-Jun-87 Montreal QC
7 M BOURGAULT, Jonathan NTC - Quebec 27-Sep-88 Ile Bizard QC
8 M JACKSON, Simeon Rushden & Diamonds (England) 28-Mar-87 Mississauga ON
9 F NUNEZ, Cristian NTC - Quebec 7-Jul-88 Montreal QC
10 F LAMMIE, Selvin (Shane) NTC - Ontario 3-Aug-88 Toronto ON
11 F DI IOIA, Massimo NTC - Quebec 18-Jun-87 Montreal QC
12 F MAYARD, Rudolph (Pierre) NTC - Quebec 21-Feb-88 Montreal QC
13 M GALA, Gabriel NTC - Ontario 29-Jun-89 Brampton ON
14 M McCALLUM, Gavin Yeovil Town FC (England) 24-Aug-87 Mississauga ON
15 D DIBIASE, Anthony NTC - Ontario 26-Apr-88 Richmond Hill ON
16 M PETRASSO, Vince NTC - Ontario 11-Apr-87 Woodbridge ON
17 D OWUSU-ANSAH, Kennedy NTC - Ontario 20-Jul-89 Toronto ON
22 GK MONSALVE, David NTC - Ontario 2-Feb-88 Brampton ON

* NTC - National Training Centre

Staff
MITCHELL, Dale - Head Coach
DASOVIC, Nick - Assistant Coach
MULDOON, Kevin - Equipment Manager/GK Coach
NUTT, Dave - National Teams Administrator
CANNON, Eddie - Physiotherapist

Joe MacCarthy

10-15-2005, 07:48 AM

Under-20s face big camp
Canadians will face top English junior squads
By NEIL DAVIDSON

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2005/10/14/1262815-cp.html

(CP) - The road to the 2007 World Youth Cup starts this weekend in England for Canadian coach Dale Mitchell.

Mitchell leaves Saturday for Bolton, just outside of Manchester, and his team's first camp in advance of the 2007 world under-20 tournament that Canada is hosting. The young Canadians, born in 1987 or later, will play under-18 teams from Liverpool, Manchester United, Everton and Huddersfield while at the camp, which ends Oct. 30.

"Almost a Champions League schedule for us," Mitchell said with a laugh. "It'll be a great experience for the boys to be able to visit those grounds, even if it is the training facilities, and see how they do against what should be some of the better young players in Britain."

Mitchell is bringing a young 20-man squad on tour. Players like defender David Edgar (Newcastle) and midfielder Jaime Peters (Ipswich) have remained with their clubs, although striker Will Johnson managed to convince the Chicago Fire to allow him to come.

Mitchell was also unable to call on Canada's college players in the U.S. because of school commitments.

Most of the players heading to England are affiliated with Canadian Soccer Association training centres although goalies Asmar Begovic (La Louviere, Belgium, on loan from England's Portsmouth) and Zach Kalthoff (Southampton, England) and midfielders Simeon Jackson (Rushden & Diamonds, England) and Gavin McCallum (Yeovil Town, England) are with European clubs.

Mitchell hopes those without a club may catch a team's eye while in England. To that end, he has included overage defender Andrew Hainault, born in 1986, on the camp roster in the hopes he might win a job in Europe.

The camp also marks the first official duties of newly hired Canadian Soccer Association technical director Dick Bate. The English native will hook up with Mitchell for several days before heading to Canada.

The 2007 event will be Mitchell's third at the helm. He led Canada to the quarter-finals in 2003 in the United Arab Emirates, but saw his team fail to emerge from the first round in a disappointing performance earlier this year in the Netherlands.

The early Dutch exit has not been forgotten by Mitchell. He points to two major issues raised by the performance there.

"The technical ability of our players and the ability to keep the ball was lacking compared to most of the opponents that were there in Holland," he said.

"Also we had a problem with the '85 age group in terms of number of players who could play at that level. It forced us to go a little bit younger. I think in the long run that hurt us, because physically we were a little outmatched in some of the games as well."

Teaching technique is difficult for Mitchell because of the limited time he gets to spend with his charges. That's why he wants them with good clubs.

The good news is that the young talent from the 2005 team should be available to Mitchell in 2007.

"I think we have a good nucleus of '87s that are in a good environment, which is so crucial at this age. The rest of the group, there's talent there, but over the next year or two they've got to find a way to get themselves into some sort of environment that's going to allow them to train at a high level every day and play a competitive match every week."

Notes: With some players missing, Mitchell has turned to youth in the form of defenders Nana Attakora-Gyan and Kennedy Owusu-Ansah and midfielder Gabriel Gala, all 16. ... The Canadian squad will get to see some good soccer from the stands while in England. They have tickets for the Manchester United-Lille Champions League game Tuesday and then several Premier League games after that.

Joe MacCarthy

10-19-2005, 09:18 PM

Men's Youth (U-20) Team
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Canada’s U18s Start UK Camp with a Victory

http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2334

Ottawa, ON – Canada’s U18 National Team defeated Huddersfield Utd U18s this afternoon (October 19) by a score of 3-1 to start the teams UK tour on the right foot. Canada’s Cristian Nunez started things rolling in minute 35 with a superb dipping volley from 25 yards out. Shane Lammie then added two goals in the final twenty minutes to see off Huddersfield.

Huddersfield Utd squeezed a goal in between Lammie’s brace (minute 72) but never really threatened to equalize.

The 90 minute match was played in 30 minute intervals with unlimited substitutions.

The Canadians looked far more energized than one would expect from a team that landed in the UK a mere three days ago and from the opening whistle had Huddersfield on the back foot.

The first period ended scoreless but it didn’t take very long after the restart for the Canadians to pounce.

Substitute Gabriel Gala, having just entered the game, took only 5 minutes to make an impact. The speedy winger collected a ball on the left in his own half then tormented the Huddersfield right back before casually flicking a cross toward Nunez who had taken up a position 10 yards from the top of the penalty area.

Nunez cushioned the ball off his chest and then smacked an audacious volley that dipped over the Huddersfield ‘keeper for a worthy opener.

Canada then doubled the lead in minute 70 when Nana Attakora-Gyan knocked a long ball over the top of the Huddersfield back four for Shane Lammie to chase. Lammie outpaced everyone to reach the ball first then toe-poked his shot past a stranded Huddersfield ‘keeper who had obviously underestimated the striker’s pace.

Huddersfield was quick to respond though and two minutes later the hosts weaved their way along the right flank before swinging a teasing cross aimed toward their towering centre forward. The big striker climbed above everyone and pounded his header past a diving Zach Kalthoff in the Canadian goal.

But Canada would reestablish its two goal cushion in the waning moments of the match. Chicago Fire-based striker Will Johnson was the provider when he grabbed a loose ball in the middle of the park then turned quickly to attack the Huddersfield defense. Just when the Huddersfield defenders converged on the striker, Johnson released Lammie with a delicately weighted pass. Lammie coolly rounded the Huddersfield keeper and easily tapped in his second of the match.

"We had an enormously successful beginning to the UK camp today with the victory," said Head Coach Dale Mitchell.

"The boys competed well and at times played some very good stuff. We are aware of the opponents to come however and will have to improve in a few areas to get something out of those matches," concluded Mitchell.

Canada will play Bambridge Reserves on Saturday, October 22 in yet another scrimmage before tangling with Liverpool U18s (October 25), Manchester Utd U18s (October 27), and Everton U18s (October 29).

Canada’s U18 National Team will compete as the U20s in two years when they host the 2007 FIFA World Youth Championship in Canada.

The FIFA World Youth Championship is a three-week long, 24 nation, 52-match tournament featuring the best young 20-year-old players in the world. It is the second largest event staged by FIFA after the FIFA World CupTM, including such graduates as Maradona, Saviola, Luis Figo, Rui Costa, Adriano, Bebeto and Dunga as well as Canada’s Craig Forrest and many members of the current Men’s World Cup Team including Julian de Guzman, Paul Stalteri, Atiba Hutchinson and Iain Hume.

Last held in CONCACAF in 1983 in Mexico, Canada’s most recent participation in this event occurred last June in the Netherlands from June 10 - July 2, 2005.

Canada enjoyed it’s its best ever finish in a World Championship in December 2003, losing to eventual silver medalist Spain on a golden goal in the quarter finals in the United Arab Emirates.

The Canadian Championship will take place in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Victoria with the tentative dates for the tournament set for July 1-22, 2007.

Tuesday, October 19, 2005
International Friendlies
Galpharm Stadium
Huddersfield, England

CANADA U18 – 3 (1)
HUDDERSFIELD UTD U18 – 1 (0)
Goals: CANADA U18 – Nunez 31; Lammie 70, 90; HUDDERSFIELD UTD U18 – unavailable 72
Cautions: CANADA U18 – none; HUDDERSFIELD UTD U18 – none
Expulsions – none

CANADA U18: 20-Zach Kalthoff; 2-Kyle Oliviera (17-Kennedy Owusu-Ansah, 60); 4-Andrew Hainault; 5-Stephen Lumley (12-Nana Attakora-Gyan, 60); 3-Anthony DiBiase (13-Gabriel Gala, 30); 7-Hector Contreras (15-Rudolph Mayard, 48); 6-Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault; 8-Cristian Nunez (10-Will Johnson, 81); 11-Gavin McCallum (17-Vince Petrasso, 60); 9-Simeon Jackson (16-Shane Lammie, 60); 10-Will Johnson (14-Massimo Di Ioia, 60)
Head Coach: Dale Mitchell (CAN)
Subs not used: 1-David Monsalve

Joe MacCarthy

10-25-2005, 09:58 PM

Men's Youth (U-20) Team
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Canada’s U18s Top Liverpool FC
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2337

http://www.canadasoccer.com/images/media/begovic_action.jpg
Begovic earns the shutout in 1-0 win

Ottawa, Ontario – Canada’s U18 National Team defeated Liverpool FC 1-0 on Tuesday thanks to an own-goal 17-minutes into the contest. Canada’s Rudolph Mayard whipped in a deep, in-swinging corner toward the far post that was met by Cristian Nunez and nodded back across the Liverpool goal. An unfortunate Liverpool defender lashed at the ball with his left foot but could only manage to slice his attempted clearance into the roof of his own goal.

The Canadians held off the threat from their English opponents to preserve the victory but will have to thank goalkeeper Asmir Begovic for some remarkable saves late in the match.

As they had done against Huddersfield U18s a week earlier, Canada and Liverpool had agreed to play 3-30 minute periods with unlimited substitutions.

Canada’s defense looked extremely solid throughout the match but when Kyle Oliveira had to leave the game after only 47 minutes with an ankle injury – an injury that will likely see the defender miss the Manchester United match in two days – there was some cause for concern. But youngster Kennedy Owusu-Ansah stepped into the role and the Canadians never missed a beat.

But late into the match, Begovic was called upon to secure the win. With just ten minutes remaining, a rasping, 25-yard drive off the boot of a Liverpool attacker looked destined for the upper corner of the Canadian goal but Begovic, at full-stretch, sailed across the net to tip the shot over the bar.

Next up for Canada will be Manchester United on October 27, 2005 at United’s training ground in Salford. The match is scheduled to kick-off at 11:15am GMT.

“We are learning more about the players with each match this trip,” said Canadian Head Coach Dale Mitchell immediately following the victory. “Today some of the guys showed real potential. Overall this is a good result that we had to work very hard to get.”

Canada’s U18 National Team will compete in the 2007 FIFA World Youth Championship in Canada.

The biennial event is second only to the FIFA World Cup™ in size and scope and will showcase the most talented under-20 soccer players in the world. The tournament has been the coming-out party for some of the game’s top players - Maradona, Saviola, Raúl, Marco Van Basten, Luis Figo, Rui Costa, Thierry Henry, Adriano, Roberto Carlos, Bebeto and Dunga as well as Canada’s Craig Forrest and many members of the current Men’s World Cup Team including Julian de Guzman, Paul Stalteri, Atiba Hutchinson and Iain Hume.

Last held in CONCACAF in 1983 in Mexico, Canada’s most recent participation in this event occurred last June in the Netherlands from June 10 - July 2, 2005.

Canada enjoyed it’s its best ever finish in a World Championship in December 2003, losing to eventual silver medalist Spain on a golden goal in the quarter finals in the United Arab Emirates.

The Canadian Championship will take place in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Victoria with the tentative dates for the tournament set for July 1-22, 2007.

Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Friendly
Liverpool Academy
Liverpool, England

CANADA U18 – 1 (1)
LIVERPOOL FC U18 – 0 (0)
Goals: CANADA U18 – unavailable (own-goal) 17; LIVERPOOL FC U18 – none
Cautions: CANADA U18 – none; LIVERPOOL FC U18 – none
Expulsions – none

CANADA U18: 1-Asmir Begovic; 2-Kyle Oliviera (5-Kennedy Owusu-Ansah, 47); 12-Nana Attakora-Gyan; 4-Andrew Hainault; 13-Gabriel Gala (3-Anthony DiBiase, 75); 7-Hector Contreras (14-Massimo Di Ioia, 43); 6-Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault; 8-Cristian Nunez (17-Vince Petrasso, 75); 15-Rudolph Mayard (11-Gavin McCallum, 55); 10-Will Johnson; 9-Simeon Jackson (16-Shane Lammie, 55)
Head Coach: Dale Mitchell (CAN)
Subs not used: 20-David Monsalve; 22-Zach Kalthoff; Stephen Lumley (unavailable – Tonsillitis)

Joe MacCarthy

10-28-2005, 12:34 AM

Men's Youth (U-20) Team
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Canadian Youth Fall 2-0 to Manchester Utd
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?sub=1&Press_ID=2338

http://www.canadasoccer.com/images/media/mitchell_action.jpg
Dale Mitchell

Ottawa, Ontario – Manchester United U18s scored two second half goals on Thursday in Manchester, England to hand Canada’s U18 National Team their first defeat while training in the UK. Canada had previously defeated Huddersfield Utd U18s 3-1 on Wednesday, October 19 and Liverpool FC U18s 1-0 on Tuesday, October 25.

After a scoreless first half, Manchester Utd scored in the 55th minute with a header into the near post following a free kick taken from a wide position on the end line.

In the 74th minute, Manchester Utd doubled the tally as they counter-attacked through the centre and slipped the ball past the Canadian defense towards a wide midfielder who sent his shot into the near corner.

“Today was another excellent test for our players,” said head coach Dale Mitchell. “As the game progressed, the match fitness level of the Manchester United boys proved to be too strong for some of our guys.”

Canada’s will play their final game in the UK against Everton U18s on Saturday, October 29.

Thursday, October 27, 2005 - Exhibition
The Cliff (Manchester United Academy) - Manchester, England

CANADA U18 – 0 (0)
MANCHESTER UTD U18 – 2 (0)
Goals: CANADA U18 – unavailable (own-goal) 17; LIVERPOOL FC U18 – none
Cautions: CANADA U18 – none; MANCHESTER UTD U18 – none
Expulsions – none

CANADA U18: 1-Asmir Begovic; 13-Gabe Gala (3-Anthony DiBiase, 75); 4-Andrew Hainault; 12-Nana Attakora-Gyan (5-Kennedy Owusu-Ansah, 45); 2-Stephen Lumley (7-Hector Contreras, 79); 15-Rudolph Mayard (11-Gavin McCallum, 65); 6-Jonathan Bourgault; 8-Cristian Nunez (17-Vince Petrasso, 72); 7-Hector Contreras (14-Massimo Di Ioia, 52); 9-Simeon Jackson (16-Shane Lammie, 33); 10-Will Johnson
Head Coach: Dale Mitchell (CAN)
Subs not used: 20-David Monsalve; 22-Zach Kalthoff; Kyle Oliviera

Joe MacCarthy

10-28-2005, 12:38 AM

Here is an eyewitness report from Sigma/Canadian_Supporter from BS. Thanks CS

My little report from the game.

The Cliff Ground was located about a 45-minute walk from the centre of Manchester. To get there one had to go through some nice 'sketchy' areas on Manchester. The Cliff Ground is quite nice and is still used by the Manchester Academy, but the senior men now train out of the Carrington grounds.

Attendance - about 50, including a few family members of one of the Canadian players. Ran into a number of people who had a connection with Canada and wanted to chat. Apparently it was the warmest October day in England since 1979 (21C and sunny).

A scout/agent came over to ask me for the names of the players. Another one came over late in the game to ask me the scores of the previous games. Not sure who they were, but the Canadian team were getting a look.

Also, another little nugget. One Canadian player could be moving to an EPL team for training. Sounded like their could be further opportunities in the future for the player.

Man U had much of the play in the first half, but didn't really have any outstanding chances on goal. They did force Begovic to make a few saves. When Canada had the ball they looked like they wanted to control it and knock it back if they couldn't move it forward. I can't remember too many chances on goal. We didn't get the ball into their third too often.

0-0 at the half.

Manchester scored 10 minutes into the second half after Gala fouled a player on the end line resulted in a free kick. The goal came off of a header. Seemed like the Man U player had too much space, but he was bigger and well placed for the header.

Canada continued to try to press forward, but couldn't break down the Man U defence. The Man U players were well organized in the back and this made things difficult for the Canadian team. One or two of the Man U defenders have seen time with the reserves this year.

The second Man U goal came around the 75th minute. As the CSA report states, it was off of a through ball. Shot from about 6-yards out into the far corner. Bergovic got a foot on it, but couldn't deflect it around the post.

After the goal, Canada had its best spell going forward, but didn't get too many chances on goal. In fact, I think I only remember one or two shots that made the keeper work.

---------------------------------------

About the players - from what I can remember - not very descriptive, but I tried.

Begovic - A big goalie. Well organized keeper. Didn't have any real chance on the two goals.

Gabe Gala - Did well in the back for such a young player. Confident with the ball and not afraid to move the ball forward. I think he was born in 1989, so he is still young.

Hainault - Provided excellent leadership throughout the game as the central defender.

Rudolph Mayard - Big player for a 16-year old. A quick player with good touch. An offensive threat from the midfield. Loads of potential.

Gavin McCallum - Good with the ball at his feet and also quick. Could tell he had a little more polish then the other players because he is currently with Yeovil Town.

Shane Lammie - A player who has scored for Canada at a consistent pace. Unfortunately he ran into some big defenders in the back and had a tough time creating chances. Would like to see more of this player.

Massimo Di Ioia - Ran into the same problem as Lammie up front. Had trouble with the big defenders from Man U. Also, would like to see more of this player.

Cristian Nunuez - Plays well with the ball close to his feet. Can beat players one on one - good vision moving forward. Potential with this player.

Hector Contreras - Another player with some decent potential. Very good moving the ball forward and with the ball at his feet. Possible player to watch over the next few years.

Will Johnson - Professional player and it showed throughout the game. He had two great runs during the game using his speed. One ended up in a goal opportunity and the other was stopped by a Man U defender.

Overall a good performance by the Canadian team. They came up against a team that has been together for much longer then Canada, and it showed. Man U was very comfortable knocking the ball around. They didn't have a lot of flash (individually), but they could create goal chances as a team.

Canada struggled up against some of the bigger players for Man U in the backline.

Edit: Looks like Andre Hainault will be trialing at Derby with our man Pesch

Joe Mac

Joe MacCarthy

10-30-2005, 04:06 AM

Men's Youth (U-20) Team
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Canada Wraps Up Camp with Victory

http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2340

Ottawa, Ontario – Canada’s U18 National Team finished off its training camp in England with perhaps the best game of the tour, defeating Everton FC U18s by a score of 1-0.

Canada’s Gavin McCallum scored the only goal in minute 53 of a match that Canada dominated for large spells. Fortunately for Mitchell’s squad, the missed chances that would have certainly seen off Everton earlier, never came back to haunt them, and in the end they walked off deserved winners.

In fact, when McCallum finally found a way past Everton’s keeper, it was on the heels of a ten minute passage of play that saw Canada pin its opponents into their own half.

Just before the hour mark, Kennedy Owusu-Ansah swung a ball deep toward the far post that had Everton’s defenders scrambling for. McCallum reacted quickest, stabbing his shot and eventual game-winner past a helpless Everton ‘keeper.

“The only disappointing aspect of today’s game was our inability to capitalize on our numerous opportunities,” said Canadian Head Coach Dale Mitchell. Over all it was a positive performance to finish off a very good trip for our boys”.

Canada finished 3-1 over the four game tour defeating Huddersfield, Liverpool and Everton. Canada’s sole defeat was at the hands of Manchester Utd.

The Canadian Championship will take place in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Victoria with the tentative dates for the tournament set for July 1-22, 2007.

Saturday, October 29, 2005 - Exhibition
Everton Academy Netherton, Liverpool, England

CANADA U18 – 1 (0)
EVERTON FC U18 – 0 (0)
Goals: CANADA U18 – McCallum 53; EVERTON FC U18 – none
Cautions: CANADA U18 – none; EVERTON FC U18 – none
Expulsions – none

CANADA U18: 1-David Monsalve; 13-Gabe Gala (3-Anthony DiBiase, 70); 4-Andrew Hainault; 2-Stephen Lumley; 5-Kennedy Owusu-Ansah; 6-Jonathan Bourgault; 10-Will Johnson; 8-Cristian Nunez (7-Hector Contreras, 60); 11-Gavin McCallum (14-Massimo Di Ioia, 70); 16-Shane Lammie (9-Simeon Jackson, 50); 15-Rudolph Mayard (17-Vince Petrasso, 70)
Head Coach: Dale Mitchell (CAN)
Subs not used: 1-Asmir Begovic; 22-Zach Kalthoff
Injured: Kyle Oliviera; Nana Attakora-Gyan

Joe MacCarthy

12-17-2005, 01:09 PM

Canadian Soccer Association
Friday, December 16, 2005
U20 Teams Name Training Camp Squads

http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2365

http://www.canadasoccer.com/images/media/mitchell_bridge.jpg
Dale Mitchell and Ian Bridge

Ottawa, Ontario – Both of Canada’s U20 National Teams have named their respective rosters for upcoming training camps in late 2005. However, both head coaches are certainly looking to achieve different things when their squads convene next week.

Dale Mitchell, Canada’s Men’s U20 Head Coach, has announced a squad of 16 players that will meet for a brief training stint in Vaughan, ON from December 18-23, 2005. The team will play two scrimmages during that period – December 21 against Seneca College and on December 23 against the University of Toronto. Both matches will be played at the Soccer Centre in Vaughan.

Mitchell has targeted this camp to have a specific look at players available in Eastern Canada.

'Any time we can get our players together and work with them we want to take advantage of that, and get as much out of it as possible,” said Mitchell. “This camp in Toronto will allow us to continue to work with some of the players from our last trip to England and assess some new boys from Eastern Canada.”

Mitchell also added that “preparations for 2007 will continue in early January 2006 with our participation in the Chivas Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico.'

The Chivas Cup will take place from January 7-14, 2006 with the Canadians setting up camp from January 2nd. The draw and fixture list for the tournament has not been completed.

Roster – Canada U20 Men’s National Team

# Pos. Name Club DOB Hometown Prov

1 GK CATLEY, Adam Hartwick College (USA) 19-Dec-87 Burlington ON
2 D OLIVEIRA, Kyle National Training Centre - Ontario 4-Mar-88 Oakville ON
3 D LUMLEY, Stephen NTC - Ontario 16-Apr-87 Mississauga ON
4 D ATTAKORA-GYAN, Nana NTC - Ontario 27-Mar-89 Orangeville ON
5 D GALA, Gabriel NTC - Ontario 29-Jun-89 Brampton ON
6 M GRAY, A.J. NTC - Ontario 12-Apr-87 Brampton ON
7 D OWUSU-ANSAH, Kennedy NTC - Ontario 20-Jul-89 Toronto ON
8 D/M AWUAKYE, Joseph NTC - Ontario 21-Jan-88 Scarborough ON
9 F LAMMIE, Selvin (Shane) NTC - Ontario 3-Aug-88 Toronto ON
10 F JOHNSON, Will Chicago Fire (USA) 21-Jan-87 Woodridge IL
11 F REVIVO, Daniel Winthrop University 23-Mar-87 Richmond Hill ON
12 D JONKE, John University of Louisville 20-Jan-87 Pickering ON
13 M BALDE, Ibrahim NTC - Quebec 24-Dec-87 Montreal QC
14 M BABINEAU, Olivier University of Montreal 12-Jul-87 Dieppe NB
15 M GAUDET, Derek NTC - Atlantic 14-May-89 Bayside NS
20 GK BUXTON, Kyle NTC - Ontario 20-Jan-90 Stratford ON

Staff
MITCHELL, Dale - Head Coach
DASOVIC, Nick - Assistant Coach
MULDOON, Kevin - Equipment Manager/GK Coach
BATE, Richard - Technical Director
NUTT, Dave - National Teams Administrator

Matches
December 21, 2005 @ 11:00 Local Time vs. Seneca College
The Soccer Centre – Vaughan, ON

December 23, 2006 @ 10:00 Local Time vs. University of Toronto
The Soccer Centre – Vaughan, ON

Joe MacCarthy

01-02-2006, 07:37 PM

Men's Youth (U-20) Team
Monday, January 02, 2006
Mitchell’s U20s Depart for Chivas Cup
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2366

http://www.canadasoccer.com/images/media/johnson_action.jpg
Canada’s Will Johnson

Ottawa, Ontario – Canada’s U20 Men’s National team departed today for Guadalajara, Mexico where they will compete in the prestigious 2006 Chivas Cup.

Canada has been grouped with Italian giants Inter Milan and four Mexican clubs – Chivas, Tigres, San Luis, and Morelia. A match schedule has yet to be released but what is known is that the young Canadians will have to play five games in as many days (January 7-11).

The group winners (4 groups of 6 teams) will advance to the semi-final (January 13) with the tournament finale the following day.

While Canada’s line-up is littered with familiar names that have featured for the Canucks before, a handful of players will be seeing their first competitive games for Mitchell’s youth team.

The most familiar name is perhaps BC-native Keegan Ayre. The experienced Ayre made a well publicized move to Scottish club Hibernian (Hibs) in the fall of 2005 and will hope to impress Mitchell and his staff enough to establish himself as a regular in Canada’s line-up.

Striker Daniel Revivo and defender Alex Ruhe-Lischke have also been added to Canada’s roster.

Revivo, who is attending Winthrop University in South Carolina, impressed the Canadian staff during the brief camp in Toronto and has been rewarded with another opportunity. The call-up for Ruhe-Lischke is the first for the University of Albany freshman defender.

Roster – Canada U20 Men’s National Team

Pos - Complete Name – Club
GK - BEGOVIC, Asmir - La Louvière (Belgium)
D - ATTAKORA-GYAN, Nana - NTC - Ontario
D - OWUSU-ANSAH, Kennedy - NTC - Ontario
D - GALA, Gabriel - NTC - Ontario
D - LUMLEY, Stephen - NTC - Ontario
M/F - D’AGOSTINO, Mike - University of Kentucky
M - McLEOD, Kerr - Fairfield University
M - NUNEZ, Cristian - NTC - Quebec
F - LAMMIE, Selvin (Shane) - NTC - Ontario
F - JOHNSON, Will - Chicago Fire
M - MAYARD, Pierre-Rudolph - NTC - Quebec
D - OLIVEIRA, Kyle - NTC - Ontario
F - REVIVO, Daniel - Winthrop University
F - ELLIOT, Alex - University of Portland
M - AYRE, Keegan - Hibernian FC
D - JONKE, John - University of Louisville
D - RUHE-LISCHKE, Alex - University of Albany
M - CONTRERAS, Hector - NTC - Quebec
M - GRAY, A.J. - NTC - Ontario
GK - MONSALVE, David - NTC - Ontario

Staff
MITCHELL, Dale - Head Coach
DASOVIC, Nick - Assistant Coach
MULDOON, Kevin - Equipment Manager/GK Coach
BATE, Richard - Technical Director
MOORE, Colin - Athletic Therapist
NUTT, Dave - National Teams Administrator

COMPETING TEAMS

Group I
Club Deportivo Guadalajara (Chivas)
Inter Milan
UANL (Tigres)
Canada
Club Atlético Morelia
Club San Luis

Group II
Boca Juniors
Tahuichi
Atlético Paranaense
Club Deportivo Cruz Azul
Futbol Club Atlas
Club de Futbol Monterrey

Group III
Pumas
U. Católica de Chile
UAG (Tecos)
Club Santos Laguna
Atlético Mineiro
Deportivo Saprissa

Group IV
Arsenal
Once Caldas
Deportivo Necaxa
Dorados
Paraguay
Club América

Joe MacCarthy

01-26-2006, 09:56 PM

Men's Youth (U-20) Team
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Canada U-20 Men’s National Team Announces Brazil Games

Ottawa, Ontario - The Canadian Soccer Association has finalized an agreement with the Confederaçao Brasileira de Futebol (Brazilian Football Confederation) that will see Brazil’s U-20 National Team travel to Canada for a series of games against Canada’s U-20 Men’s National Team in May 2006.

The first match of the series has been earmarked for Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium on May 19, 2006. The second will be played three days later on May 22 at Victoria’s Centennial Stadium on the campus of the University of Victoria.

Negotiations regarding a third match in Vancouver are close to being finalised and information regarding this date will be released when known.

Specific details regarding the kick-off times and tickets for this series will be announced shortly.

“Any time you have the opportunity to compete with the world's top soccer nation it is an honour as well as a massive test,” said Canadian Head Coach Dale Mitchell.

“We are delighted to get them here in Canada and give our boys a taste of what the summer of 2007 will be like. It will be a big challenge for us but one that I'm sure will help us down the road."

FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007

In 2007, Canada will host the World’s finest youth players.

The biennial event is second only to the FIFA World Cup™ in size and scope and will showcase the most talented under-20 soccer players in the world. The tournament has been the coming-out party for some of the game’s top players - Maradona, Saviola, Raúl, Marco Van Basten, Luis Figo, Rui Costa, Thierry Henry, Adriano, Roberto Carlos, Bebeto and Dunga as well as Canada’s Craig Forrest and many members of the current Men’s World Cup Team including Julian de Guzman, Paul Stalteri, Atiba Hutchinson and Iain Hume.

Last held in CONCACAF in 1983 in Mexico, Canada’s most recent participation in this event occurred last June in the Netherlands from June 10 - July 2, 2005.

Canada enjoyed it’s its best ever finish in a World Championship in December 2003, losing to eventual silver medalist Spain on a golden goal in the quarter finals in the United Arab Emirates.

The Canadian Championship will take place in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Victoria with the tentative dates for the tournament set for July 1-22, 2007.

Joe MacCarthy

04-06-2006, 12:23 AM

Men’s U-20 Team
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Mitchell Announces U-20 Squad for Porto International Tournament
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2415

Ottawa, Ontario – Canada’s U-20 National Team head coach, Dale Mitchell, has released his roster for the team’s upcoming trip to the 24th Porto International Tournament from April 7-16th.

The Canadian’s will play three games in four days against the U-20 teams from Norway, China, and hosts Portugal.

The trip will be the first real test of 2006 for the U-20s since the Chivas Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico in January of this year and will certainly allow Mitchell an opportunity to get a good look at his squad in a very competitive environment.

Several players, for various reasons, were unavailable to Mitchell for selection.

Ipswich Town’s Jaime Peters, Hibernian’s Keegan Ayre, and Rushden and Diamonds striker Simeon Jackson will all remain with their clubs while St. Pauli midfielder Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault, Ontario defender Nana Attakora-Gyan, and Fairfield University midfielder Kerr McLeod are all carrying injuries and were unavailable for Mitchell’s squad.

Toronto-native and highly touted FC Porto defender, Steven Vitoria, was invited to attend but again declined the invitation to participate in the training camp and tournament.

"As we build towards the U-20 World Cup in 2007, our players will have great opportunities to compete against some of the top countries in world youth soccer,” said Canadian Head Coach Dale Mitchell. “The Kings Cup in Portugal is certainly a chance for our guys to measure themselves against some of the best from Europe and Asia."

Matches

April 12 - CANADA vs. Norway
Municipal Stadium of Bateria - Porto, Portugal @ 3:00 PM

April 13 - CANADA vs. China
Stadium of Rebordosa - Porto, Portugal @ 4:00 PM

April 14 - CANADA vs. Portugal
Municipal Stadium of Povoa de Varzim - Porto, Portugal @ 11:30 AM

Roster

# POS Player Club DOB Hometown Prov.
1 GK BEGOVIC, Asmir La Louviere (Belgium) 20-Jun-87 Edmonton AB
2 D OLIVEIRA, Kyle National Training Centre - Ontario 4-Mar-88 Oakville ON
3 D O'CONNOR, Kent 1860 Munich (Germany) 5-Mar-87 North Vancouver BC
4 D LUMLEY, Stephen NTC - Ontario 16-Apr-87 Mississauga ON
5 D EDGAR, David Newcastle United FC (England) 19-May-87 Kitchener ON
6 M NUNEZ, Cristian National Training Centre - Quebec 07-Jul-88 Montreal QC
7 M LENSKY, Jacob Celtic FC (Scotland) 16-Dec-88 Vancouver BC
8 F ELLIOTT, Alex University of Portland (USA) 24-Apr-87 Vancouver BC
9 F LOMBARDO, Andrea Perugia Calcio (Italy) 23-May-87 Toronto ON
10 F JOHNSON, Will SC Heerenveen (Netherlands) 21-Jan-87 Woodridge IL
11 M BABINEAU, Olivier University of Montreal 12-Jul-87 Dieppe NB
12 M MAYARD, Pierre-Rudolph NTC - Quebec 21-Feb-88 Laval QC
13 M GOMEZ, Emmanuel River Plate (Argentina) 30-Mar-87 Victoria BC
14 F REVIVO, Daniel Winthrop University (USA) 23-Mar-87 Richmond Hill ON
15 M/F D'AGOSTINO, Mike University of Kentucky (USA) 1-Jul-87 Langley BC
16 M McCALLUM, Gavin Yeovil Town FC (England) 24-Aug-87 Mississauga ON
17 D LORETH, Joey Oregon State University (USA) 19-Jan-87 Victoria BC
22 GK CAULFIELD, Stefan Lynn University (USA) 19-Jun-87 Toronto ON

Staff
DALZIEL, Steve - Head of Delegation
MITCHELL, Dale - Head Coach
DASOVIC, Nick - Assistant Coach
MULDOON, Kevin - Equipment Manager/GK Coach
CANNON, Eddie - Athletic Therapist
NUTT, Dave - National Teams Administrator

Joe MacCarthy

04-08-2006, 06:54 PM

Tks to loyola at Vs for headsup

Revivo Traveling To Portugal With U-20 Canadian National Team
http://www.winthropeagles.com/default.asp?section=6&type=story&id=3407

http://i2.tinypic.com/t99vkz.jpg
Revivo to make second trip with U-20 National Team

ROCK HILL, SC-- Winthrop freshman forward Daniel Revivo departed today with the U-20 Canadian National soccer team for Porto, Portugal where it will compete in the 24th Porto International Tournament April 7-16.

Revivo is making his first appearance with the team since he scored four goals for the squad at the Chivas Cup in Mexico back in early January.

The team will play three games in four days against the U-20 teams from Norway, China and Portugal.

"This is the second time Daniel (Revivo) has been called up to the U-20 National Team," said head coach Rich Posipanko. "Every time he gets these opportunities it moves him closer to reaching his dream of making the U-20 World Cup roster in 2007. I hope he has as much success as he had at the Chivas Cup in Mexico back in January. I would also like to think he will gain a valuable personal and educational experience from spending time in Portugal."

Joe MacCarthy

04-10-2006, 05:04 AM

The following 40 players (in alphabetical order by position) (will) have participated in the following U20 camps:

U20 Porto International Tournament
U20 Chivas Cup
U20 Eastern Training Camp
U20 England Camp

Don't know if there will be any more new invites after Porto as we head into the Brazil series probably looking to solidify the lineup for the run to the 2007 WYC.

What's your final lineup?

GK BEGOVIC, Asmir La Louviere (Belgium) 20-Jun-87 Edmonton AB
GK BUXTON, Kyle NTC - Ontario 20-Jan-90 Stratford ON
GK CATLEY, Adam Hartwick College (USA) 19-Dec-87 Burlington ON
GK CAULFIELD, Stefan Lynn University (USA) 19-Jun-87 Toronto ON
GK KALTHOFF, Zach Southhampton FC (England) 20-Nov-88 Calgary AB
GK MONSALVE, David NTC - Ontario 2-Feb-88 Brampton ON

D ATTAKORA-GYAN, Nana NTC - Ontario 27-Mar-89 Orangeville ON
D DIBIASE, Anthony NTC - Ontario 26-Apr-88 Richmond Hill ON
D EDGAR, David Newcastle United FC (England) 19-May-87 Kitchener ON
D GALA, Gabriel NTC - Ontario 29-Jun-89 Brampton ON
D JONKE, John University of Louisville 20-Jan-87 Pickering ON
D LORETH, Joey Oregon State University (USA) 19-Jan-87 Victoria BC
D LUMLEY, Stephen NTC - Ontario 16-Apr-87 Mississauga ON
D O'CONNOR, Kent 1860 Munich (Germany) 5-Mar-87 North Vancouver BC
D OLIVEIRA, Kyle National Training Centre - Ontario 4-Mar-88 Oakville ON
D OWUSU-ANSAH, Kennedy NTC - Ontario 20-Jul-89 Toronto ON
D RUHE-LISCHKE, Alex - University of Albany

D/M AWUAKYE, Joseph NTC - Ontario 21-Jan-88 Scarborough ON

M AYRE, Keegan - Hibernian FC
M BABINEAU, Olivier University of Montreal 12-Jul-87 Dieppe NB
M BALDE, Ibrahim NTC - Quebec 24-Dec-87 Montreal QC
M BOURGAULT, Jonathan - St. Pauli (Germany) - Quebec 27-Sep-88 Ile Bizard QC
M CONTRERAS, Hector NTC - Quebec 24-Jun-87 Montreal QC
M GAUDET, Derek NTC - Atlantic 14-May-89 Bayside NS
M GOMEZ, Emmanuel River Plate (Argentina) 30-Mar-87 Victoria BC
M GRAY, A.J. NTC - Ontario 12-Apr-87 Brampton ON
M JACKSON, Simeon Rushden & Diamonds (England) 28-Mar-87 Mississauga ON
M LENSKY, Jacob Celtic FC (Scotland) 16-Dec-88 Vancouver BC
M MAYARD, Pierre-Rudolph NTC - Quebec 21-Feb-88 Laval QC
M McCALLUM, Gavin Yeovil Town FC (England) 24-Aug-87 Mississauga ON
M McLEOD, Kerr - Fairfield University
M NUNEZ, Cristian National Training Centre - Quebec 07-Jul-88 Montreal QC
M PETRASSO, Vince NTC - Ontario 11-Apr-87 Woodbridge ON

M/F D'AGOSTINO, Mike University of Kentucky (USA) 1-Jul-87 Langley BC
M/F PETERS, Jaime - Ipswich Town (England) Did not participate in camps

F DI IOIA, Massimo NTC - Quebec 18-Jun-87 Montreal QC
F ELLIOTT, Alex University of Portland (USA) 24-Apr-87 Vancouver BC
F JOHNSON, Will SC Heerenveen (Netherlands) 21-Jan-87 Woodridge IL
F LAMMIE, Selvin (Shane) NTC - Ontario 3-Aug-88 Toronto ON
F LOMBARDO, Andrea Perugia Calcio (Italy) 23-May-87 Toronto ON
F REVIVO, Daniel Winthrop University (USA) 23-Mar-87 Richmond Hill ON

Joe MacCarthy

04-10-2006, 07:52 PM

Men’s U-20 Team
Monday, April 10, 2006
Tickets for Brazil Series Now on Sale
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2418

Ottawa, Ontario – The Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) is pleased to announce that tickets for all three games featuring Canada’s U-20 National Team and Brazil’s U-20 National Team are now on sale.

Canada will host the Brazilians at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, AB on May 19th, at Centennial Stadium in Victoria, BC on May 22nd, and at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, BC on May 25th.

Tickets in Victoria have already sold out for the May 22nd match.

Edmonton has already sold 8,500 tickets for the May 19th match since going on sale on April 1st.

Although seats only went on sale to the general public this past Saturday in Burnaby, 2,500 tickets have already been sold for the May 25th match.

Ticket prices range from $15.00-25.00 for Edmonton and are available through Ticketmaster at (780) 451-8000, and $20.00-30.00 for Burnaby which are also available through Ticketmaster by calling (604) 280-4400. Both can be purchase online via ticketmaster.ca. Please note that tickets purchased through Ticketmaster are subject to taxes and surcharge.

The matches between Canada and Brazil in Edmonton and Vancouver will both be broadcast live on all Rogers Sportsnet channels.

“Any time you have the opportunity to compete with the world's top soccer nation it is an honour as well as a massive test,” said Canadian Head Coach Dale Mitchell.

“We are delighted to get them here in Canada and give our boys a taste of what the summer of 2007 will be like. It will be a big challenge for us but one that I'm sure will help us down the road."

Ticket Information
May 19 @ Commonwealth Stadium – Edmonton, AB – 20:00 MT
$10.00-25.00 - Available through Ticketmaster at 780-451-8000 or visit ticketmaster.ca

May 22 @ Centennial Stadium – Victoria, BC – 14:00 PT - Sold Out

May 25 – Swangard Stadium – Burnaby, BC – 19:00 PT
$20.00-30.00 - Available through Ticketmaster at 604-280-4400 or visit ticketmaster.ca.

Joe MacCarthy

04-13-2006, 04:41 PM

Men’s U-20 Team
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Canada and Norway Draw 1-1 at Porto Tournament
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2421

http://i2.tinypic.com/ve145v.jpg
Canadian captain Will Johnson

Ottawa, Ontario – On the day FIFA and the CSA concluded their 9-day, 6-city site visit for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 by revealing the official tournament emblem at a press conference in Toronto, Dale Mitchell’s U-20 National team were busy in Portugal preparing for the opening day of FIFA’s second largest competition – set to begin next summer.

Canada’s U-20’s opened the prestigious Porto International Tournament yesterday with a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Norway.

Alex Elliott opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark when Canadian captain Will Johnson whipped a free kick toward the Norwegians near post. Elliott reacted first and outpaced his defender to nod home Canada’s opener.

Norway responded in the 65th minute with an eerily similar goal – a wide free kick was swung into the Canadian penalty area, leading eventually to a hectic scramble that was nodded past Begovic by a Norwegian attacker.

Canada will play China today and wrap up their three-match tournament against the hosts Portugal on Friday.

Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Porto International Tournament
Est. Municipal Da Bateria Porto, Portugal

CANADA – 1 (1)
NORWAY – 1 (0)

Goals: CANADA – Elliott 37; NORWAY – unavailable 65
Cautions: CANADA – none; NORWAY – none
Expulsions: none

CANADA: 1-Asmir Begovic; 3-Kent O’Connor; 4-Stephen Lumley; 5-David Edgar; 17-Joey Loreth; 6-Cristian Nunez; 10-Will Johnson (Captain); 11-Olivier Babineau (15-Mike D’Agostino, 62); 12-Pierre-Rudolph Mayard (16-Gavin McCallum, 56); 9-Andrea Lombardo; 8-Alex Elliott (14-Daniel Revivo, 62)

Head Coach: Dale Mitchell (CAN)
Subs not used: 2-Kyle Oliveira; 13-Emmanuel Gomez; 20-Stefan Caulfield; 7-Jacob Lensky

Upcoming Matches

April 13 - CANADA vs. China
Stadium of Rebordosa - Porto, Portugal @ 4:00 PM (CET)

April 14 - CANADA vs. Portugal
Municipal Stadium of Povoa de Varzim - Porto, Portugal @ 11:30 AM (CET)

Joe MacCarthy

04-13-2006, 10:06 PM

Men’s U-20 Team
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Canada Draws China 0-0
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2422

Ottawa, Ontario – Canada’s U-20 Men’s National earned a 0-0 draw against China in an evenly played match at the prestigious Porto International Tournament in Porto, Portugal. Canada previously drew Norway 1-1 in their first match of the three game tournaments.

Canada did have a few chances and carried the match for the last 20 minutes but never really got a clear chance at a goal.

Similarly, China also produced a few half chances with no result.

Canada will now prepare for their last match against Portugal on Saturday.

'Back to back international games are very demanding on the players. We have been the better team for one half in each of our matches but have not been able to capitalize when we were on top,” remarked Canadian head coach Dale Mitchell. “The players have worked very hard to this point and we will have to recover well to compete against a classy Portugal side on Saturday.'

Thursday, April 13, 2006
Porto International Tournament
Estadio Do Rebordos Paredes, Portugal

CANADA – 0 (0)
CHINA – 0 (0)
Goals: none

CANADA: 1-Asmir Begovic; 2-Kyle Oliveira (17-Joey Loreth, 37); 3-Kent O’Connor; 4-Stephen Lumley; 5-David Edgar; 6-Cristian Nunez (11-Olivier Babineau, 52); 7-Jacob Lensky; 10-Will Johnson (Captain); 15-Mike D’Agostino (8-Alex Elliott, 45); 9-Andrea Lombardo (14-Daniel Revivo, 85); 16-Gavin McCallum (12-Pierre-Rudolph Mayard, 56)

Head Coach: Dale Mitchell (CAN)
Subs not used: 13-Emmanuel Gomez; 20-Stefan Caulfield

Referee: Paulo Paraty
Asst. Referees: Jose Cardinal and Amandio Ribeiro 4th: Brage Sandmoen

Joe MacCarthy

04-15-2006, 03:27 PM

Men’s U-20 Team
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Canada One Goal Shy of Portugal
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2424

Ottawa, Ontario – Canada’s U-20 National Team lost 1-0 to a very talented Portuguese side this afternoon at the Porto International Tournament. For much off the match, the result hung in the balance but a second half goal was all the Portuguese would need to secure the three points and victory in all three matches.

The Canadians finished with two draws against Norway and China, and today’s loss against the hosts.

The Portuguese grabbed the eventual winner from second half substitute Paulo Ferreira mid-way through the second half off a free-kick from a wide position deep in Canada’s own half.

“Our boys had to give a lot to compete against a very well developed Portugal team today,” said Canadian Head Coach Dale Mitchell.

“I can not complain about our performance as the game was won on a set piece. We need to build on our excellent defensive work at this tournament in the future.”

Saturday, April 15, 2006
Porto International Tournament
Estadio Municipal – Povoa Varzim Porto, Portugal

CANADA – 0 (0)
PORTUGAL – 1 (0)

Goals: CANADA – none; PORTUGAL – Paulo Ferreira 62
Cautions: CANADA – none; PORTUGAL – none
Expulsions: none

CANADA: 1-Asmir Begovic; 3-Kent O’Connor; 4-Stephen Lumley; 5-David Edgar; 17-Joey Loreth (2-Kyle Oliveira, 83); 6-Cristian Nunez (16-Gavin McCallum, 46); 10-Will Johnson (Captain); 7-Jacob Lensky; 8-Alex Elliott (12-Pierre-Rudolph Mayard, 63); 14-Daniel Revivo (13-Emmanuel Gomez, 73); 11-Olivier Babineau (15-Mike D’Agostino, 85)

Head Coach: Dale Mitchell (CAN)
Subs not used: 20-Stefan Caulfield

PORTUGAL: 1-Igor Araujo; 2-Andre Nogueira; 3-Steven Vitoria; 4-Paulo Renato ; 5-Andre Marques; 6-Nuno Coelho; 7-Bruno Gama – Captain; 8-Zezinando; 11-Helder Barbosa; 15-Pereirinha; 16-Diogo Tavares

Subs: 9-Paulo Ferreira; 10-Joao Ribeiro; 12-Ricardo Janota;13-Antunes;14-Joao Pedro; 17-Feliciano Condesso; 18-Luis Mendes

Officials: Paulo Paraty, Asst: Jose Cardinal, Amandio Ribeiro, 4th: Brage Sandmoen

Joe MacCarthy

05-10-2006, 07:45 PM

Men’s U-20 Team
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
U-20 Roster Announced for Three-game Series Against Brazil
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2444

Ottawa, Ontario – Canada’s U-20 Head Coach, Dale Mitchell, has released his 22-man roster for the upcoming three-game, tri-city series against arguably the World’s best youth team – Brazil.

Canada will host the Brazilians at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, AB on May 19th, at Centennial Stadium in Victoria, BC on May 22nd, and at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, BC on May 25th.

Mitchell’s squad could be the most experienced of any U-20 team he has assembled in recent years.

Ten of the 22-man roster is currently with a professional club and over 60% of the squad has played in either a World Championship or a CONCACAF Qualifying Tournament at the U-17 or U-20 level.

Three members of the Canada roster- Will Johnson, Jaime Peters, and Asmir Begovic - have also been involved with Canada’s senior team over the past year and will certainly be looked to for their experience.

One of the players that impressed Mitchell and his staff during last month’s Porto Tournament, Glasgow Celtic’s Jacob Lensky, will not be attending the three game series. The talented midfielder requested that he be left off the squad to rest after his first full season of professional soccer.

Nonetheless, Mitchell is pleased with the squad he has assembled and is also quite happy with the timing of the three-match series.

'The Brazil series comes at a time when most all of our players are available, which doesn’t happen too often. It will give us a chance to gauge ourselves against the top nation in world soccer in front of pro-Canadian crowds.”

But Mitchell is also well aware of the challenge ahead of his young squad.

“There will be some countries possibly as good as Brazil next year but very few, if any, that will be better. Obviously for us, players that can show well in this environment take a big step towards being involved in 2007.'

Tickets for the two of the three matches are still available.

Victoria has already sold out for the May 22nd match.

Edmonton has already sold over 8,000 tickets for the May 19th match since going on sale on April 1st.

Since tickets went on sale to the general public in the second week in April in Burnaby, approximately 4,000 tickets have been sold for the May 25th match.

Ticket prices range from $15.00-25.00 for Edmonton and are available through Ticketmaster at (780) 451-8000, and $20.00-30.00 for Burnaby which are also available through Ticketmaster by calling (604) 280-4400. Both can be purchase online via ticketmaster.ca. Please note that tickets purchased through Ticketmaster are subject to taxes and surcharge.

The matches between Canada and Brazil in Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium and Burnaby’s Swangard Stadium will both be broadcast live on all Rogers Sportsnet channels.

Game and Ticket Information

May 19 @ Commonwealth Stadium – Edmonton, AB – 20:00 MT
$10.00-25.00 - Available through Ticketmaster at 780-451-8000 or visit ticketmaster.ca

May 22 @ Centennial Stadium – Victoria, BC – 14:00 PT - Sold Out

May 25 – Swangard Stadium – Burnaby, BC – 19:00 PT
$20.00-30.00 - Available through Ticketmaster at 604-280-4400 or visit ticketmaster.ca.

Roster

# Pos. Name Club DOB Hometown Prov.
1 GK BEGOVIC, Asmir La Louviere (Belgium) 20-Jun-87 Edmonton AB
2 D LORETH, Joey Oregon State University (USA) 19-Jan-87 Victoria BC
3 D O’CONNOR, Kent 1860 Munich (Germany) 5-Mar-87 North Vancouver BC
4 M BOURGAULT, Jonathan St. Pauli FC (Germany) 27-Sep-88 Ile Bizard QC
5 D LUMLEY, Stephen National Training Centre - ON 16-Apr-87 Mississauga ON
6 D EDGAR, David Newcastle United FC (England) 19-May-87 Kitchener ON
7 M PETERS, Jaime Ipswich Town FC (England) 04-May-87 Pickering ON
8 M NUNEZ, Cristian National Training Centre - QC 07-Jul-88 Montreal QC
9 F ELLIOTT, Alex University of Portland (USA) 24-Apr-87 Vancouver BC
10 F JOHNSON, Will Heerenveen (Holland) 21-Jan-87 Woodridge IL
11 M BABINEAU, Olivier University of Montreal 12-Jul-87 Dieppe NB
12 M BALDE, Ibrahim National Training Centre - QC 24-Dec-87 Montreal QC
13 M CONTRERAS, Hector National Training Centre - QC 24-Jun-87 Montreal QC
14 M AYRE, Keegan Hibernian FC (Scotland) 4-Jul-88 Coquitlam BC
15 F LOMBARDO, Andrea Perugia Calcio (Italy) 23-May-87 Toronto ON
16 F JACKSON, Simeon Rushden & Diamonds FC (England) 28-Mar-87 Mississauga ON
17 M McCALLUM, Gavin Yeovil Town FC (England) 24-Aug-87 Mississauga ON
18 D GALA, Gabe National Training Centre - ON 29-Jun-89 Brampton ON
19 M D’AGOSTINO, Mike University of Kentucky (USA) 1-Jul-87 Langley BC
20 D TURNBULL, Masumi University of Kentucky (USA) 30-Mar-87 Richmond BC
21 D HABER, Marcus National Training Centre - BC 11-Jan-89 Vancouver BC
22 GK MONSALVE, David National Training Centre - ON 2-Feb-88 Brampton ON

Staff
MITCHELL, Dale - Head Coach
DASOVIC, Nick - Assistant Coach
MULDOON, Kevin - Equipment Manager/GK Coach
CANNON, Eddie - Physiotherapist
LAING, Dwayne - Physiotherapist
CELEBRINI, Randy - Fitness Coach
NUTT, Dave - National Teams Administrator

Shahbaz

05-10-2006, 09:45 PM

1 GK BEGOVIC, Asmir La Louviere (Belgium) 20-Jun-87 Edmonton AB
How good is this guy?

Joe MacCarthy

05-17-2006, 03:35 AM

Puck fever a big factor
Game turnout depends on Oilers
By SCOTT ZERR - Edmonton Sun
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2006/05/16/1582318-sun.html

http://i4.tinypic.com/zvedxt.jpg
Players for the Under-20 Canadian men's soccer team warm up by keeping the ball off the ground during practice at Reil Park in St. Albert, north of Edmonton, Sunday, May 14, 2006. (Edmonton Sun/Jason Franson)

Dale Mitchell couldn't have chosen a better way to sum up the situation.

"That's typical in Canada, isn't it? It all depends on hockey."

The head coach of Canada's under-20 men's soccer team was bang-on when he thought about the prospective attendance for Friday's game between his squad and Brazil at Commonwealth Stadium. About 8,000 tickets have been sold for the game. That number will either be significantly cut by no-shows or perhaps even substantially grow depending on whether the Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks need Game 7 to settle their Western Conference semifinal series.

If a rubber match is required, Jack Warner is going to look like a real smart guy. Warner is the FIFA vice-president who basically said Edmonton has no business hosting the final of the 2007 world under-20 championship because of a "lukewarm" reception to international games in the city since the world women's under-19 tournament in 2002.

Edmonton remains a venue for the tournament but lost out to Toronto to host the final. Warner added further insult by saying Edmonton was "lucky" to even be getting a semifinal.

Whether there is hockey or not, a small crowd is going to further hurt the city in the view of at least one high-ranking FIFA member. Warner's statements may become even more painful to local soccer fans when considering the apparent lack of promotion for the Brazil friendly.

"With hockey we've had a hard time getting on the radar," said Val Close, general manager of Edmonton's '07 site committee. "If the Oilers win Wednesday, hopefully people will start talking about it. People really don't know how good the skill level of this game is going to be. We are really geared up for a great walkup on Friday."

While 8,000 spectators would leave Commonwealth Stadium not even one-sixth full, it would still register as a positive number in Mitchell's mind.

"A lot of these guys have not played in a stadium like that before and have not played any games in Canada when people have actually paid money to watch them play," said Mitchell. "We're just going to try and get as much out of the evening as we possibly can."

The point with Friday's game is to capture initial interest that will turn into real attentiveness when the world U-20 championship comes around next summer.

"There are going to be world-class players here who will go on to play at the highest level a year or two after the event."

Mitchell's last playing experience in Edmonton came in 1996 when Canada took Australia in the first leg of a World Cup qualifying series. Apart from an own goal by now under-20 assistant coach Nick Dasovic, it was a great day with Canada winning 2-1.

Since then Edmonton has been:
- the city recognized as the official home of the Canadian national team
- the city that has virtually ignored the national team
- the city that embraced the best teenage female players in the world
- the city that was embarrassed by the failure of yet another pro soccer team

"Edmonton has had some of the best crowds we've ever had in Canada," said Mitchell. "I think there's a lot of people who will be interested in a game like this. "

It all depends on hockey.
- - -

BY THE NUMBERS

Attendance for some of Canada's games at Commonwealth Stadium
Canada vs. Brazil - Men's Friendly - 51,937 (June 1994)
Canada vs. U.S.A. - Women's U-19 Final - 47,484 (August 2002)
Canada vs. Australia - Men's WC Qualifier - 13,049 (May 1996)
Canada vs. Honduras - Men's WC Qualifier - 9,654 (Sept. 2004)
Canada vs. Germany - Women's Friendly - 8,812 (Sept. 2005)

Joe MacCarthy

05-17-2006, 03:35 AM

'Keeper 'amped' by prospect of playing Brazil
By SCOTT ZERR -- Edmonton Sun
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2006/05/16/1582317-sun.html

No member of Canada's under-20 men's soccer team is more excited about Friday's game than goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.

Despite growing up in Edmonton, Begovic has never played for a national team in his hometown so he's undoubtedly amped up for the contest at Commonwealth Stadium. But Begovic isn't exactly getting a cakewalk - far from it, in fact. The 19-year-old, who has shot up to six-foot-five since moving to Europe three years ago, is bound to be facing a barrage of scoring chances from the talented Brazilians.

"I guess if you're going to play a game in Edmonton, that's the team you'd want to play against," smiled Begovic after yesterday's workout in St. Albert.

"It's definitely different playing against Brazil. You look at what they've done and you know they're good so you have to bring your best game."

However, Begovic, who earned his first stint with Canada's senior men's team last November, is accustomed to sizable challenges. At the tender age of 16, he left home and landed a contract with English Premier side Portsmouth. To have him garner some much-needed playing time, Portsmouth loaned him out to La Louviere in Belgium this past season.

"My experience has been so worthwhile that I'd recommend it to any kid," said Begovic. "I wouldn't have this life if I would have stayed here.

"If you get the chance, you have to take it."

That same "take a chance" philosophy will be on Canada's mind against the mighty Brazilians in the first of three matches of a tour that continues next week in Victoria and Burnaby, B.C. There is no way the Canadians can match Brazil in the skill department so they'll be chasing down some measure of success any way they can.

"You'd think it would be a blowout but there have always been shocks in the past," said Canuck midfielder Jaime Peters.

"Our approach is to play the way Canada plays. We have a lot of variety so maybe we'll come out and Brazil will be shocked by the way we play. If we can be calm and not too nervous maybe we can shock them a bit.

"I know I'm going to go out there and shock them - show them I can play at the top level. Hopefully everyone else on our team can do the same."

It would be quite a shock if Canada stays within a goal or two let alone comes away with a victory.

Last January, the Canadians were riding a four-game winning streak and had swept their group to qualify for the 2005 World Youth Championship. But since then the U-20s have managed only four draws in their last 10 matches.

FREE KICKS: Canada will be without midfielder Jacob Lensky who begged off the tour to rest following his first pro season with Glasgow Celtic.

Joe MacCarthy

05-17-2006, 03:36 AM

Brazilians to give keeper with local roots tough test
Scott Petersen, The Edmonton Journal
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/sports/story.html?id=e9fe62bf-c74a-4fa7-b25f-807c4f4b0ea5

Asmir Begovic hopes his size, sure hands will allow him to get job done in Friday's under-20 soccer game at Commonwealth

http://i4.tinypic.com/zvecs4.jpg
Canada under-20 goalkeeper Asmir Begovic works out in St. Albert on Monday. Photograph by: John Lucas, The Journal

EDMONTON - A whirling tornado of talented Brazilians is about to boost Asmir Begovic's level of experience in the nets.

That's a good thing. The popular buzzwords used around the towering six-foot-five keeper are talent and experience. He has a lot of the former and could greatly benefit from a heaping portion of the latter.

Game situations have been elusive for Begovic, who left Edmonton two years ago to pursue a professional soccer career with Portsmouth of the English Premier League. They loaned him to La Louviere, a team in Belgium's top league, last season but playing time remained hard to come by.

Now tending the nets for the Canadian under-20 team, he'll face no shortage of shots and pressure-packed situations from Brazil come Friday at Commonwealth Stadium.

"Hopefully we get things tactically right," said Begovic after practice on Monday at the St. Albert Soccer Association. "We could be OK. But they're not just good offensively, they're good at every position on the field. You know you're not going to get an easy game."

And that's fine with the humble keeper and his teammates. They're looking for someone to push them to make them better. These are, after all, their development years and they have designs on making noise at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup hosted by Canada.

Begovic would also like to become the go-to guy with Portsmouth and Canada's senior team down the road. His toolbox of size, athleticism and sure hands make him an intriguing prospect for both and he could be a rising star in the Canadian ranks. Only time will tell.

"I certainly think Asmir has the potential to be a good professional and senior World Cup player, just as long as he gets that first-team experience and does well when he gets it," said U-20 coach Dale Mitchell. "It always takes goaltenders a little longer to break into a first team."

Begovic was born into the sport and position in Bosnia. His father played professionally as a goalie until war forced a move to Germany. That's where he received his initial soccer training and began idolizing one of the country's all-time great keepers, Oliver Khan.

"That was huge," said Begovic. "It's a soccer country and the training is great there. I think it helped me very much."

The family's refugee status expired seven years later and they moved to Edmonton. Asmir picked up the sport again, captured the attention of the right people and began making inroads into the national soccer program.

But he felt he had to make a move to secure a professional future in the sport and flew to England at age 16 to try and impress a club. Portsmouth bit, put him on their youth team for development, sent him to Belgium for some seasoning, and signed him to a five-year contract.

"Personally, when I see him play, I think he's a really good keeper," said Canadian midfielder Jaime Peters, who plays for Ipswich Town in England.

"He's progressed a lot and I think he'll do really, really well if he keeps on doing what he does."

Besides his national youth team experience, Begovic also attended a senior team camp and was an emergency back-up for a game against Luxembourg in November. It was a glimpse at the bigger picture -- now he has to work on "everything" to keep climbing the ladder.

"My handling has to get better, my decision-making, everything. Every day you should learn something new."

Begovic is one of two keepers playing for Canada in a three-game series against Brazil. Besides Friday at Commonwealth Stadium, they will also meet May 22 in Victoria and May 25 in Burnaby, B.C.

Joe MacCarthy

05-17-2006, 11:41 PM

Men’s U-20 Team
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Canada Draw Edmonton Selects in Scrimmage
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2447

Edmonton, Alberta (May 16, 2006) – Canada’s U20 National Team drew 1:1 in a scrimmage this evening against a select group of Edmonton AMSL players. The scrimmage (40 minute halves) was designed to allow head coach Dale Mitchell the opportunity to work on a few tactical elements with his squad ahead of Friday’s clash in Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium with footballing giants Brazil.

Canada’s Alex Elliott opened the scoring in minute 61 after a give-away by the Edmonton defense gifted Olivier Babineau possession. The Dieppe, NB native took one touch to clear the ball from his feet then picked out the run of Elliott who had sliced between the left back and central defender. Elliott’s first touch took him past the closest defender, and then with only David Monsalve to beat, the University of Portland striker coolly toed his shot past the on-rushing keeper for the opening goal of the match.

But seven minutes later, some lax defending at the top of the Canadian area allowed an Edmonton striker to drift into the Canadian penalty area unabated. The striker easily slipped his shot past Begovic who had slid at the feet of the attacker but could not get a piece of the shot, and suddenly the game was level.

The Canadians survived a scare two minutes later when a free kick from just outside the Canadian area curled over the wall but ricocheted off the cross-bar, much to the delight of Begovic who had been frozen by the dipping shot.

Canada will now focus its attention on Friday’s match against the Brazilians who are scheduled to arrive in Alberta capital on Wednesday morning.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Scrimmage
St. Albert Soccer Club St. Albert, AB

CANADA – 1 (0)
EDM-AMSL Selects – 1 (0)

Goals: CANADA – Elliott 61; EDM-AMSL Selects – unavailable 68
Cautions: - none
Expulsions – none

CANADA: Asmir Begovic; Mike D’Agostino; Stephen Lumley (Ibrahim Balde, 41); David Edgar (Joey Loreth, 41); Kent O’Connor (Kennedy Owusu-Ansah, 41); Jaime Peters (Olivier Babineau, 41); Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault (Keegan Ayre, 41); Will Johnson (Cristian Nunez, 41); Gabe Gala (Masumi Turnbull, 41); Simeon Jackson (Hector Contreras, 41); Andrea Lombardo (Alex Elliott, 41)

Head Coach: Dale Mitchell (CAN)
Subs not used: David Monsalve (played in opposing goal); Gavin McCallum (injured)

Ticket Information for Canada vs Brazil series

May 19 @ Commonwealth Stadium presented by CIBC – Edmonton, AB – 20:00 MT
$10.00-25.00 - Available through Ticketmaster at 780-451-8000 or visit ticketmaster.ca

May 22 @ Centennial Stadium presented by Sony – Victoria, BC – 14:00 PT - Sold Out

May 25@ Swangard Stadium presented by TELUS – Burnaby, BC– 19:00 PT
$20.00-30.00 - Available through Ticketmaster at 604-280-4400 or visit ticketmaster.ca

Joe MacCarthy

05-17-2006, 11:48 PM

Men’s U-20 Team
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Rogers Sportsnet to broadcast Canada U-20 vs. Brazil games in Burnaby and Edmonton live
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2448

Canada vs. Brazil presented by CIBC on Friday, May 19th at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, AB (8:00 p.m. MT / 10:00 p.m. ET) and Canada vs. Brazil presented by TELUS on Thursday, May 25th at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, BC (7:00 p.m. PT / 10:00 p.m. ET) will be broadcast live on Rogers Sportsnet Pacific and Rogers Sportsnet West at 7:00 p.m. PT / 8:00 p.m. MT / 10:00 p.m. ET on both dates.

Rogers Sportsnet East and Rogers Sportsnet Ontario will broadcast both games on a one hour tape delay (11:00 p.m. ET) on both dates.

Ticket Information & Broadcast info

May 19 @ Commonwealth Stadium presented by CIBC – Edmonton, AB – 20:00 MT
$10.00-25.00 - Available through Ticketmaster at 780-451-8000 or visit ticketmaster.ca

Live on Rogers Sportsnet Pacific and Rogers Sportsnet West at 7:00 p.m. PT / 8:00 p.m. MT / 10:00 p.m. ET.

May 22 @ Centennial Stadium presented by Sony – Victoria, BC – 14:00 PT - Sold Out

Live Webcast via canadasoccer.com - $6.95 PPV

May 25@ Swangard Stadium presented by TELUS – Burnaby, BC– 19:00 PT
$20.00-30.00 - Available through Ticketmaster at 604-280-4400 or visit ticketmaster.ca

Live on Rogers Sportsnet Pacific and Rogers Sportsnet West at 7:00 p.m. PT / 8:00 p.m. MT / 10:00 p.m. ET.

Joe MacCarthy

05-17-2006, 11:53 PM

Men’s U-20 Team
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Canada vs. Brazil in Victoria Available Live Via Webcast!
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2449

Live webcast is available here on Monday May 22nd @ 2:00 p.m. PT/5:00 p.m. ET.

Ottawa, Ontario – The Canadian Soccer Association is pleased to announce that the Canadian Men’s U-20 Match against Brazil presented by Sony of Canada on May 22, 2006 in Victoria, BC will be available live via Webcast in broadband video format. Kick off for the sold out match is 2:00 p.m. PT / 5:00 p.m. ET.

The Webcast is available on a Pay-Per-View rate of $6.95 per connection and will be accessible via the CSA website at www.canadasoccer.com.

“This is truly an exciting project,” said Earl Cochrane, Director of Communications of the CSA. “This is a medium that we have wanted to explore for the non-televised games for some time and since the Canadian fans have expressed their desire to see our teams play more often, we thought that this match would be an ideal one to air via webcast.”

“It is a tremendous opportunity for Canadians to have access to all three games between the Canadian Under-20 team and perennial powerhouse Brazil and hopefully provide viewers a glimpse of what to expect when the FIFA U-20 World Cup comes to Canada next year.”

This broadcast will be Canada’s second ever live Webcast; the first occurred on March 1, 2006 when Canada dominated Austria 2:0 in Vienna, Austria.

Brazil Series Ticket Information & Broadcast info

May 19 @ Commonwealth Stadium presented by CIBC – Edmonton, AB – 20:00 MT
$10.00-25.00 - Available through Ticketmaster at 780-451-8000 or visit ticketmaster.ca

Live on Rogers Sportsnet Pacific and Rogers Sportsnet West at 7:00 p.m. PT / 8:00 p.m. MT / 10:00 p.m. ET.

May 22 @ Centennial Stadium presented by Sony – Victoria, BC – 14:00 PT - Sold Out

Live Webcast via canadasoccer.com - $6.95 PPV

May 25@ Swangard Stadium presented by TELUS – Burnaby, BC– 19:00 PT
$20.00-30.00 - Available through Ticketmaster at 604-280-4400 or visit ticketmaster.ca

Live on Rogers Sportsnet Pacific and Rogers Sportsnet West at 7:00 p.m. PT / 8:00 p.m. MT / 10:00 p.m. ET.

Brazil Releases Roster for Canada Friendlies

Name Nick Name Position Date of Birth Club
Muriel Gustavo Becker MURIEL Goalkeeper 02.14.87 S.C.Internacional
Elisson Aparecido Rosa ELISSON Goalkeeper 03.26.87 Cruzeiro E.C.
Edivelton Feliciano Moreira CAÇAPA Back 02.15.87 Grêmio F.P.A.
Anderson Luis de A.R. Marques ANDERSON Back 03.10.87 Fluminense F.C.
Edson Henrique da Silva EDSON Back 07.06.87 Figueirense F.C.
Leyrielton Moura de Moraes LEYRIELTON Full back 06.22.88 Goiás E.C.
Carlos Eduardo Dutra Oliveira CARLÃO Full back 07.19.87 Coritiba F.C.
Antonio Cleilson da Silva Feitosa AMARAL Full back 09.05.87 S.E.Palmeiras
Junior Felício Marques JI PARANÁ Mid field 06.11.87 S.Corinthians P.
Fernando Franciso Regel FERNANDO Mid field 07.25.87 Vila Nova F.C.
Nilton Ferreira Junior NILTON Mid field 04.21.87 S.Corinthians P.
Kerlon Moura Souza KERLON Mid field 01.27.88 Cruzeiro E.C.
Diogo Luis Santo DIOGO Mid field 05.26.87 A.Portuguesa D.
Ramon Gonçalves RAMON Mid field 10.28.87 Santos F.C.
Taianan Imberê Linhares Welker TAIANAN Mid field 03.13.87 S.C.Internacional
Renato Carlos Martins Junior RENATINHO Forward 05.14.87 Santos F.C.
Alberto Antonio de Paula BETO Forward 05.31.87 S.E.Palmeiras
Luis Adriano de Souza da Silva LUIS ADRIANO Forward 04.12.87 S.C. Internacional

Joe MacCarthy

05-18-2006, 03:45 PM

Tks to Sigma at Vs for headsup

Kicking it for Canada
By Gary Ahuja Times Sports
May 17 2006
http://www.langleytimes.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=47&cat=40&id=649960&more=

http://i4.tinypic.com/102qf6f.jpg
Mike D’Agostino
Photo by Rob NEWELL/Langley Times

It was a bit of a strange feeling over the weekend for Mike D’Agostino. The Langley soccer player — who just completed his sophomore season with the University of Kentucky — was in town for a three-day training camp.

“It’s nice,” D’Agostino said about being able to train so close to home. “But it is a bit weird, staying in a hotel 10 minutes away from home.”

D’Agostino was one of 22 soccer players from across Canada invited to take part in the three-day camp for the top under-20 players. The camp was held at Trinity Western University and wrapped up on Saturday afternoon with a friendly exhibition game against the TWU men’s soccer team. The two teams played to a 1-1 draw in front of a crowd of 300 fans. The game was a tune-up for the Canadian squad, which begins a three-game three-city series against Brazil’s U20 team.

The first game goes Friday in Edmonton, before the two teams meet again Monday night in Victoria. The third installment of the series will be Thursday, May 25 at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby.

“This is really a trial run for us for 14 months from now,” said Canadian coach Dale Mitchell. He was referring to Canada hosting the 2007 FIFA world youth championships next summer. Mitchell said the three-game set against Brazil will go a long way towards seeing how well Canada stacks up against the world’s best.

“This will be hugely beneficial to find out where we stack up against arguably the best soccer-playing country in the world right now,” Mitchell said. “There won’t be too many — if any — teams at the event that will be at the level that Brazil are at or better.”

Mitchell said he is looking to see which players show they can handle the pressure playing against one of the top soccer countries in the world. “If somebody can show me they can handle it, they will take some big steps in regards to being involved next year,” he said.

The 19-year-old D’Agostino is no stranger to representing his country in the past, having accumulated five international caps. While all 22 players will travel to three games, only 18 will dress for each contest.

“Nobody knows who is going to be starting these games,” D’Agostino said. “This is a huge opportunity.” D’Agostino said he just has to keep his game consistent if he hopes to keep on the radar for national team coaches as he would one day like to represent Canada with the men’s national side.

And while D’Agostino is just one of several midfielders at the camp, Mitchell said he may not necessarily make the team at that particular position. “We have looked at him in some different positions,” Mitchell admitted, mentioning that he could line up as a fullback.

“That is one good thing about him, he can play in a number of spots.”
Being able to switch positions on the field should greatly help D’Agostino’s chances.

“The more positions you play (and) the more versatile you are, the more benefit you have to your team,” Mitchell said. “(That) means more chances you have to be involved.”

Mitchell also said that D’Agostino’s two seasons with Kentucky will also prove beneficial. In his two years in Lexington, D’Agostino has started all 35 games for the Wildcats. This past season, he led the team in assists with six and was second in points with 10. He also had two goals.

The series against Brazil should be interesting as the country consistently produces top players year after year. “We will see some of the players that will be the world’s super stars,” D’Agostino said. But the Canadian side cannot afford to be awestruck by the competition and must just worry about their own game.

“You can’t focus on them too much,” D’Agostino said. “But again, they are the best soccer nation in the world; I don’t think anyone can argue with that.”

One thing that should help the Canadian team is playing in front of the home crowd, especially considering D’Agostino has seen the rabid fans of other countries.

“It is crazy when you are playing against Central America or Africa,” he explained about the home crowd advantage Canada faces when they are the visitor. He described the atmosphere as crazy, comparing it to hockey in Canada, only 10 times bigger.

Joe MacCarthy

05-19-2006, 02:03 AM

Brazilian touring soccer side features "the next Ronaldinho"
By NEIL DAVIDSON
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2006/05/18/1587080-cp.html

(CP) - He has been dubbed "the next Ronaldinho," a teenage star who can run with a soccer ball seemingly attached to his forehead.

And Manchester United reportedly is ready to spend six million pounds ($12.7 million Cdn) to acquire him. But for the next few days, the Brazilian midfielder known as Kerlon will have Canada on his mind.

Kerlon Moura Souza and his Brazilian under-20 teammates kick off a three-game series against the Canadian under-20 side on Friday in Edmonton (check local listings). The series switches to Victoria on Monday and Burnaby, B.C., on May 25.

For Canadian coach Dale Mitchell, the series is a litmus test for his squad. It will also help give his players a taste of what they can expect next year when Canada hosts the world under-20 championship.

"We're looking at it as a great chance to have a trial run for 2007," Mitchell said Thursday. "Fortunately then we won't have to play Brazil three times in the group stage.

"But you do in the group stage play this type of format where you're playing every third day and it's possible that we could have a little bit of travel between the cities."

The Times of London reported Thursday that a Manchester United delegation flew to South America this week to meet officials from the Brazilian club Cruzeiro about Kerlon. The Times said United hopes to conclude the transfer in the next few days.

"We are always ready to listen to offers for Kerlon," Cruzeiro vice-president Zeze Perrella was quoted by the Times. "We have had a lot of interest in him and we have been in close contact with an English team, but right now we are not there on the money."

The young star is reportedly under contract with the Brazilian side through July 2012.

Kerlon, who turned 18 in January, was named player of the tournament at the South American under-17 championship in Venezuela last year when Brazil went 5-1-2 to win the competition. The attacking midfielder led the tournament in scoring with eight of Brazil's 27 goals but drew headlines for something called "the seal dribble."

The move is described as Kerlon flicking the ball in the air and running with it as if attached to his forehead.

"It is truly inspirational to find a young player with the creative genius to come up with such a move," the BBC enthused on its website in April 2005.

Injury prevented Kerlon from playing at the world under-17 championships in Peru last year. Brazil lost to Mexico in the final.

"We've heard he is a very talented boy," said Mitchell. "Another one that comes out of Brazil. They seem to be able to produce them on a fairly regular basis."

Mitchell, who could do a few things with the ball himself in his playing days, will have other concerns. He wants to evaluate his talent.

He has 22 players in camp, led by goalkeeper Asmir Begovic (La Louviere, Belgium), defender David Edgar (Newcastle, England), midfielder Jaime Peters (Ipswich Town, England) and striker Will Johnson (Heerenveen, the Netherlands).

Mitchell hopes to give everyone a game, but plans to pick his starting 11 based on experience for the opener Friday.

The good news is that this squad represents pretty much the best talent available, at least those that have committed to Canada.

Joe MacCarthy

05-20-2006, 03:26 AM

Tks to posters at Vs and BS for highlights

Canada 2 Brazil 1
Commonwealth Stadium Edmonton
Attendance: 14,250

David Edgar (25 min)
Side-volleyed a shot to the top corner

Diogo Luis Santo (54 min)
Picks up the cross and hits it across the face of goal

Will Johnson (65 min)
Johnson from 15 yards into the lower right corner

I'll merge this into the main U20 thread after people have had a chance to see this.

Joe MacCarthy

05-20-2006, 03:35 AM

Canadian U20s defeat Brazil 2-1
May 19, 2006
Sportsnet.ca News
http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/article.jsp?content=20060519_112345_5536

EDMONTON (CP) -- Striker Will Johnson scored in the 65th minute and set up a first-half goal as the Canadian men's under-20 team scored a historic 2-1 victory over soccer power Brazil in a friendly played Friday night.

It was the first time a Canadian men's soccer team has beaten Brazil, one of the world's dominant soccer teams. The Canadian senior men's team tied Brazil twice -- 0-0 at the 2001 Confederation's Cup in Japan, and 1-1 in a 1994 friendly in Edmonton in advance of the World Cup, which Brazil went on to win.

Defender David Edgar scored for Canada in the 25th minute.

Diogo Luis Santo scored for Brazil, which was missing six players who couldn't get out of club commitments at home.

Brazilian star midfielder Kerlon Moura Souza, known as Kerlon, was carted off in the 39th minute favouring his left ankle after getting tangled in collision with Canadian midfielder Christian Nunez near the left centre stripe.

Kerlon, who Premier League powerhouse Manchester United is reportedly days away from spending six million pounds ($12.7 million Cdn) to acquire, took a slow walk back to the Brazilian bench with two medical staffers watching closely.

Kerlon's replacement, Diogo, tied the game 1-1 in the 54th minute.

Johnson, 19, who plays professionally for Heerenveen, the Netherlands, left-footed a missed clearing attempt for the winner in the 65th minute. Then in the 78th minute, he nearly widened the gap to two goals after speeding in off the same play, but he missed the net.

Johnson figured in Canada's first goal after sending a curling free kick toward the net where the six-foot-four Edgar side-volleyed a shot to the top corner.

The three-game series -- meant to increase interest for the Canada-hosted world under-20 championship next summer -- continues in Victoria on Monday and Burnaby, B.C., on May 25.

The distinctive bright yellow Brazil jerseys dotted the crowd of 14,250 at Commonwealth Stadium in the first friendly since the German women's national team scored a 4-3 win over Canada last September.

Begovic, a Bosnian-born, Edmonton-raised pro with La Louviere, Belgium, made seven stops.

Edgar (Newcastle, England), and midfielder Jaime Peters (Ipswich Town, England) are the other Canadians playing professionally among 22 players in camp..

NOTES: The methodical Brazilians didn't use a ball for the first 10 minutes of warmups. ... Canadian coach Dale Mitchell kept his starting 11 on the pitch for the first 61 minutes before subbing out forward Alex Elliott of Vancouver.

Joe MacCarthy

05-20-2006, 05:21 AM

Men’s U-20 Team
Friday, May 19, 2006
Canada Defeats Brazil in Edmonton
Hometown Boy Backstops Canadian Win Over Brazil
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2450

Ottawa, Ontario – Canada’s U-20 National Team defeated Brazil 2:1 tonight in front of a boisterous crowd of 14,250 in Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium. The historical win was the first by a Canadian men’s team over the footballing giants from South America at any age level.

The Brazilians looked very dangerous at times but seemed to lack the predatory instinct around the penalty area tonight. They also didn’t seem to have an answer for Will Johnson, and at times Jaime Peters, and more often than not, ran into a resilient Canadian defence that bent on occasion but in the end stood firm.

In the 20th minute Canada almost opened the scoring when Jaime Peters got the better of his defender on the right flank then drilled a low rasping cross toward the near post. Will Johnson managed to get a touch but his shot was well blocked by a Brazilian defender then scrambled away by the Brazilian defence.

But Canada’s central defender, David Edgar, was gifted the perfect birthday present when he started things rolling for the Canadians just before the half-hour mark. Johnson picked out the Newcastle-based defender, who was unmarked inside the area, and the Kitchener native side-footed a superb volley into the roof of the net for his first goal for Canada.

The Brazilians grabbed a goal back just before the hour mark through first half substitute Diogo. The young Brazilian, who replaced the highly touted Kerlon midway through the opening half, found himself with the ball at his feet around the penalty spot. Diogo took one touch to shift the ball from his right foot to his left then slammed his shot toward Asmir Begovic’s left post. The Edmonton-native managed to get a hand to the shot but could not prevent it from rolling over the line for the equalizer.

Ten minutes later though, Johnson would again have an impact – this time the Heerenveen striker would bring the Commonwealth crowd to its feet.

Peters again got the better of the Brazilian left-back then delivered a cross to the far post. A Brazilian defender was well positioned to clear but instead guided his header back into the area. Johnson reacted fastest and met the ball at the penalty spot. The young striker drilled his left footed shot past an outstretched Muriel to pull Canada ahead for good.

But the final twenty-five minutes did provide Canada’s head coach, Dale Mitchell, with some uneasy moments. The scariest coming five minutes before time when a ricochet off Begovic’s hand looked goal-bound but Mississauga-native Stephen Lumley raced to the ball and managed to hook if off the line to preserve the victory for Canada.

“The result is a fantastic one,” said Canadian head coach Dale Mitchell during the post-game press conference. “No matter what happens over the next two games of the series, you’ll never be able to take away the fact that these boys beat Brazil this evening.”

“The way the team played and the chances that we created in the second half made for a tremendous night of soccer in Edmonton. I am really proud of the way we performed.

“The people of Victoria who have tickets for Monday’s game should count themselves very lucky.”

Both Canada and Brazil depart Edmonton tomorrow and will meet again in two days in Victoria’s Centennial Stadium; then again on May 25th in Burnaby’s Swangard Stadium.

Thursday, May 19, 2006 - International Friendly
Commonwealth Stadium – Edmonton, AB
Attendance: 14,250

CANADA – 2 (1)
BRAZIL – 1 (0)

Goals: CANADA – Edgar (25), JOHNSON (65); BRAZIL – Diogo (54)
Cautions: - BOURGAULT (53)
Expulsions – none

CANADA: 1 - BEGOVIC, Asmir (C) ; 3-O’CONNOR, Kent; 4 - BOURGAULT, Jonathan; 5 - LUMLEY, Stephen; 6 - EDGAR, David; 7 - PETERS, Jaime; 8 - NUNEZ, Cristian (12 - BALDE, Ibrahim, 89); 9 - ELLIOTT, Alex (18 - GALA, Gabe, 61); 10 - JOHNSON, Will; 16 - JACKSON, Simeon (15 - LOMBARDO, Andrea, 90); 21 -OWUSU-ANSAH, Kennedy

Head Coach: Dale Mitchell (CAN)
Subs not used:; 13 - CONTRERAS, Hector;; 19 - D’AGOSTINO, Mike; 22 - MONSALVE, David

BRAZIL: 1 - Muriel Gustavo Becker (MURIEL); 2 - Leyrielton Moura de Moraes (LEYRIELTON) (14 - Antonio Cleilson da Silva Feitosa (AMARAL), 81); 3 - Edivelton Feliciano Moreira (CAÇAPA); 4 - Edson Henrique da Silva (EDSON); 5 - Nilton Ferreira Junior (NILTON) (15 - Fernando Franciso Regel (FERNANDO), 69); 6 - Carlos Eduardo Dutra Oliveira (CARLÃO); 7 - Junior Felício Marques (JI PARANÁ) (C); 8 - Taianan Imberê Linhares Welker (TAIANAN) (16 - Ramon Gonçalves (RAMON), 69); 9 - Luis Adriano de Souza da Silva (LUIS ADRIANO) (18 - Renato Carlos Martins Junior (RENATINHO), 69); 10 - Kerlon Moura Souza (KERLON) (17 - Diogo Luis Santo (DIOGO), 41); 11 - Alberto Antonio de Paula (BETO)

Head Coach: Nelson Rodrigues (BRA)
Subs not used: 12 - Elisson Aparecido Rosa (ELISSON); 13 - Anderson Luis de A.R. Marques (ANDERSON);

Ticket Information & Broadcast info

May 22 @ Centennial Stadium presented by Sony – Victoria, BC – 14:00 PT - Sold Out

Live Webcast via canadasoccer.com - $6.95 PPV

May 25@ Swangard Stadium presented by TELUS – Burnaby, BC– 19:00 PT
$20.00-30.00 - Available through Ticketmaster at 604-280-4400 or visit ticketmaster.ca

Live on Rogers Sportsnet Pacific and Rogers Sportsnet West at 7:00 p.m. PT / 8:00 p.m. MT / 10:00 p.m. ET.

Joe MacCarthy

05-20-2006, 03:41 PM

Tks to CanuckFan at BS for headsup

Soccer shocker
Ontario defender backs up talk with both Canadian goals
Scott Petersen, The Edmonton Journal
Published: Saturday, May 20, 2006
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/sports/story.html?id=b2307ffd-66a8-47d1-84cc-a913ed93e6f0&k=63402

http://i4.tinypic.com/106dc3p.jpg
Brazil's Kerlon Souza, left, battles for the ball against Canada's Stephen Lumley on Friday at Commonwealth Stadium.
Photograph by: Shaughn Butts, The Journal

EDMONTON - First David Edgar quietly called it, then he went out and helped deliver the stunning upset of Brazil on his 19th birthday.

The six-foot-four defender mentioned earlier in the week that a "shock" was coming for Canadian soccer. It was a soft-spoken declaration. Confident, but not cocky.

Friday night at Commonwealth Stadium, Edgar stroked the biggest goal of his young career to help send the Canadian under-20 soccer team to a 2-1 victory in front of 14,250 fans.

"I wasn't just saying it for the sake of saying it," he said after the game. "We really felt confident in ourselves.

"I get shivers down my neck just thinking about it."

Teammate Will Johnson sent a curling free kick into the 18-yard box in the 25th minute and Edgar volleyed it out of the air and into the top right corner of the Brazilian net.

Then with the score tied 1-1, Johnson collected a poorly cleared ball in the 65th minute and drilled a low shot to the right corner to give Canada the lead for good.

That goal capped a game of inspired efforts by the likes of Johnson, Edgar and freewheeling midfielder Jaime Peters. The result was Canada's first-ever men's win against the world's top-ranked soccer country.

"I think it's big mostly for the boys that are a part of this team here," said Canadian coach Dale Mitchell. "We said to our boys that no matter what happens the rest of your careers, you've just beat Brazil. There's not that many people who can say that."

The Canadians started out tentatively, watching a confident Brazilian side contentedly push the ball around their backfield and try to open up runs at the goal. Edmonton goalie Asmir Begovic made his first big play in the fifth minute, poking the ball away from a hard-charging Luis Adriano. Begovic made seven saves in total on the night and was tested on a number of occasions.

Canada finally earned its first sustained pressure in the 11th minute and looked to be gaining confidence with the ball right up until Edgar's right-footed strike sent them into a frenzy. Afterwards, Edgar said the ecstatic celebration tired him out more than the 90-plus minutes of playing time.

"What more can you ask for on your birthday," said the Kitchener, Ont. native, who was playing his first game in front of his parents and sister in more than six months.

"That 90 minutes was a blur for me. It was like one big dream."

Diogo Luis Santo scored Brazil's only goal in the 54th minute, ripping a shot off Begovic's hands and just trickling past him into the cage.

Then, after a few close calls for both teams and the score 2-1 for Canada, a nearly mirror-image play almost changed the complexion of the game once more.

A Brazilian forward stroked a ball off a diving Begovic's hands in the 86th minute and it seemed headed into the net before defender Stephen Lumley slid back to sweep it off the line.

Canada shut the door from there and cleared numerous panicked crosses from the Brazilians to close out the win.

Canada now moves on to play Brazil twice in British Columbia, May 22 in Victoria and May 25 in Burnaby B.C.

The games are part of a series of tough tune-ups for the Canadians as they prepare a team that can compete at the 2007 FIFA under-20 World Cup hosted by Canada.

All of Canada's 22 players on this tour are eligible to play in 2007 and half play professionally overseas.

Joe MacCarthy

05-20-2006, 03:46 PM

First-ever win over Brazilians for Canada
By SCOTT ZERR - Edmonton Sun
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2006/05/20/1589805-sun.html

In the category of great sports upsets, it would have to rank rather highly.

Canada beating Brazil at soccer is virtually unthinkable. Make that was unthinkable.

It was a shocker and stunner rolled into one as Canada's under-20 men's team ended a 10-game winless skid in the most improbable way - by beating Brazil.

"No one can ever take that off us," said birthday boy David Edgar who scored Canada's first goal in the 2-1 decision. It was the first time in a year that most of Edgar's family had seen him play live.

GOALLESS DROUGHT

The victory was Canada's first over Brazil in elite-level men's play. Canada's national team had earned two draws in three matches, including 1994's memorable 1-1 tie in Edmonton before a crowd of more than 54,000.

At the U-20 level, Canada had not scored a goal in losing four previous matches to Brazil. Canada fell 2-0 at the both 2001 and 2003 World Youth Championship as well as a 1985 contest in Acapulco. Canada's closest setback to Brazil came in 1987 when the Canucks were topped 1-0 at the FIFA finals in Chile.

The result did not sit well with Brazil's head coach Nelson Rodrigues.

"Brazil is not invincible but I saw a lack of determination,"said Rodrigues. "I'm upset. I don't like to lose and I passed that on to the players."

The Canadians heard Rodrigues giving his club a tongue-lashing at halftime. After the game, it was the Brazilians who were getting an earful of Canada's celebration.

GOOD CROWD

"We beat Brazil. What else can I say?" smiled Edgar. "None of them wanted to shake hands. You could see the disappointment on their faces. That bad news will travel back to their country and we did that."

Almost as encouraging as the result was the turnout at Commonwealth Stadium. A crowd of 14,250 was on hand which sent a loud message to FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, who had roundly criticized Edmonton's support for international soccer and deemed the city "lucky" to be getting a semifinal matchup in next year's world under-20 championship.

"I don't think we should be worried by anything Jack has to say," said Jim Fleming, the former Canadian Soccer Association boss who is chairman of Edmonton's host committee for the '07 tournament.

"I think it was pretty significant that he made those comments in Toronto and not in Edmonton so I take what he said with a pinch of salt.

"The best way to answer his comments was to have this encouraging night."

Brazil's tour of Canada continues Monday in Victoria and then wraps up Thursday in Burnaby.

Canada snatched the lead in the 25th minute off a free kick. Will Johnson curled the ball to an unmarked David Edgar who froze Brazil 'keeper Muriel with a rocket volley to the top corner.

The Brazilians got the goal back in the 54th minute when substitute Diogo drove a ball that trickled over the goal line but the Canadians kept coming and were rewarded just nine minutes later. Brazil failed to clear the ball out of harm's way and Johnson took two strides before blasting a low shot inside the near post.

Brazil's late rally came close but a desperation clearing by Stephen Lumley prevented the game-tying strike with four minutes to go.

"It shows people that we can beat anybody," said Begovic.

Joe MacCarthy

05-20-2006, 03:50 PM

Tks to CanuckFan at BS for headsup

Canadians prove 'Brazil is not invincible'
Coach credits Canada for having skilled team
Scott Petersen, The Edmonton Journal
Published: Saturday, May 20, 2006
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/sports/story.html?id=013eccda-360c-4f9e-b9cd-1b93b80d30f2&k=91949

EDMONTON - A sullen, bleary-eyed Nelson Rodrigues stoically faced the media in the wake of his team's stunning soccer loss to Canada on Friday.

Brazil knows few soccer losses and the under-20 team coach knows no loss like this. The world's greatest soccer power had just been struck down 2-1 by Canada and he had to put it into words.

"Brazil lost the match, but Canada is very good," said Rodrigues, bypassing his translator to get this point across plainly in his broken English.

"It was a hard-fought match. Canada has a skilled team and Brazil did not show enough determination to match up with Canada."

Two previous meetings between the teams had resulted in 2-0 wins for Brazil. On the senior stage, Canada has managed two ties, including a 1994 friendly played in Edmonton. Brazil was expected to handily win Friday's game, considered a litmus test for the Canadians.

Rodrigues ripped into his players at halftime in a torrent of words audible down the hall from the Canadian dressing room. After the game, many Brazil players also refused to shake hands with their celebrating opponents, a look of disbelief on their faces.

"Brazil is not invincible. We've never been invincible," said Rodrigues, who said he let his players know he wasn't pleased with their play once again after the game. "We have the soccer culture, but we have to work as hard as other countries."

Brazil was missing six or seven top players who couldn't make the trip to Canada due to club commitments. Still, the result will be a shocker in Brazil and equally surprising to much of Canada.

"This shows that people in Canada can play soccer," said Asmir Begovic, Canada's Edmonton-raised 'keeper. "A lot of people don't want to come to Canada. They don't think we have the right kind of players to give them a game, but now we've shown we can beat anybody.

Joe MacCarthy

05-20-2006, 03:58 PM

Tks to narduch at BS for headsup

Canadian U-20 soccer team shocks Brazil
May 20, 2006. 08:09 AM
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1148077818172&call_pageid=968867503640&col=970081593064

http://i4.tinypic.com/106ebsn.jpg
CP PHOTO/EDMONTON SUN-RYAN JACKSON
Canada's Jaime Peters and Brazilian player Kerlon Moura Souza fall while chasing the ball during the first half of men's under-20 international soccer in Edmonton on Friday May 19, 2006.

EDMONTON (CP) — The Canadian under-20 men's soccer players shocked everyone but themselves.

David Edgar scored on his 19th birthday in his first home game as Canada earned a historic 2-1 victory over world power Brazil in a friendly Friday night.

"We beat Brazil," said defender Edgar. "No-one can ever take that off us."

The six-foot-four Edgar scored Canada's first goal in the 25th minute after side-volleying a shot to the top corner with his family in the stands after striker Will Johnson sent a curling free kick toward the net.

Johnson scored in the 65th minute for Canada.

Diogo Luis Santo scored for Brazil.

"It really came down to who had the most heart," said Edgar, who plays professionally with Newcastle in England. "What more can you ask for on your birthday?"

It was the first time a Canadian men's soccer team has beaten Brazil. The Canadian senior men's team tied Brazil twice — 0-0 at the 2001 Confederation's Cup in Japan, and 1-1 in a 1994 friendly in Edmonton in advance of the World Cup, which Brazil went on to win.

Johnson, 19, who plays for Heerenveen, the Netherlands, left-footed a missed clearing attempt for the winner. Then in the 78th minute, he nearly widened the gap to two goals after speeding in off the same play, but he missed the net.

"You never want to say the game of your career," said Johnson, who was born in Toronto. "The teamwork we showed out there was unbelievable."

The Canadians, which used a combination of aggressive offence and selfless defence to stifle Brazil, exuberantly chanted and carried in their locker-room after the match.

"The celebration was basically out of sheer excitement," said Canadian coach Dale Mitchell. "I'm not sure they quite believed it themselves."

Canada's three-game series against Brazil continues in Victoria on Monday and Burnaby, B.C., on May 25.

"They are going to throw everything at us now," said Edgar.

Brazil was missing six players who couldn't get out of club commitments at home.

"Brazil is not invincible," said Brazil coach Nelson Rodrigues through an interpreter after the game. "The team did not show enough determination."

The Brazilians nearly tied the game 2-2 in the 86 minute but Canadian defender Stephen Lumley swept the ball out of harm's way just centimetres form the goal-line.

"It shows that people in Canada can play soccer," said Begovic, a Bosnian-born, Edmonton-raised pro with La Louviere, Belgium, who finished with seven stops.

"We can beat anybody."

Brazilian star midfielder Kerlon Moura Souza, known as Kerlon, was carted off in the 39th minute favouring his left ankle after getting tangled in collision with Canadian midfielder Christian Nunez near the left centre stripe.

Kerlon, who Premiere League powerhouse Manchester United is reportedly days away from spending six million pounds ($12.7 million Cdn) to acquire, took a slow walk back to the Brazilian bench with two medical staffers watching closely.

Rodrigues said after the match Kerlon's injury was not serious and he will likely play in the next match.

Kerlon's replacement, Diogo, tied the game 1-1 in the 54th minute.

The distinctive bright yellow Brazil jerseys dotted the crowd of 14,250 at Commonwealth Stadium in the first friendly since the German women's national team scored a 4-3 win over Canada last September.

Midfielder Jaime Peters (Ipswich Town, England) is the other Canadian playing professionally among 22 players in camp.

NOTES: The methodical Brazilians didn't use a ball for the first 10 minutes of warmups. ... Canadian coach Dale Mitchell kept his starting 11 on the pitch for the first 61 minutes before subbing out forward Alex Elliott of Vancouver.

Joe MacCarthy

05-22-2006, 03:47 PM

Tks to narduch at BS for headsup

Canadians pumped after win over Brazil
On Monday, Canada hopes for another big upset when the national U-20 sides meet in Victoria
Cleve Dheensaw, Times Colonist Published: Sunday, May 21, 2006
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/sports/story.html?id=79e8bb07-3ba5-4ee7-800c-ab270518c4f7

The guys in red have stirred the Yellowjackets nest. And you know what happens when you do that.

Team Canada players, going through a brisk workout Saturday evening at Royal Athletic Park, savoured their historic 2-1 victory over Brazil the night before in the Under-20 friendly at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton. It was the first win ever for a Canadian national soccer team over a Brazilian national side.

"They're so excited and I'm letting them enjoy it today ... let's face it, how many times do you get a victory against Brazil?" said Team Canada head coach Dale Mitchell.

Well, actually, never for Canada before Friday.

"Friday was a test but Monday is a bigger one because of the mood in the Brazilian camp," noted Mitchell.

The three-game series between the junior national team of the most fluid-playing and storied nation in soccer history and Team Canada, host of the 2007 Under-20 World Cup, continues Monday at 2 p.m. in a sold out Centennial Stadium. The final game is Thursday at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby.

"We'll never forget that day in our lives," said David Edgar, Team Canada's outstanding sweeper, who is under contract to Newcastle United.

"This result will change a lot of perceptions about Canadian football [soccer]. A lot of English people I meet in Newcastle don't even think Canadians play football."

But everybody knows Brazilians do.

"They [Brazilian players] are not happy about what happened Friday," said Edgar. "I think we made them mad. So it becomes a different task Monday. But we're ready for it. We have a lot of very fast players on this team."

You never used to be able to mention Canadian soccer and speed in the same breath. But you can now. The Under-20 Team Canada moved themselves and the ball expeditiously and smartly Friday.

"You have to be smart and quick to play at the international level," said Team Canada defender and Oak Bay High grad Joey Loreth, who is expected to see playing time Monday.

Mitchell concurred.

"The game is faster now than it's ever been and you need athletic players," said the Canuck coach.

Fitting that description is Edgar, a native of Kitchener, Ont., who did his Newcastle-born parents proud by returning to their hometown four years ago at age 14 to begin moving up the Newcastle United pro chain.

Growing up in a household of Geordie accents, and now spending so much time there, Edgar speaks with a Geordie inflection himself. But he's Canadian where it counts -- on the pitch and in his heart.

In many ways, this junior national side represents Canada's changing sporting demographic. Team Canada's towering goaltender Asmir Begovic, who came to Edmonton as a 10-year-old from Bosnia, was aggressive and fearless in challenging the Brazilian shooters Friday in recording a memorable hometown victory he will never forget.

"It was extra special because it was in Edmonton . . . it still hasn't sunk in, yet," said the promising 'keeper, who is under contract to Portsmouth in England.

"I'm not scared to go out to the ball."

Oh, by the way, Edmonton homey Asmir, did you have one eye on the Oilers game Friday? Are you kidding? No way.

"It wasn't even on my mind ... our game was all that mattered," he said.

Neither, apparently, was it on the minds of the 14,250 who turned out to Commonwealth on the night the Oilers started their Stanley Cup semifinal series in Anaheim.

"That was cool that so many people would miss watching the Oilers play to come out and watch us," said Loreth.

On Friday, Canada was a soccer country.

Monday in Gordon Head, it hopes to stay that way.

But beware a wasps' nest that has been disturbed. Soccer is a passion in Brazil. The news that its junior national team -- in those famous gold, blue and green colours -- was beaten by Canada probably came as a shock in that nation.

Fuςion

05-22-2006, 04:30 PM

Good job Canada, I'm sure the Brazilians are in pain right now.

Joe MacCarthy

05-23-2006, 12:51 AM

Men’s U-20 Team
Monday, May 22, 2006
Brazil Defeats Canada 3-1 in Victoria
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2451

http://www.canadasoccer.com/images/media/lombardo_hs.jpg
Canadian Andrea Lombardo Scores First Goal of the Match

Victoria, British Columbia - After taking the lead in front of 4,415 spectators at Victoria’s Centennial Stadium on Monday, May 22, Canada was unable to hold off the Brazilians and were defeated 3:1 in the second of a three-game series.

The Canucks had previously defeated the South Americans 2:1 on Friday evening in Edmonton, Alberta.

On the foggy and damp afternoon, Canada in red lined up in a 4-3-3 formation and played with good possession and pressured the Brazilian defence early in the match.

“I was pleased with our performance,” said Head Coach Dale Mitchell. “We scored first and then held them to a draw until the 87th minute before they took the lead.”

“The next game in Burnaby will be exciting.”

Brazilian Renatinho had an early opportunity with a low shot from 30 yards out. Canadian keeper Asmir Begovic blocked the skipping shot then quickly collected the rebound.

Moments later, the Canadians were unable to capitalize on their own early free kick 35-yards out of the Brazilian net when David Edgar’s drive was easily stopped by Brazilian keeper Muriel.

Brazil took control in the latter part of the first half with Renatinho continuing to attack. He sent another shot through traffic that deflected just wide right of the net Canadian net.

In the 21st minute, a Diogo shot from the top of the penalty area sailed over the net.

In the 33rd minute, Will Johnson looked dangerous and marched up the left side only to be met by three Brazilian defenders who eventually broke up his valiant effort.

Mitchell made two substitutions heading into the second half sending in Andrea Lombardo for Simeon Jackson and Keegan Ayre for Jonathon Bourgault.

Brazil continued to search for the go ahead goal with Beto taking a shot from close range but David Edgar stood in the way and again blocked the ensuing shot taken from the rebound.

Canada again looked dangerous in the 51st minute as Lombardo fed Jamie Peters for a run up the right side. Peters then sent a cross to Gavin McCallum who was stopped at the goal line.

Three minutes later, it was Lombardo who gave Canada the lead when he received a long pass and found himself behind the Brazil defence for a tap that beat Muriel into the back of the net.

Brazilian captain Ji Parana evened the score on a penalty in the 67th minute following a clumsy challenge by Stephen Lumley in the Canadian penalty area.

Brazil took the lead in minute 87 after Nunez took an indirect free kick which Begovic initially stopped but Luis Adriano sent the rebound past the Canadian keeper’s right side.

Canada was forced to play short the final three minutes of injury time after Edgar was ejected in the 90th minute. Moments later, a back pass was misplayed by Lumley resulting in an interception by Ji Parana who then crossed to Luis Adriano. Adriano made no mistake and beat the shifting Begovic for their third and final goal of the match.

Both Canada and Brazil will depart for Vancouver tomorrow for the final game of the series on Thursday in Burnaby’s Swangard Stadium at 7:00 pm PT. Sportsnet Pacific and Rogers Sportsnet West will broadcast the match live and Rogers Sportsnet East and Rogers Sportsnet Ontario will broadcast the match on a one hour tape delay.

Monday, May 22, 2006 - International Friendly
Centennial Stadium – Victoria, BC
Attendance: 4,415

CANADA – 1 (0)
BRAZIL – 3 (0)

Goals: Canada - LOMBARDO (54); Brazil - JI PARANÁ (67, PK), LUIS ADRIANO (87), LUIS ADRIANO (90+)
Cautions: - PETERS (6); LUMLEY (34), BOURGAULT (41), LOMBARDO (48); Brazil - DIOGO (16), CARLÃO (81)
Expulsions – EDGAR (90)

CANADA: 1-BEGOVIC, Asmir; 3-O’CONNOR, Kent (2-LORETH, Joey, 84); 4-BOURGAULT, Jonathan (14-AYRE, Keegan, 45); 5-LUMLEY, Stephen; 6-EDGAR, David; 7-PETERS, Jaime; 8-NUNEZ, Cristian; 9-ELLIOTT, Alex (17-McCALLUM, Gavin, 31); 10-JOHNSON, Will (C); 16-JACKSON, Simeon (15-LOMBARDO, Andrea, 45); 21-OWUSU-ANSAH, Kennedy

Head Coach: Dale Mitchell (CAN)
Subs not used: 11-BABINEAU, Olivier; 19-D’AGOSTINO, Mike; 22-MONSALVE, David; 12-BALDE, Ibrahim; 13-CONTRERAS, Hector; 18-GALA, Gabe; 20-TURNBULL, Masumi

BRAZIL: 1-Muriel Gustavo Becker (MURIEL); 2-Antonio Cleilson da Silva Feitosa (AMARAL) (14-Edivelton Feliciano Moreira (CAÇAPA), 74); 3-Anderson Luis de A.R. Marques (ANDERSON); 4-Edson Henrique da Silva (EDSON); 5-Fernando Franciso Regel (FERNANDO); 6-Carlos Eduardo Dutra Oliveira (CARLÃO) (15-Nilton Ferreira Junior (NILTON), 88); 7-Junior Felício Marques (JI PARANÁ) (C); 8-Taianan Imberê Linhares Welker (TAIANAN); 9-Renato Carlos Martins Junior (RENATINHO) (16-Ramon Gonçalves (RAMON), 74); 10-Diogo Luis Santo (DIOGO); 11-Alberto Antonio de Paula (BETO) (17-Luis Adriano de Souza da Silva (LUIS ADRIANO), 68)

Head Coach: Nelson Rodrigues (BRA)
Subs not used: 12-Elisson Aparecido Rosa (ELISSON); 13-Leyrielton Moura de Moraes (LEYRIELTON)

Ticket Information & Broadcast info

May 25@ Swangard Stadium presented by TELUS – Burnaby, BC– 19:00 PT
$20.00-30.00 - Available through Ticketmaster at 604-280-4400 or visit ticketmaster.ca

Live on Rogers Sportsnet Pacific and Rogers Sportsnet West at 7:00 p.m. PT / 8:00 p.m. MT / 10:00 p.m. ET.

Joe MacCarthy

05-23-2006, 01:22 AM

Brazil drops Canadian under-20 squad
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2006/05/22/1592511-cp.html

VICTORIA (CP) - Luis Adriano scored twice as Brazil rallied to earn a 3-1 exhibition soccer victory over Canada's under-20 squad Monday.

The win came three days after Canada shocked Brazil 2-1 in Edmonton, marking the first time a Canadian men's soccer team had ever beaten Brazil. The Canadian senior men's team tied Brazil twice - 0-0 at the 2001 Confederation's Cup in Japan, and 1-1 in a 1994 friendly in Edmonton in advance of the World Cup, which Brazil went on to win.

And the Canadians looked prime for a second straight upset win Monday, opening the scoring in the second half, then holding Brazil to a draw until the 87-minute mark.

"I was pleased with our performance," said Canadian team coach Dale Mitchell. "We scored first and then held them to a draw until the 87th minute before they took the lead.

"The next game will be exciting."

Ji Parana had the other goal for Brazil.

Andrea Lombardo had the lone goal for Canada before 4,415 spectators at Centennial Stadium.

The third game of the series is slated for Thursday in Burnaby, B.C. (Rogers Sports, 11 p.m. ET, tape delay).

Lombardo opened the scoring at the 54-minute mark, taking a long pass and finding himself behind the Brazil defence.

But Parana, the Brazilian team captain, tied the score on a penalty in the 67th minute following a challenge by Stephen Lumley in the Canadian penalty area.

Adriano put Brazil ahead with his first goal of the game in the 87th minute following an indirect free kick that Canadian goalie Asmir Begovic stopped. But Adriano converted the rebound, firing it to the right of Begovic.

Canada was forced to play with 10 men for the final three minutes of injury time following the ejection of David Edgar in the 90th minute. Moments later, Parana intercepted a pass in the Canadian zone and made a cross to Adriano, who beat Begovic to round out the scoring.

Thromguard

05-24-2006, 06:23 PM

I am not sure how many people watched the game on the webcast, but I hope that there were a bunch of people that did. I was at the game in Victoria and it was a good game. I think that Brazil deserved the win in the end. I did think that the Ref was difficult for the Canadian players to deal with as he definitely Refed in the Latin style that he is used to. He allowed a lot of pushing and pulling fouls to go unchecked but called most all of the lower body fouls including ones that were good hard tackles. It was definitely frustrating the Canadian players as our skilled players were getting pushed off most of the time w/o getting an calls. If you watched the game you would have noticed that Lombardo actually stopped going up for the headers that he could flick on or play back into the midfielders as he was getting a push in the back everytime. He just started to try to play off of their mistakes in the air and pick up the trash. As for the goal that Lombardo scored, I don't know who wrote the game report up but it was not accurate. There was a good ball played through for him but he literally had to fight his way past two seperate defenders that were blatantly obbstructing him to get to the ball at about the same time as the keeper and then beat the keeper. The crowd went absolutely crazy and he came running over to the grandstand to celebrate with the fans and his teamates. I think that it was great that he involved the crowd like that. The Ref made some definite decided advantages for the Brazilians as they got away with a lot of pushing after the whistle and constant kicking or throwing away the ball after fouls called against them. They even blocked the Canadian players from getting to the ball at times. There was an incident where Nunez went into a challenge and won the tackle but the ball went out of play. He was hurt in the challenge but the Ref did not go to tend to him and allowed the Brazilians to take the throw-in while we had the injured player down in our defensive third. He was down until the next stoppage when he finally came over to see if he was ok after Asmir Begovic lost his mind towards the Mexican Ref.

Shahbaz

05-24-2006, 06:58 PM

He was down until the next stoppage when he finally came over to see if he was ok after Asmir Begovic lost his mind towards the Mexican Ref.
He should have worried about the net.
Does this guy have a chance of playing for the Senior team?

Joe MacCarthy

05-24-2006, 09:04 PM

He should have worried about the net.
Does this guy have a chance of playing for the Senior team?He has done very well so far and hasn't neglected the net. No, he doesn't have a chance of starting for the CMNT for a while yet. See below.

Just some random comments:

Thromguard, your comments about the Lombardo goal are right on. It was a fine piece of work.

For some reason Canada has never had a problem playing Brazil at any level. Losses, yes but we never seem to be intimidated or humiliated. We always seem to have problems with teams nearer our level.

Here was my comment (at the start of my game PBP) on another forum before the start of the Victoria game. Mexican referee = We're DOOMED :)

The only solace we can take is that it is good training for the kids to get used to this "style" of refereeing before the WYC and their senior NT career.

There were lots of comments on why such a talented country such as Brazil has to resort to such unsportsmanlike "tactics". They call it gamesmanship we call it "unmanly" or cheating.

Even the Brazilian women put on a disgraceful act at the U19 world's in Edmonton a few year's ago. Truly unnecessary but it was pretty sweet when Kara Lang had the "In your face" reaction to the Brazilian goalie after scoring her PK. Very satisfying to have won that game, which was probably the most dramatic and entertaining game I've seen in years.

The Vancouver game should say a lot about the Canadian team. They may be without their leader Edgar who may or may not miss the game because of the red card (this can be waived as they are friendlies). If Brazil displays their usual sense of sportsmanship I'm assuming he'll not be playing.

It would be a good test without Edgar as the other guys will have to step up to the plate. Lots of reaction about Lumley who has made some bonehead plays but apparently is an immense talent.

Štaćetimojeime, about your Begovic query. He's only 19 (will be next month) and he has a long way to go. He was called to be an emergency backup for the Luxembourg game a while back.

The Canadian senior goal situation is more solid than it's been for a long time and getting better as well. Recently Daniel Fernandes - PAOK (Greece A Ethniki) (1) has been called up to the Portugal U21 so it looks as if he is out of the picture (although he was never really in the mix to begin with)

Here is my depth chart for what looks like coach Frank Yallop's present choices for CMNT keeper. This is my opinion only, subject to argument but I think it's a reasonable assumption.

1A Greg Sutton - Montreal Impact (USL First Division) (2)
1B Kenny Stamatopoulos - Tromso (Norwegian Tippeligaen) (1)
1C Lars Hirschfeld - Rosenborg (Norwegian Tippeligaen) (1)
4 Josh Wagenaar - ADO Den Haag (Holland Eredivisie) (1)
5 Asmir Begovic - La Louviere (Belgian 3e Klasse Group A/B) (3)
6 Alim Karim - Lombard-Pápa TFC (Hungary Borsodi Liga) (1)

Here is the depth chart in terms of playing level/time and performance with their club teams. Again, my opinion only.

1A Lars Hirschfeld - Rosenborg (Norwegian Tippeligaen) (1)
1B Kenny Stamatopoulos - Tromso (Norwegian Tippeligaen) (1)
1C Greg Sutton - Montreal Impact (USL First Division) (2)
4 Josh Wagenaar - ADO Den Haag (Holland Eredivisie) (1)
5 Alim Karim - Lombard-Pápa TFC (Hungary Borsodi Liga) (1)
6 Asmir Begovic - La Louviere (Belgian 3e Klasse Group A/B) (3)

Pat Onstad Houston Dynamo (MLS) formerly Canada's number one has retired from CMNT play. He has had a fantastic club career in MLS (two time keeper of the year) but was very unsteady for Canada. He did have two spectacular games in the WC qualifying but the rest were very average or poor.

Alim Karim (I believe) is presently recovering from an injury and his team will likely be relegated. He had a spectacular performance for us in the UAE WYC a few years ago helping us to the quarter final losing to Spain on a GG. He stopped two or three PKs in that tournament.

Stamatopoulos has played very well for Canada, against Spain particularly. Looks like he'll be getting in some more games at Tromso as Knut Borch (one of the top keepers in Norway) has broken a bone in his foot. Edit: Apparently not broken :(

Hirschfeld has sent Norway number one Espen Johnsen packing at Rosenborg and won the top job.

Greg Sutton has had English CCC offers (speculation) but they likely didn't involve being a starter and I think he probably has a pretty good deal in Montreal by A-League standards. Lots of people calling for him to be the Toronto FC (MLS) goalie and that is a definite possibility. He has definitely matured as a keeper after a disastrous start a few years ago with the MLS' Chicago Fire and I think he will triumphantly return to MLS.

Josh Wagenaar has recently signed with ADO Den Haag and they released two keepers afterward so that is a good sign. He performed well at the WYC in Holland where he was likely scouted and decided to forego his final year of university in the US.

Begovic has a lot of potential but was thrown in as a starter at La Louviere last year and did not perform well. He was only 17/18 so it is excusable. He is there on loan from Portsmouth but because of financial irregularities (can't recall if it was match fixing as well?) La Louviere has been dropped to the third division. Hopefully, Portsmouth will move him.

We had another young goalie (a Begovic rival) in the Glasgow Rangers system who had a lot of potential, Robert Giacomi, but like Begovic had a disastrous loan spell at Stirling Albion (Scottish Second Division) and was released by Rangers. Hope we haven't heard the last of him yet.

Whoa, way off topic by me, might move this part to it's own thread if it keeps going.

Joe MacCarthy

05-24-2006, 09:19 PM

I am not sure how many people watched the game on the webcast, but I hope that there were a bunch of people that did.
The bottom of this thread may be of interest.
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=355988&page=6

Thromguard

05-24-2006, 09:30 PM

Just an FYI about tomorrow's game. The Ref is going to be another Mexican Ref. I hope that Canada can adjust to the Latin style that these Refs bring as we are sure to see a lot of this at the Tournament next year. I do hope that the Red card and the players with multiple Yellow cards do not carry over. I also hope that the Brazilians stop using these gamesmanship tactics or that the Ref at least deals with them appropriately. Only time will tell though.

Joe MacCarthy

05-24-2006, 09:41 PM

Just an FYI about tomorrow's game. The Ref is going to be another Mexican Ref. Mexican referee = We're DOOMED :)

I hadn't checked, that is not good. I'm usually not the type to moan about referees but many of the Latin/Central American refs are either truly incompetent or corrupt. I'm choosing (and hoping) to believe incompetent.

The referee directly cost us two games in the WC qualifying. We blew the first game against Guatemala (we lost fair and square due to our own lack of preparation) but the game Archundia refereed (Honduras) was truly criminal. The phantom foul on Mark Watson in the box where the Honduran slipped on the wet turf was incredible seeing as Watson was three feet behind him. That and another phantom foul at the other end (Occean) directly cost us the game.

Even outside observers were saying we were robbed and Archundia is going to the World Cup this year. Incredulous.

Joe MacCarthy

05-26-2006, 03:46 AM

Mexican referee = We're DOOMED :sick:

I didn't see tonight's game yet, but considering one source who is usually hyper critical of Canada called the refereeing again shameful it sounds like a repeat of the game in Victoria.

Brazil 3 Canada 1
Swangard Stadium – Burnaby, BC
Attendance 6,482

Goals:
Canada – Bourgault 13 (OG), Lombardo 67, Lumley 79 (OG);
Brazil – Renatinho 56

Cautions:
Canada – Jackson 6, Bourgault 15, Lombardo 41, Nunez 63, Johnson 87;
Brazil – Amaral (44)
Expulsions – Johnson 90+

Sounded like the Brazilians employed their usual "tactics" and per usual a Latin ref made a meal of it. Doesn't sound like it affected any of the goals scored but frustrating nonetheless.

Brazil won and that's what goes in the history books.

Joe MacCarthy

05-26-2006, 05:18 AM

Men’s U-20 Team
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Canada Falls to Brazil in Final Game of Series
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2453

http://i4.tinypic.com/10pvfk2.jpg
Jaime Peters was the provider for Canada's goal
Photo: CSA/Dale Macmillan

Burnaby, British Columbia – Canada’s U-20 National team were on the wrong side of a 3:1 score line this evening in front of a near-capacity crowd of 6,482 fans at Burnaby’s Swangard Stadium. Two own-goals and a powerful header from Brazilian striker Renatinho paced the South Americans past their North American counterparts.

Canada’s Andrea Lombardo pulled the young Canadian team to within one after some wonderful work from Jaime Peters on the wing but in the end, Canada could not find that elusive equalizer and Brazil walked off winning two of three games in Canada.

For the first time in the three-game series, the Canadians found themselves down early after Jonathan Bourgault instinctively flicked out his right foot to clear an attempted shot by the Brazilian, Taianan, but unfortunately for the Ile Bizard-native his attempted clearance flew into the upper left corner of Asmir Begovic’s goal.

To add insult to injury, the youngster was booked two minutes later.

The closest Canada would come in the opening half would be a scramble in front of the Brazilian goal after Ipswich-based Jaime Peters teased the left side of the Brazilian defence then drilled a low, hard cross toward the near post that the Brazilian ‘keeper bobbled initially but gathered in time to deny Andrea Lombardo an attempt at goal. Unfortunately for the Brazilian, Lombardo stuck his boot in anyway. The Canadian was subsequently booked for the foul.

Eight minutes into the second half, Brazil was almost gifted another own goal. Again, it was a Taianan shot that skipped off a Canadian player; this time it was Will Johnson that tried to head clear but inadvertently flicked the ball toward the upper corner. This time Begovic was alert to the danger and at full-stretch managed to palm away the deflection.

Just before the hour-mark though, the Brazilians would stretch their lead to two when the right back Amaral roared down the wing then swung a ball to the far post for an unmarked Renatinho who easily nodded home his third of the series.

But Canada’s scorer from the second game of the series in Victoria would strike again and draw Canada to within one. After Peters shrugged aside two Brazilians at the left corner of the area then spun and left them for dead, the speedy winger delivered a sublime cross to pick out Lombardo who had held up his run at the back post. Lombardo side-footed the cross on his first touch leaving Muriel no chance to set for the save and suddenly the Canucks were back in it.

Simeon Jackson almost pulled Canada level minutes later when he got on the right side of his marker then turned to fire toward goal but a Brazilian defender slid across to make a vital block.

A little over ten minutes later though, Brazil stormed forward through Beto who made his way to the top of the area then smashed a shot that seemed destined for the lower corner of Begovic’s goal but the keeper did ever so well to palm the shot wide. However, Luis Adriano raced to the rebound quickest and then sliced a pass back toward Leyrielton at the top of the six yard box. The Brazilian’s shot toward goal was blocked initially but got caught between the legs of Stephen Lumley who unfortunately dragged the ball into his own goal with his trailing leg.

Canadian head coach, Dale Mitchell, in the end was complimentary to both sides in his post-match comments.

“The game tonight was a little bit different than the previous two games in that it was very open right from the beginning.”

“In the last two matches we did very well defensively in the first half and gave ourselves a chance to win in the second half.”

“Right from the start I think it was a good game for the fans that were here but once you start trading chances and playing an open match against players with the skill of the Brazilians, eventually they are going to punish you.

“We had some chances of our own but you can’t really question the result and at the same time, you cannot really question the effort of our players throughout the series.”

The Canadians and Brazilians split the first two games of the series with Canada winning 2:1 in Edmonton, and the Brazilians dominating the proceedings three days later in the BC capital of Victoria, winning 3:1.

Thursday, May 25, 2006 - International Friendly
Swangard Stadium – Burnaby, BC
Attendance 6,482

CANADA – 1 (0)
BRAZIL – 3 (1)

Goals: Canada – Bourgault 13 (OG), Lombardo 67, Lumley 79 (OG); Brazil – Renatinho 56
Cautions: Canada – Jackson 6, Bourgault 15, Lombardo 41, Nunez 63, Johnson 87; Brazil – Amaral (44)
Expulsions – Johnson 90+

CANADA: 1-BEGOVIC, Asmir (captain); 21-OWUSU-ANSAH, Kennedy (19-D’AGOSTINO, Mike, 60); 5-LUMLEY, Stephen; 6-EDGAR, David; 3-O’CONNOR, Kent; 16-JACKSON, Simeon; 4-BOURGAULT, Jonathan (14-AYRE, Keegan, 46); 8-NUNEZ, Cristian (13-CONTRERAS, Hector, 85); 7-PETERS, Jaime; 10-JOHNSON, Will (C); 15-LOMBARDO, Andrea

Head Coach: Dale Mitchell (CAN)
Subs not used: 2-LORETH, Joey; 9-ELLIOTT, Alex; 11-BABINEAU, Olivier; 22-MONSALVE, David; 12-BALDE, Ibrahim; 17-McCALLUM, Gavin; 18-GALA, Gabe; 20-TURNBULL, Masumi

BRAZIL: 1-Muriel Gustavo Becker (MURIEL); 2-Antonio Cleilson da Silva Feitosa (AMARAL) (14-Leyrielton Moura de Moraes (LEYRIELTON), 71); 3-Anderson Luis de A.R. Marques (ANDERSON); 4-Edson Henrique da Silva (EDSON); 5-Fernando Franciso Regel (FERNANDO); 6-Carlos Eduardo Dutra Oliveira (CARLÃO) (13-Edivelton Feliciano Moreira (CAÇAPA), 85); 7-Junior Felício Marques (JI PARANÁ) (captain); 8-Taianan Imberê Linhares Welker (TAIANAN) (16-Ramon Gonçalves (RAMON), 59); 9-Renato Carlos Martins Junior (RENATINHO) (17-Luis Adriano de Souza da Silva (LUIS ADRIANO), 69); 10-Diogo Luis Santo (DIOGO) (15-Nilton Ferreira Junior (NILTON), 82); 11-Alberto Antonio de Paula (BETO)

Head Coach: Nelson Rodrigues (BRA)
Subs not used: 12-Elisson Aparecido Rosa (ELISSON)

Joe MacCarthy

05-26-2006, 05:22 AM

Brazil downs Canada in U20 soccer
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2006/05/26/1598272-cp.html

BURNABY, B.C. (CP) - Powerhouse Brazil usually doesn't need much help in international soccer matches but Canada obliged anyway Thursday night.

Midfielder Jonathan Bourgault and defender Stephen Lumley both nudged own goals into the Canadian net in a 3-1 rubber-game loss in a three-match under-20 men's series against the skillful South Americans. Bourgault's miscue came in the 13th minute and gave Brazil its first early lead of the series. The second in the 79th minute was the clincher.

"It's tough because we did it ourselves, that's the worst part about it," goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, whose club team is La Louviere of Belgium, said of the own goals.

"It could be a bit of panic, maybe, but it was more our mistake. It didn't have so much to do with them."

Andrea Lombardo, who scored Thursday night after getting the only goal in Monday's 3-1 loss in Victoria, said the own goals resulted from poor communication.

"We got really unlucky on the (own goal) because if (Bourgault) hears the shout, then Asmir's got that ball in his hands, no problem," said Lombardo, who plays for Perugia Calcio of Italy.

"I think we just got unlucky from the get-go. It's just a bitter night because, both losses, we knew we could have done a lot better. I don't think 3-1 for either of the two games was a good scoreline."

Renato Carlos Martins Junior (Renatinho) gave Brazil a 2-0 lead in the 56th minute.

Brazilian midfielder Taianan Imbere Linhares Welker (Taianan), who was dangerous with the ball most of the night, created the first goal with a brilliant run in traffic.

He dribbled through several defenders at the top of the penalty area before attempting a shot on goal that Bourgault, of Ile Bizard, Que., deflected behind Begovic.

Renatinho scored what proved to be the winner when he got a boot to a far-post cross from Antonio Cleilson da Silva Feitosa (Amaral).

Lombardo, who almost scored in the first half but received a yellow card because of a second kick to pry the ball away from goalkeeper Muriel Gustavo Becker, injected life into the Canadian attack after the intermission.

His goal was engineered by Jamie Peters who beat two defenders to cross a ball that found Lombardo's foot at the far post.

Canada almost tied it when Simeon Jackson missed from in close but Brazil scored again with Begovic out of position during a melee in the penalty area and with Lumley under pressure from three attackers.

"It's hard to keep talking to guys about how they have to defend against this team but two games we gave ourselves a chance to win in the second half by being very solid defensively," said Canadian coach Dale Mitchell.

"Once it opened up late in the game and we start trading chances, it's always dangerous against a team with so much ability as the Brazilians."

The Canadians began the friendly series Friday in Edmonton with a stunning 2-1 upset. The South Americans bounced back Monday but didn't lead until the 87th minute.

Mitchell used the series to measure his charges against some of the best young players in the world.

Canada will play host to the FIFA U20 World Cup from July 1-22 next summer.

"We learned a lot about the character of our team and some of our players," Mitchell said.

Canadian men hadn't beaten Brazil until Friday. The senior men earned a pair of ties - 0-0 at the 2001 Confederation Cup in Japan and 1-1 in a friendly in Edmonton prior to the 1994 World Cup won by the Brazilians.

Brazil coach Nelson Rodrigues said the series was good preparation for the South American championship.

Canada had a very tactical team," Rodrigues said. "We played skilled soccer and we showed today what Brazil is capable of doing."

NOTES: Kerlon Moura Souza, the 18-year-old phenomenon who has drawn interest from Manchester United and been dubbed Brazil's next Ronaldinho, missed his second straight game ... Keegan Ayre came on for Bourgault at the start of the second half ... Brazil outshot the Canadians 15-9.

Joe MacCarthy

05-31-2006, 01:04 PM

Tks to Sigma at Vs for headsup

Goal!
Kitchener player becomes first Canadian to score on Brazil in under-20 play
Richard O'Brien Record Staff
http://www.therecord.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=record/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1149027015462&call_pageid=1024322085460&col=1024322199505%20br%20/

http://i2.tinypic.com/1195ks7.jpg
David Edgar Record Staff

http://i3.tinypic.com/1195kxt.jpg
A goal from Kitchener's David Edgar helped Canada's under-20 soccer team beat Brazil for the first time. The teams traded jerseys after three exhibition matches. Record Staff

EDMONTON (May 31, 2006)

David Edgar was ecstatic. He was also on the leading edge of Canadian soccer.

On Friday, May 19, in Edmonton, the defender from Kitchener became the first Canadian to score against Brazil at the under-20 level.

His goal was a great 19th birthday present.

It also helped Canada's under-20 men's squad to its first win over Brazil by a 2-1 score. Canada had lost four previous under-20 meetings -- all by shutout -- to Brazil dating back to 1985.

But not this time. Not after Edgar came forward for a free kick 25 minutes into the game, which was the first of three exhibition matches against Brazil.

Then the opportunity came his way as he stood just inside the 18-yard box.

"(The ball) just dropped nice on my foot and it's one of the best goals I ever scored," he said. "I just volleyed it in the top corner."

With that goal, he made a place for himself in Canadian soccer history.

"I'm the first male to score against Brazil at that level," Edgar said. "And that sent us on our way to our first ever victory over Brazil."

After that, Canada lost to Brazil twice by 3-1 scores. But the players who hope to shape the future of Canadian soccer had already reached a milestone.

And it came after they played good, respectable soccer against Portugal, China and Norway.

The Canadians lost 1-0 to Portugal in early May. In April, they tied 1-1 with Norway and 0-0 with China.

"It's definitely coming along now," Edgar said. "We're holding our own against good teams. All the teams that are recognized in the football culture, we've been competitive against."

In the second game against Brazil, the teams were tied 1-1 with about 10 minutes to go.

But the Brazilians scored on a penalty kick and added another late goal after Edgar was red carded for an unfair tackle.

"I was caught up in the moment of the game and I was upset that we let two easy goals in," Edgar said.

"I lost my discipline and paid the price. Luckily, I wasn't suspended for the third game."

Edgar said that Brazilian coach Nelson Rodrigues reacted with surprise when he found out Edgar was in the lineup for Game 3.

"When he found out I was playing he said 'No, no. No. 6 isn't playing,' "Edgar said.

"I take that as a bit of a compliment because he said he didn't want me playing."

Edgar left home at age 14 to play soccer at Newcastle United's academy. Last September, he signed a pro contract with Newcastle and has been on the reserve squad of the Premier league team ever since.

His Canadian under-20 teammates come from a variety of soccer backgrounds, he said. Some play in Europe, others are with U.S. colleges and some are playing in their hometowns.

Edgar and his under-20 teammates are looking forward to the 2007 under-20 World Cup in Canada.

Then there's the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Will Canada qualify?

"We're definitely looking forward to 2010 and the next shot to get in the World Cup," Edgar said. "I think there's a good chance of seeing a few players from (the under-20) team being involved on that squad."

Joe MacCarthy

05-31-2006, 08:50 PM

Canada vs USA - Men's U20 Soccer
Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON
Fri, Jul 7, 2006 07:00 PM

Info from ticketmaster.

Joe MacCarthy

06-01-2006, 04:29 PM

Men’s U-20 Team
Thursday, June 01, 2006
U20 Matches Planned for Toronto & Kingston
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2456

Ottawa, Ontario – The Canadian Soccer Association is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement with the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) that will see US Soccer’s U-20 National Team travel to Toronto, Ontario and Kingston, Ontario for two international friendlies with Canada’s U-20 National Team on July 7 and 9, 2006.

The matches are scheduled to take place at Rogers Centre in Toronto on July 7th at 7:00pm ET and Richardson Stadium at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario two days later with the kickoff also scheduled for 7:00pm.

Tickets for the game at Rogers Centre in Toronto will go on sale at 10:00am on Friday, June 2nd and are priced at $19.00, $29.00, and $39.00 for sideline seating. Tickets can be purchased at Rogers Centre Box Office, at all Ticketmaster outlets, at www.ticketmaster.ca, or charge by phone at 416-872-5000.

For groups of 20 or more, please contact Rogers Centre Group Sales department at 416-341-2255.

Ontario Soccer Association (OSA) members can purchase discounted end zone tickets for $10.00 exclusively through the OSA at 905-264-9390.

Tickets for the match at Richardson Stadium in Kingston will be priced at $29.00 for Centre Gold Reserved seating, $19.00 for Sideline Reserved seating, and $12.00 for General Admission seating.

General Admission tickets for this match can be purchased at the Southeast Ontario Soccer Association at 613-546-6642, while all Reserved Seating can be purchased at the Physical Education Centre on the campus of Queen’s University at 613-533-6000 x 74715, and online at www.whatsonkingston.com, and www.goldengaels.com.

Since the two teams first tangled in October 1976, Canada and the USA have played 24 times at the U-20 level, with the Americans holding the advantage in the cross-border series with 11 wins to Canada’s eight. Five matches have ended in draws.

The last meeting between the two CONCACAF rivals took place in May 2005 in Blaine, Minnesota ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Championship in Holland. Canada opened the scoring in that match through current U-20 striker Will Johnson but the US responded in the first half with goals from Eddie Gaven and Freddy Adu to rescue a 2:1 for the Americans.

Canada’s last victory over the US was at the 2002 CONCACAF Qualifying Tournament in Charleston, SC. Canada raced out to an early 3:0 lead before the US pulled back two goals in less than four minutes (73rd and 76th min.). The Canadians eventually held firm for the 3:2 win, and thus claimed the top spot in the qualifying group and a place in the 2003 FIFA U-20 World Youth Championships in the UAE.

Dale Mitchell, whose squad just wrapped up a very successful three-game, tri-city series against Brazil’s U-20s (Canada won 2:1 against Brazil in the series opener in Edmonton, and lost the next two in Victoria and Burnaby by the same 3:1 score line) was tremendously excited about the inclusion of the two US games into his 2006 schedule.

'The United States is now a regular participant at the U-20 World Championships (now named the U-20 World Cup) and are usually among the top ten teams at the event,” said the Canadian head coach. “Therefore, we are pleased to get two more quality Internationals against a very good opponent.”

Mitchell was also encouraged by the location of the games, stating that these matches “will also be another opportunity, like the games we have just finished against Brazil, for our boys to play in Canada and accustom themselves with a home crowd.”

”I am sure we can count on getting the same amount of support in both Kingston and Toronto that we did in Edmonton, Victoria, and Burnaby.'

The two-match series will mark the first time in just over six years since a Canadian U-20 team has played in Ontario.

In June 2000, Canada split a three-game series against Guatemala’s U-20 National Team after drawing with the Central Americans in London (3:3) on June 23, narrowly defeating them in Scarborough (1:0) on June 25 thanks to an Iain Hume penalty, and losing the finale by the same score line two days later in Guelph (0:1).

Match Information
July 7 - CANADA vs. USA – Presented by adidas
Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON – 19:00 ET

July 9 - CANADA vs. USA – Presented by CIBC
Richardson Stadium, Kingston, ON – 19:00 ET

FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007
In 2007, Canada will host the World’s finest youth players in six cities across the country – Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Burnaby, and Victoria – with the tentative dates for the tournament set for June 30-July 22, 2007.

The biennial event is second only to the FIFA World Cup in size and scope and will showcase the most talented under-20 soccer players in the world. The tournament has been the coming-out party for some of the game’s top players - Maradona, Saviola, Raúl, Marco Van Basten, Luis Figo, Ruiz Costa, Thierry Henry, Adriano, Roberto Carlos, Bebeto and Dunga as well as Canada’s Craig Forrest and many members of the current Men’s World Cup Team including Julian de Guzman, Paul Stalteri, Atiba Hutchinson and Iain Hume.

Last held in CONCACAF in 1983 in Mexico, Canada’s most recent participation in this event occurred last June in the Netherlands from June 10 - July 2, 2005.

Canada enjoyed it’s its best ever finish in a World Championship in December 2003, losing to eventual silver medalist Spain on a golden goal in the quarter finals in the United Arab Emirates.

For more information regarding the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007, please visit www.FIFA.com.

Joe MacCarthy

06-21-2006, 05:55 PM

Men’s U-20 Team
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Canada U-20 Roster Unveiled for USA series
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2463

http://i6.tinypic.com/155oz8k.jpg
Canada's Starting 11 vs Brazil on May 19th in Edmonton

Ottawa, Ontario – Canada’s U-20 National Team head coach, Dale Mitchell, has released his 18-man roster for the upcoming two-game series against the USA on July 7 and 9, 2006.

The matches against the US are scheduled to take place at Rogers Centre in Toronto on July 7th at 7:00pm ET and Richardson Stadium at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario two days later with the kickoff also scheduled for 7:00pm.

Tickets for the game at Rogers Centre in Toronto are priced at $19.00, $29.00, and $39.00 for sideline seating. Tickets can be purchased at Rogers Centre Box Office, at all Ticketmaster outlets, at www.ticketmaster.ca, or charge by phone at 416-872-5000. For groups of 20 or more, please contact Rogers Centre Group Sales department at 416-341-2255. Ontario Soccer Association (OSA) members can purchase discounted end zone tickets for $10.00 exclusively through the OSA at 905-264-9390.

Tickets for the match at Richardson Stadium in Kingston are priced at $29.00 for Centre Gold Reserved seating, $19.00 for Sideline Reserved seating, and $12.00 for General Admission seating. General Admission tickets for this match can be purchased at the Southeast Ontario Soccer Association at 613-546-6642, while all Reserved Seating can be purchased at the Physical Education Centre on the campus of Queen’s University at 613-533-6000 x 74715, and online at www.whatsonkingston.com and www.goldengaels.com.

While Dale Mitchell will be without some of his more veteran players, the head coach certainly sees the opportunity for some of the players included in this roster to impress against the talented Americans and prove that they deserve a roster spot in 11 months time when the Canucks kick off the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Toronto.

"With the majority of our European based players back with their clubs for pre-season training, this U.S.A. series will provide a good opportunity for our Canadian based boys. Many of this group did not get much of an opportunity against the Brazilians and therefore should be anxious to show well against the Americans. However, the games will be far from easy as the U.S. is normally very strong in this age group."

Since the two teams first tangled in October 1976, Canada and the USA have played 24 times at the U-20 level, with the Americans holding the advantage in the cross-border series with 11 wins to Canada’s eight. Five matches have ended in draws.

The last meeting between the two CONCACAF rivals took place in May 2005 in Blaine, Minnesota ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Championship in Holland. Canada opened the scoring in that match through current U-20 striker Will Johnson but the US responded in the first half with goals from Eddie Gaven and Freddy Adu to rescue a 2:1 for the Americans.

Canada’s last victory over the US was at the 2002 CONCACAF Qualifying Tournament in Charleston, SC. Canada raced out to an early 3:0 lead before the US pulled back two goals in less than four minutes (73rd and 76th min.). The Canadians eventually held firm for the 3:2 win, and thus claimed the top spot in the qualifying group and a place in the 2003 FIFA U-20 World Youth Championships in the UAE.

Match Information

July 7 - CANADA vs. USA – Presented by adidas
Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON – 19:00 ET

July 9 - CANADA vs. USA – Presented by CIBC
Richardson Stadium, Kingston, ON – 19:00 ET

Roster - CANADA

# Player POS DOB Club Hometown Prov.
1 GK MONSALVE, David NTC - Ontario 21-Dec-88 Brampton ON
2 D OWUSU-ANSAH, Kennedy NTC - Ontario 20-Jul-89 Toronto ON
3 D O'CONNOR, Kent 1860 Munich (Germany) 5-Mar-87 North Vancouver BC
4 M BALDE, Ibrahim Montreal Impact 24-Sep-87 Montreal QC
5 D LUMLEY, Stephen NTC - Ontario 16-Apr-87 Mississauga ON
6 D ATTAKORA-GYAN, Nana NTC - Ontario 27-Mar-89 Orangeville ON
7 D TURNBULL, Masumi University of Kentucky (USA) 30-Mar-87 Richmond BC
8 F ELLIOTT, Alex University of Portland (USA) 24-Apr-87 Vancouver BC
9 F DI IOIA, Massimo Montreal Impact 18-Jun-87 Montreal QC
10 M CONTRERAS, Hector NTC - Quebec 24-Jun-87 Montreal QC
11 M BABINEAU, Olivier University of Montreal 12-Jul-87 Dieppe NB
12 M MAYARD, Pierre-Rudolph NTC - Quebec 21-Feb-88 Laval QC
13 F LAMMIE, Selvin (Shane) NTC - Ontario 3-Aug-88 Toronto ON
14 D/M GALA, Gabe National Training Centre - Ontario 29-Jun-89 Brampton ON
15 M/F D'AGOSTINO, Mike University of Kentucky (USA) 7-Jan-87 Langley BC
16 D LESLIE, Stefan Vancouver Whitecaps 23-Oct-87 Richmond BC
17 D LORETH, Joey Oregon State University (USA) 19-Jan-87 Victoria BC
22 GK CATLEY, Adam Hartwick College (USA) 19-Dec-87 Burlington ON

Staff
MITCHELL, Dale - Head Coach
DASOVIC, Nick - Assistant Coach
MULDOON, Kevin - Equipment Manager/GK Coach
LAING, Dwayne - Athletic Therapist
NUTT, Dave - National Teams Administrator

Joe MacCarthy

06-22-2006, 11:15 AM

Canada's under-20 team will have a few fresh faces
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2006/06/21/1646039-cp.html

OTTAWA (CP) - Canada's under-20 men's soccer team will be missing some veteran European-based players for its two-game series with the United States in July, the team announced Wednesday.

The 18-man roster for the friendlies, which will be played July 7 and 9, includes three players born in 1989 (Gabe Gala, Nana Attakora-Gyan and Kennedy Owusu-Ansah) and three in 1988 (Shane Lammie, Pierre-Rudolph Mayard and David Monsalve).

"With the majority of our European-based players back with their clubs for pre-season training, this U.S.A. series will provide a good opportunity for our Canadian-based boys," head coach Dale Mitchell said in a release. "Many of this group did not get much of an opportunity against the Brazilians and therefore should be anxious to show well against the Americans.

"However, the games will be far from easy as the U.S. is normally very strong in this age group."

Mitchell's squad recently finished a three-game series against Brazil's under-20 team. The Canadians posted a 2-1 victory in Edmonton and 3-1 losses in Victory and Burnaby, B.C.

None of the players who scored for Canada in those games - Andrea Lombardo, David Edgar and Will Johnson - is on the roster for the games against the U.S.

Canada and the U.S. have played each other 24 times since their first game in 1976, with the Americans holding an advantage in the cross-border series with 11 wins to Canada's eight. Five games ended in ties.

The U.S. beat Canada 2-1 the last time they played, in May 2005 in Blaine, Minn., just ahead of the under-20 world championship in the Netherlands.

Joe MacCarthy

06-25-2006, 01:34 PM

Tks to sstackho at Vs for headsup

Leslie's stock on rise: Versatile teenager makes most of relief opportunities
Dan Stinson Vancouver Sun 06-23-2006

Stefan Leslie has come a long way in a very short time on the Canadian soccer scene.

Last year, the 18-year-old Richmond native was playing in almost total anonymity with the Vancouver Whitecaps reserve team in the Pacific Coast Soccer League.

Signed by the Whitecaps first team on April 19, Leslie has made five appearances in this United Soccer Leagues First Division season and is knocking on the door for a place with Canada's under-20 national side.

Leslie's emergence as regular player with the Caps in his rookie year is partly due to the team's injury problems. Four players -- forwards Jason Jordan, Eddy Sebrango and Corey Woolfolk, plus midfielder Alfredo Valente -- continue to nurse injuries as the Caps head into a Sunday game against the Puerto Rico Islanders at Swangard Stadium.

Leslie's playing time includes three starts. And although Leslie is still looking for his first USL point, head coach Bob Lilley has confidence in the youngster's ability to contribute.

"Stefan's a very fit young man who plays heads-up soccer and hasn't looked out of place," says Lilley. "He's played mostly as a forward, but his versatility is such that I can also slot him in midfield or as a defender. I think he's got a very bright future in this game."

A graduate of North Surrey Secondary School, Leslie made an impact in his earlier teenage years at the 2004 Canadian under-16 championships, helping the B.C. team win the silver medal. He also played for an under-18 national development team last summer in an exhibition game against New Zealand at Kelowna.

"It's just hard work and never giving up," says the 5-11, 160- pound Leslie. "I've stayed positive in my career and worked hard to become a better player."

Dale Mitchell, head coach of Canada's under-20 team, has selected Leslie to the squad of 18 players for exhibition games against the U.S. under-20 national team July 7 in Toronto and July 9 in Kingston, Ont. Leslie will also attend a six-day training camp with the national team, starting July 1.

"Some of our players will be training with their European teams at that time, and I want to have a look at some new guys," Mitchell says. "Stefan has played quite a few different positions in his career, but I don't know yet where he'll play with us. The most important thing is that he's training every day in a professional environment with the Whitecaps. It's certainly helped his development as a player."

Mitchell says it's too early to make a decision whether Leslie will play for Canada in the FIFA under-20 men's world championship tournament in July 2007. The tournament will be played in six Canadian cities, including Burnaby's Swangard Stadium.

"I'll have a squad of 22 players for the tournament and there's a core group of guys I'm comfortable with right now," Mitchell says. "That leaves a number of spots open to guys like Stefan. I'll be watching him closely over the next year and make a decision on his status as we get nearer to the tournament."

GOAL DUST: Mitchell has been widely touted as the leading candidate for head coach of Canada's senior national men's team since Frank Yallop's resignation on June 7. "Am I interested in the job? Yes." says Mitchell. "Has anybody contacted me about it? No. Nobody from the Canadian Soccer Association has contacted me."

Joe MacCarthy

07-08-2006, 01:14 AM

Men’s U-20 Team
Friday, July 07, 2006
Canada Comeback Falls One Goal Short
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2472

Toronto, Ontario – Canada’s U-20 National Team fell to their CONCACAF rivals, USA, by a score of 2-1 on a beautiful evening at the Rogers Centre in downtown Toronto. The Canadians pulled to within a goal after falling behind by two in the first half but could not find the elusive equalizer and will now hope to split the two-game series when the two teams reconvene in Kingston, ON on Sunday, July 9th.

The opening half hour was a battle for control of the midfield with genuine scoring opportunities at a premium – the best chance of the first thirty minutes fell to the foot of American Robbie Rogers, whose shot sailed high and well over David Monsalve’s goal from just inside the area.

But the chance would prove to be a warning to the Canadian defence that would go unheeded.

In the 31st minute, Rogers appeared to have gotten the better of Canadian new-boy Stefan Leslie but the Whitecaps defender did incredibly well to recover and wrestle possession back from the American. But Leslie dwelled far too long in possession and was stripped by Rogers 25 yards from the Canadian goal. The University of Maryland product then took two touches to clear his feet and hammered a shot into the roof of the Canadian goal for the game’s opener.

Seven minutes later the Americans stretched their lead to two when some delightful interplay at the top of the Canadian area sprung Josmer Altidore in alone on Monsalve. The Brampton-native did very well to block Altidore’s initial shot but the ricochet was not kind to Monsalve and the ball fell straight back to Altidore to coolly slide his shot into the empty goal.

The Canadians came back from the break with far more purpose and energy though, with the pace of second half substitutes Shane Lammie and AJ Gray posing several issues for the US wingbacks.

Twice Canada would come close – first after an Olivier Babineau free kick whistled just wide of the US goal, then ten minutes later, Massimo Di Ioia came within a hair of beating US keeper Mike Gustavson at his near post.

But eventually the Canadian pressure would pay off. AJ Gray managed to get around the US left back and tried to find Lammie inside the area but his cross took a deflection off the foot of Julian Valentin and settled into the back of Gustavson’s goal.

Canada would continue to press for the equalizer but the closest they would come would be a half chance that fell to the foot of Lammie but the angle was tight and the best the Canadian striker could do was lash his shot into the side netting.

“We were a bit disappointing in the first half but I was very pleased with how we responded in the second,” said Canadian Head Coach Dale Mitchell during his post-game scrum.

“When you play against the Americans you have to be prepared to compete physically because they are tremendously athletic boys. They are also technically very good and that’s why in our region, they are the best U-20 team, and we didn’t do the things we needed to do to stay with them in the first half.”

“But in the second half we competed hard and turned them around, got a goal, and for large moments of the second half had them on their back foot a little bit. Overall we gave the fans something to cheer about in the second half which is always good when you are home.”

Both teams will now travel to Kingston, ON where they will meet again on July 9th at Richardson Stadium at 7pm.

Tickets for the match at Richardson Stadium are still available and are priced at $29.00 for Centre Gold Reserved seating, $19.00 for Sideline Reserved seating, and $12.00 for General Admission seating. General Admission tickets for this match can be purchased at the Southeast Ontario Soccer Association at 613-546-6642, while all Reserved Seating can be purchased at the Physical Education Centre on the campus of Queen’s University at 613-533-6000 x 74715, and online at www.whatsonkingston.com and www.goldengaels.com.

Friday, July 7, 2006 - International Friendly Rogers Centre – Toronto, ON
Attendance: 5,325

CANADA – 1 (0)
USA – 2 (2)

Goals: Canada – none; USA – Rogers 31, Altidore 37, Valentin (OG) 80
Cautions: Canada – none; USA – Beltran 65, Sanchez 92+
Expulsions – none

Referee: Hilario GRAJEDA (USA); 1st Assistant Referee: Lee Suckle; 2nd Assistant Referee: Claudio Badea; 4th Official: Isaac Raymond

CANADA: 1-MONSALVE, David; 2-OWUSU-ANSAH, Kennedy; 5-LUMLEY, Stephen; 7-TURNBULL, Masumi (3-GRAY, AJ, 46); 8-ELLIOTT (captain) (14-GALA, Gabe, 62), Alex; 9-DI IOIA, Massimo; 10-CONTRERAS, Hector (13-LAMMIE, Shane, 46); 11-BABINEAU, Olivier; 15-D’AGOSTINO, Mike; 16-LESLIE, Stefan (4-BALDE, Ibrahim, 46); 17-LORETH, Joey (6-ATTAKORA-GYAN, Nana, 46)

Head Coach: Dale Mitchell
Subs not used: 12-MAYARD, Pierre-Rudolph; 22-CATLEY, Adam

USA: 24-GUSTAVSON, Mike; 2-DAVIES, Kyle; 3-IGWE, Amaechi; 4-VALENTIN, Julian (captain); 8-LOPEZ, Rodrigo (16-BROWN, Cameron, 72); 11-ROGERS, Robbie (17-GONZALEZ, Omar, 84); 13-WAGNER, Blake; 14-ALTIDORE, Josmer (9-SANCHEZ, Estuadro, 65); 15-RING, Brad; 19-BELTRAN, Tony; 22-ARGUEZ, Bryan (7-BONE, Corben, 65)

Head Coach: Thomas Rongen
Subs not used: 1-REIN, Marcus

benfica64

07-08-2006, 04:27 AM

Canada vs USA - Men's U20 Soccer
Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON
Fri, Jul 7, 2006 07:00 PM

Info from ticketmaster. were going to kick some yanky butt!!

Joe MacCarthy

07-08-2006, 06:06 AM

Canadian boys lose friendly to U.S.
July 07, 2006
By Ryan Johnston Sportsnet.ca
http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/article.jsp?content=20060707_235447_5380

Toronto, ON -- Robbie Rogers and Josmer Altidore scored first-half goals to give the visiting American under-20 team a 2-1 win over Canada at the Rogers Centre on Friday night.

In what was certainly a prelude to the FIFA under-20 World Cup in Canada next summer, the visiting Americans opened the scoring thanks to a brilliant 31st minute strike from Rogers, a product of the University of Maryland. Canada looked to have cleared their end from danger, but Rogers intercepted a clearance attempt and beat Canadian goalkeeper David Monsalve from the edge of the 18-yard box.

With the Canadian team reeling, the U.S. went up 2-0 thanks to an individual effort from Altidore, who plays domestically for Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls. Altidore was initially stopped by Monsalve, but a fortuitous bounce allowed an easy tap-in for the striker.

"The goal (Rogers') was from a special player, and then we got the second from the big man from the Red Bulls," said American coach Thomas Rongen. "It was a tale of two different halves, we took our chances well."

Canadian head coach Dale Mitchell agreed with Rongen's assessment, pointing to the Canadians' lack of jump in the first 20 minutes as their downfall.

"I was very disappointed with the first half because the first thing you have to do when you play against team like the U.S. is compete against them physically because they're strong boys, athletic boys, they're also technically very good. That's why, in our region, they're the best under-20 team," Mitchell said.

Mitchell made several substitutions (six were allowed instead of the normal three) at the half, which seemed to inject life into the team. A faster, more athletic attack produced several quality runs from players like AJ Gray and Selvin Lammie. The Canadian persistence paid off in the 80th minute when a Gray cross deflected in to U.S. keeper Mike Gustavson's net off defender Julian Valentin for an own goal.

With the score 2-1, the Canadians pressed for an equalizer, but in the end it just became a case of too little, too late. Some great work around the box in the 89th minute by Canadian Gabe Gala allowed Lammie a free shot from close in, but he fired off the side netting.

Mitchell was pleased with the effort in the second half, giving credit to the speed of his attackers.

"We had a little bit more speed," he said. "We started to play a little bit more directly and get the ball in behind their defence."

The game showcased the calibre of talent that will be a part of the FIFA U-20 World Cup here in Canada, starting next July. The Canadian team was eliminated after the first round of the 2003 tournament, but in 2005 it faired much better in losing to powerhouse Spain in the quarter-finals.

"We need a lot of games like this, even if they end up being defeats, to get us ready for next year," said Mitchell. "We know that we'll have a team that can compete."

Canada plays the second game in the series against the U.S. on Sunday in Kingston, ON. Kickoff is set for Richardson Stadium at 7 p.m. ET.

NOTES: The game was played on the field turf at Rogers Centre, which Mitchell claimed changed his club's approach due to the difficulty of tackling on an unnatural surface … The announced crowd of 5,325 was deceptively small thanks to a Rogers Centre policy that prohibits the consumption of alcohol in the stands during an under-20 event, thus the concourse at the Rogers Centre was full of soccer fans drinking alcohol and watching the game on the television screens.

Joe MacCarthy

07-08-2006, 06:08 AM

U.S. edges Canada in U-20 friendly
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/2006/07/07/1673759-cp.html

TORONTO (CP) - The Canadians came close, but the clock ran out before they could complete a second-half comeback against the United States.

"Ten more minutes and we would have taken it," said Canadian striker Shane Lammie, who missed two chances to tie the game as time wound down.

Instead, a pair of first-half goals by Robbie Rogers and Josmer Altidore stood up as the U.S. held on for a 2-1 victory in an under-20 friendly played at an open Rogers Centre on Friday.

"We took our chances well in the first half," said U.S. coach Thomas Rongen. "Our inability to keep possession allowed Canada to get back into the game in the second half. They put us on our heels."

Canada got on the board thanks to an own-goal by American captain Julian Valentin, who deflected A.J. Gray's cross into his own net in the 80th minute.

"We won the second half, 1-0," said Lammie, who nearly tied the game two minutes later, only to have U.S. goalie Mike Gustavson get down in time to block his close-range shot.

Lammie came close again with two minutes remaining, blasting a shot into the side netting.

"It surprised me," the Toronto native said of the scoring opportunity. "I'm a right-footed player and it came to my left foot. I just swung at it. I did all I could."

Canada has won just once in its past 14 outings after a four match-winning streak that led to a berth at the 2005 World Youth Championships.

The Canadians also failed to end a drought against its southern rival that dates back nearly four years. The last time Canada beat the United States was a 3-2 victory in November, 2002. They've lost all six meetings since.

Canada will hope to improve its form before hosting the 2007 World Youth Championships, with games scheduled for six cities across the country next June and July.

"We need a lot of games like this, even if they end up being defeats, to get us ready for next year," said Canadian coach Dale Mitchell. "We know that we'll have a team that can compete."

Mitchell was encouraged by his team's second-half success.

"We needed to change our approach and get a little bit stronger physically," he said. "We were getting out-battled in the first half. We started to play a little bit more directly and get the ball in behind their defence."

Canadian captain Alex Elliott also saw the silver lining.

"We showed that we have a deep bench," he said. "Guys came on and did their job."

With several players away on duty with European and Major League Soccer clubs, both countries fielded depleted line-ups before vocal pro-Canadian crowd of 5,325.

"It's always fun to play for a home crowd," said Elliott. "We don't get that opportunity very often."

Rogers opened the scoring in the 31st minute with a spectacular shot from 25 yards out. After losing possession to Canadian defender Stefan Leslie inside the box Rogers raced back to win the ball, then turned and fired past goalie David Monsalve and into the top left corner.

Altidore doubled the advantage in the 37th minute thanks to a surging run by Amaechi Igwe.

Igwe carried the ball from inside his own half to the edge of the Canadian penalty area before slipping a through ball to Altidore. Monsalve raced out to block the shot, but watched helplessly as Altidore collected the rebound and tapped it into an open goal.

Gustavson was rarely troubled in the first half, making just one save on a low shot from Mike D'Agostino.

The Canadians also had a free kick just outside the American penalty box, but Masumi Turnbull's curling shot was blocked.

Lammie made an immediate impact after coming on at the half. The speedy striker cut inside his defender in the 57th minute, but his lay-off attempt was booted clear.

Two minutes later, the ball fell to Elliott inside the box, but his shot was blocked before it could reach the goal.

Massimo Di Ioia missed another good chance for the hosts, blasting a shot just wide of the post in the 77th minute.

The two teams will square off again in Kingston, Ontario on Sunday, July 9.

Joe MacCarthy

07-10-2006, 01:13 AM

Men’s U-20 Team
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Elliott Blast Earns Canada a Draw Against USA
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2473

Kingston, Ontario – Canada’s U-20 National team battled back from a goal down to draw 1-1 with CONCACAF rivals USA in Kingston, ON this evening. A boisterous crowd of 5,320 at Richardson Stadium on the campus of Queens University were on hand to will Canada back after the Canucks fell behind just after an hour. But it was Alex Elliott’s rasping shot in the 74th minute that will grab the headlines, but more importantly, gave the Canadians the deserved equalizer.

The Canadians, unlike two days previous, started off the match brightly and for large portions of the first half had the Americans pinned into their own half.

In fact, the Canadians almost had a dream start when Olivier Babineau swung a corner into the box that ricocheted down to Ibrahim Balde in the third minute. The Impact defender snatched at the shot but a superb block by an American defender saved the US from an early deficit.

Ten minutes later the US also had a chance from a corner. The cross was half-cleared and eventually sat up for Red Bull New York striker Josmer Altidore to attempt a bicycle kick from the left corner of the six-yard box but a brave David Monsalve threw himself at the shot and collected the loose ball.

Monsalve had to be sharp again five minutes later when US striker Corben Bone, unmarked on the right flank, was the beneficiary of a delightfully weighted, defence-splitting ball that sprung the young Texan. But Monsalve again bravely threw himself at the feet of Bone to keep the game scoreless.

But Monsalve saved his best for the waning moments of the half. The Canadian keeper made a vital save at full-stretch after Bone again found himself inside the Canadian box with only Monsalve to beat.

The second half started much like the first, with Canada looking determined to get the better of their southern neighbours and in minute 57 it looked as though Shane Lammie was going to provide the opener after a well-weighted pass from AJ Gray led the speedy striker into the area. But some excellent defending from the two American centre-backs squeezed out Lammie – although the striker still managed to get a shot away but the converging defenders managed to block the shot for a corner.

The game was begging for a goal to open up the contest and just after the hour mark, the Americans did just that.

A cross from the right flank found the head of substitute Amaechi Igwe, whose glancing header skipped past a helpless Monsalve and settled into the left corner of the Canadian goal.

Ten minutes later though, another second-half substitute, Alex Elliott, quickly evened the contest with a thundering strike from 30 yards out. The University of Portland striker spun quickly in the middle of the US half then hammered a right-footed shot that had the US keeper scrambling across his goal. But Marcus Rein could only wave a hand at the shot as it sailed past him and into the roof of the goal.

Both teams shared chances in the dying moments of the game but could not break the deadlock and both teams walked off the field sharing the spoils.

“Tonight was a good, competitive game that I think both teams will benefit from down the road,” said Canadian Head Coach Dale Mitchell following the game. “I was pleased with the way we started tonight but we lacked that little bit of quality in the final third but having said that, we got a superb goal from Alex (Elliott) to tie the game up and certainly energized the crowd. In the end, I think a draw was probably a fair result.”

“These two games in the end were great for our preparation and anytime you can get home crowds like the one tonight it going to help the boys because we are going to have to play at home in 2007 so to try and build some of momentum as we head towards next year’s U-20 World Cup can only be beneficial.”

Sunday, July 9, 2006 - International Friendly Richardson Stadium – Kingston, ON
Attendance: 5,320

CANADA – 1 (0)
USA – 1 (0)

Goals: Canada – Elliott 74; USA – Igwe 65
Cautions: Canada – none; USA – none
Expulsions – none

Referee: Tiger Lui (CAN); 1st Assistant Referee: Joe Fletcher; 2nd Assistant Referee: Mike Lambert; 4th Official: Justin Tasav

CANADA: 1-MONSALVE, David; 2-OWUSU-ANSAH, Kennedy; 3-GRAY, AJ (16-LESLIE, Stefan, 64); 4-BALDE, Ibrahim (7-TURNBULL, Masumi, 54); 5-LUMLEY, Stephen; 6-ATTAKORA-GYAN, Nana; 9-DI IOIA, Massimo (8-ELLIOTT Alex, 58); 11-BABINEAU, Olivier; 13-LAMMIE, Shane; 14-GALA, Gabe (12-MAYARD, Pierre-Rudolph, 54); 15-D’AGOSTINO, Mike

Head Coach: Dale Mitchell
Subs not used: 10-CONTRERAS, Hector; 17-LORETH, Joey;; 22-CATLEY, Adam

USA: 1-REIN, Marcus; 4-VALENTIN, Julian (2-DAVIES, Kyle, 46); 7-BONE, Corben; 9-SANCHEZ, Estuadro (8-LOPEZ, Rodrigo, 46); 11-ROGERS, Robbie; 13-WAGNER, Blake (3-IGWE, Amaechi, 46); 14-ALTIDORE, Josmer; 15-RING, Brad (captain); 16-BROWN, Cameron; 17-GONZALEZ, Omar; 19-BELTRAN, Tony

Head Coach: Thomas Rongen
Subs not used: 24-GUSTAVSON, Mike; 22-ARGUEZ, Bryan

Joe MacCarthy

08-24-2006, 08:27 PM

Men’s U-20 Team
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Mitchell announces roster for Belgium series
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2517

Ottawa, Ontario – Canadian Men’s U20 National Team Head Coach, Dale Mitchell, has announced today his 18-man roster for the upcoming two-game friendly series versus Belgium.

The Canadians will continue their preparation for next summer’s FIFA U20 World Cup Canada with matches against the Belgian U18 National Team (born 1988) on September 2nd at St-Truidense VV at 20:00 (local time) and September 4th in Maasmechelen at 20:00 (local time). A warm up match has also been set versus the St-Truidense Youth Team on August 29th at 20:00.

Coming off a busy summer in which the U20s hosted a three-match series with the Brazilian U20 National Team in May and two matches versus the United States in July, Mitchell has selected an experienced roster led by European-based players. Of the 18 players selected for the camp, 8 are based with European clubs and of the group only Marcus Haber of FC Groningen (Netherlands) was not a part of one of the rosters for this summer’s matches.

"During the coming year we want to take advantage of the FIFA International dates in order to gather our European based players,” explained Mitchell. “Unfortunately some of the boy’s clubs are not affected by the FIFA rule and we will be without several during this camp. We also have not called any of our U.S. College players as they are busy preparing for their season. Nevertheless we need to prepare ourselves with difficult matches to get ready for next summer and playing a European opponent away from home is always a good test for our guys".

The team will depart for Belgium on August 25th with most European-based players joining the group following their weekend matches on August 26th and 27th. Kent O’Connor of 1860 Munich (Germany), Simeon Jackson of Rushden and Diamonds (England) and Andrea Lombardo recently loaned from Atalanta BC to F.C. Rieti SRL (Italy) will not be available for the matches due to club commitments.

Roster – CANADA

Pos/Complete Name/Club/Date of Birth/Hometown/Province

GK BEGOVIC, Asmir Portsmouth FC (England) 20-Jun-87 Edmonton AB
D OWUSU-ANSAH, Kennedy NTC - Ontario 20-Jul-89 Toronto ON
M AYRE, Keegan Hibernian FC (Scotland) 4-Jul-88 Coquitlam BC
M BOURGAULT, Jonathan St. Pauli FC (Germany) 27-Sep-88 Ile Bizard QC
D LUMLEY, Stephen National Training Centre - Ontario 16-Apr-87 Mississauga ON
D EDGAR, David Newcastle United FC (England) 19-May-87 Kitchener ON
M PETERS, Jaime Ipswich Town FC (England) 04-May-87 Pickering ON
M NUNEZ, Cristian FC Lyn Oslo (Norway) 07-Jul-88 Montreal QC
F DI IOIA, Massimo Montreal Impact 18-Jun-87 Montreal QC
F JOHNSON, Will SC Heerenveen (Netherlands) 21-Jan-87 Woodridge IL
M GRAY, A.J. National Training Centre - Ontario 12-Apr-88 Brampton ON
F HABER, Marcus FC Groningen (Netherlands) 11-Jan-89 Vancouver BC
F LAMMIE, Selvin (Shane) National Training Centre - Ontario 3-Aug-88 Toronto ON
D ATTAKORA-GYAN, Nana NTC - Ontario 27-Mar-89 Orangeville ON
M BALDE, Ibrahim Montreal Impact 24-Sep-87 Montreal QC
D M GALA, Gabe National Training Centre - Ontario 29-Jun-89 Brampton ON
M BABINEAU, Olivier University of Montreal 12-Jul-87 Dieppe NB
GK MONSALVE, David National Training Centre - Ontario 21-Dec-88 Brampton ON

Staff

Complete Name Duties Hometown Province

MAESTRACCI, Dominique Head of Delegation Montreal QC
MITCHELL, Dale Head Coach Port Moody BC
DASOVIC, Nick Assistant Coach Burnaby BC
MULDOON, Kevin Equipment Manager GK Coach Oakville ON
LAING, Dwayne Athletic Therapist Edmonton AB
CELEBRINI, Randy Strength and Conditioning Coach Vancouver BC
NUTT, Dave National Teams Administrator Ottawa ON

Joe MacCarthy

08-24-2006, 08:34 PM

Joe MacCarthy

09-02-2006, 09:46 PM

Men’s U-20 Team
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Canadian U20s drop heartbreaker in Belgium
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2523

Ottawa, Ontario – An injury time penalty sent the Canadian U20 Men’s National Team to a 2-1 defeat tonight at the hands of the U19 Belgian National Team in St. Truiden, Belgium.

The Canadians began the match well, displaying the technical ability to keep possession for long periods in the match’s first 30 minutes. The athleticism of the Canadians also troubled the Belgian defense as they struggled to keep attackers in front of them. This was particularly evident in the 13th minute when the Canadians countered a Belgian attack with Massimo Di Ioia dodging a sliding Belgian defender at midfield and slipping the ball to A.J. Gray in space on the right wing. Gray created space for himself and sent a picture-perfect cross to the far post where Will Johnson met the ball with a brilliant header that beat the Belgian ‘keeper to the bottom corner giving the Canadians a 1-0 lead. Gray appeared dangerous throughout the half, routinely beating his defender off the dribble to get crosses in.

Despite being out-played for large stretches of the opening half, the Belgians were able to create several quality chances of their own. Canadian goalkeeper, Asmir Begovic, was equal to the task on each occasion and received some help from his post in the 33rd minute off Belgian striker, David Pollet’s shot from a sharp angle. This proved to be the best opportunity of the half for Belgium and the Canadians headed to the locker room with a 1-0 lead.

The second half began with the Belgians taking the lion’s share of the possession but rarely threatening the Canadian goal. The Canadians never looked like conceding until the 73rd minute when Pollet raced onto a ball over the top and beat Begovic with a low blast to the near post. The match seemed destined to end in a draw until injury time when substitute Vittorio Villano found himself behind the Canadian defense. Defender, Kennedy Owusu-Ansah was forced to cut the Belgian attacker down, conceding a penalty. Villano stepped up and sent the Belgians to victory slotting home a well-taken penalty just out of Begovic’s reach.

“There were opportunities to add to our lead in the first half when we were on top of them,” explained Canadian Head Coach, Dale Mitchell. “However, some of our player’s lack of match fitness and match experience at this level cost us in the second half. We need many more games like tonight.”

The teams will meet once again on Monday, September 4th at 2000 at the home pitch of Belgian side Patro Maasmechelen.

Match Info

Saturday, September 2, 2006 - International Friendly
St-Truidense – St-Truiden, Belgium

CANADA (1987) - 1 (1)
BELGIUM (1988) – 0 (2)
Goals: Canada – Johnson (13); Belgium – Pollet (73); Villano (90)

CANADA: 1-Begovic, Asmir (c); 2-Owusu-Ansah, Kennedy; 3-Gala, Gabe; 5-Lumley, Stephen; 6-Edgar, David; 8-Nunez, Cristian (15-Balde, Ibrahim 73); 9-Di Ioia, Massimo (17-Babineau, Olivier 64); 10-Johnson, Will; 11-Gray, A.J. (7-Lacoste-Lebuis, Olivier); 13-Lammie, Shane (12-Haber, Marcus 45); 14-Attakora-Gyan, Nana

Head Coach: Dale Mitchell
Subs not used: 16-Bonafacio, Brandon; 22-Monsalve, David

BELGIUM: 1-Mignolet, Simon; 2-Kone, Michael (22-De Troetsel 58); 3-De Bock, Jelle; 4-Van Gijseghem, Daan; 5-Huyghebaert, Jeremy; 6-Clappaert, Kwinton (Verdonck, Sven 73); 7-Henkens, Robin; 8-Kums, Sven; 9-Pollet, David; 10-Vossen, Jelle (17-Villano, Vittoiro 58); 11-Cherlet, Jelle

Head Coach: Marc Van Geersom
Subs not used: 12-Bolat, Sinan; 13-Raes, Tom; 15-De Wilde, Stijn; 16-Vanderzijl, Jerome; 18-Buyens, Yoni; 19-Develer, Kane; 20-Capon, Brecht; 21-Vandenbroeck, Davy

RichardFH

09-03-2006, 08:12 PM

Not good.

Joe MacCarthy

09-04-2006, 09:47 PM

Men’s U-20 Team
Monday, September 04, 2006
Canadian U20s Earn Draw
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2524

Ottawa, Ontario – The Canadian U20 Men’s National Team returned to action tonight in the second of two matches versus the U19 Belgian National Team earning a 1-1 draw in Maasmechelen, Belgium.

From the opening kickoff, the referee’s quick whistle prevented the match from finding its’ flow. The numerous stoppages kept the match at a snail’s pace for much of the first half and denied the teams the ability to play the entertaining possession style of match seen in the opener. The Belgians, starting a completely different first eleven from Saturday’s match, were able to jump out to an early lead in the 16th minute. Tricky midfielder, Vittorio Villano, who scored the game winning penalty in Belgium’s 2-1 victory in the first match, was the supplier as he slipped in off the right wing and cut a cross back to the penalty area. A lunging block from Canadian defender, David Edgar prevented the initial shot on goal, however, the ball fell kindly to Kane Develer who was able to bang in the game’s opening goal from close range. The Canadians nearly levelled the score in the 24th minute when Will Johnson’s freekick struck the crossbar, but this was a close as they would come in the first period.

The second half began with the Canadians on the attack with halftime substitute, Shane Lammie, using his strength and speed to create several chances. It would be Lammie who would level the score in the 76th minute after he spun the last defender off a long kick forward from ‘keeper, David Monsalve. The turn sent Lammie in alone on Belgian ‘keeper, Sinan Bolat and the young striker made no mistake getting the Canadians back on level terms. Victory nearly came for Canada in the 86th minute when Johnson’s freekick again struck the crossbar, however the scrappy U20s would be forced to settle for a draw against am evenly-matched Belgian side.

“We didn’t play as much good soccer tonight as Saturday evening,” commented Canadian Head Coach, Dale Mitchell. “But I have to give our guys credit for gutting out a draw and putting them under pressure in the second half.”

Match Info
Monday, September 4, 2006 - International Friendly
Patro Maasmechelen – Maasmechelen, Belgium

CANADA - 1 (1)
BELGIUM – 1 (1)
Goals: Canada – Lammie (76); Belgium – Develer (16)

CANADA: 1-Begovic, Asmir (22-Monsalve, David 45); 3-Gala, Gabe (2-Owusu-Ansah, Kennedy 32); 4-Beaulieu-Bourgault, Jonathan; 5-Lumley, Stephen (17-Babineau, Olivier 64); 6-Edgar, David; 7-Lacoste-Lebuis, Olivier; 15-Balde, Ibrahim (8-Nunez, Cristian 32); 9-Di Ioia, Massimo (13-Lammie, Shane 45); 10-Johnson, Will; 11-Gray, A.J. (16-Bonafacio, Brandon 45); 12-Haber, Marcus

Head Coach: Dale Mitchell
Subs not used: 14-Attakora-Gyan, Nana

BELGIUM: 1-Bolat, Sinan; 2-De Troetsel; 3-Raes, Tom; 4-Verdonck, Sven (13-De Bock, Jelle 54); 5-De Wilde, Stijn; 6-Vanderzijl, Jerome; 7-Villano, Vittoiro (20-Vossen, Jelle 75); 8-Buyens, Yoni; 9-Develer, Kane (19-Pollet, David 64); 10-Capon, Brecht (17-Henkens, Robin 87); 11-Vandenbroeck, Davy

Head Coach: Marc Van Geersom
Subs not used: 12-Mignolet, Simon; 14-Van Gijseghem, Daan; 15-Huyghebaert, Jeremy; 16-Clappaert, Kwinton; 18-Kums, Sven; 21-Cherlet, Jelle

Joe MacCarthy

09-28-2006, 09:09 PM

Men’s U-20 Team
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Men’s U-20 will square off against Czech Republic
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2543

Canada continues its efforts in preparation for the U-20 FIFA World Cup Canada 2007

Ottawa, Ontario - The Canadian Soccer Association is glad to announce that the Canadian men’s U-20 National team will compete in a two game series against the Czech Republic in Prague on October 4th and 6th, 2006.

Canada last played the Czech Republic in 2003 during the FIFA World Youth Championships in the United Emirates earning a 1:0 win against the European team.

In 2006, the young Canadians have been busy with training camps and games in almost every month of the year. The U-20 National team has shown promise recently by defeating their Brazilian counterparts in Edmonton on May 19th, a first in men’s Canadian soccer history.

This announcement is yet another testament of the hard work that the Canadian side is doing in preparation for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007.

'The Czech Republic will be providing our team with a large test during the two games in Europe,' said head Coach Dale Mitchell 'They have a rich tradition of producing talented young players as can be witnessed by the quality in their senior team at the moment. It is another opportunity for our players to see what the level of teams we will be facing next year, and we look forward to the challenge.'

Led by Head Coach Miroslav Soukup, the Czech Republic qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 by reaching the UEFA European U-19 Championship semi-finals in Poland in July 2006.

Game schedule:
Wednesday, October 4th
4:30pm at Marila Pribram Stadium, Prague, Czech Republic

Thursday, October 6th
4:00pm at Roudnice Stadium, Prague, Czech Republic

Mitchell announces his roster for Czech Republic series!

The men’s U-20 National team head coach Dale Mitchell, has also announced his roster to compete in this two game match series versus the Czech Republic. The only new comer to the line up is young midfielder Landon Ling originating from Vancouver, BC. Landon currently plays with FK Jablonec 97 in the Czech Gambrinus liga

Team Roster:

Pos. Complete Name Club DOB Hometown Prov.

GK BEGOVIC, Asmir Portsmouth FC (England) 20-Jun-87 Edmonton AB
D HABER, Marcus FC Gronengen (Netherlands) 11-Jan-89 Vancouver BC
D O’CONNOR, Kent 1860 Munich (Germany) 5-Mar-87 North Vancouver BC
M BOURGAULT, Jonathan St. Pauli FC (Germany) 27-Sep-88 le Bizard QC
D LUMLEY, Stephen National Training Centre – Ontario 16-Apr-87 Mississauga ON
D PETERS, Jaime Ipswich Town FC (England) 04-May-87 Pickering ON
M NUNEZ, Cristian FC Lyn Oslo (Norway) 07-Jul-88 Montreal QC
F DI IOIA, Massimo Montreal Impact 18-Jun-87 Montreal QC
F JOHNSON, Will SC Heerenveen (Netherlands) 21-Jan-87 Woodridge IL
M GRAY, A.J. National Training Centre – Ontario 12-Apr-88 Brampton ON
M LING, Landon FK Jablonec 97 (Czech Republic) 8-Oct-87 Vancouver BC
F LAMMIE, Selvin (Shane) National Training Centre – Ontario 3-Aug-88 Toronto ON
D ATTAKORA-GYAN, Nana NTC – Ontario 27-Mar-89 Orangeville ON
F LOMBARDO, Andrea FC Rieti SRL (Italy) 23-May-87 Toronto ON
D LACOSTE-LEBUIS, Olivier Strasbourg (France) 28-Aug-90 Montreal QC
M AYRE, Keegan Hibernian FC (Scotland) 4-Jul-88 Coquitlam BC
D OWUSU-ANSAH, Kennedy Hertha Berlin (Germany) 20-Jul-89 Toronto ON
GK MONSALVE, David University of Mobile (United States) 21-Dec-88 Brampton ON

National team staff:

LINFORD, Colin Head of Delegation
MITCHELL, Dale Head Coach
DASOVIC, Nick Assistant Coach
MULDOON, Kevin Equipment Manager GK Coach
CANNON, Eddie Athletic Therapist
CELEBRINI, Randy Strength and Conditioning Coach
NUTT, Dave National Teams Administrator

Like most of Canada’s Youth National teams, the U-20’s operate on a two-year cycle that ends in odd-numbered years. Therefore, 2006 is the first year of the two-year cycle, thus meaning that the U-20 Team will consist of players born on or after January 1st 1987.

Several current Canadian National Senior Team members have played for their country at the U-20 level including Julian de Guzman, Tam Nsaliwa, Richard Hastings, Jason Bent, Atiba Hutchinson, Iain Hume and Paul Stalteri to name a few.

Joe MacCarthy

10-04-2006, 06:27 PM

Men’s U-20 Team
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Canada shows potential against European FIFA U-20 World Cup qualifier
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2549

Ottawa, Ontario - The Canadian men’s U-20 World Cup team faced a strong Czech Republic in Prague earlier today. Considered to be one of the top teams on the circuit, a talented Czech Republic earned a 2-0 win against Canada’s own FIFA U-20 World cup team.

Canada’s eleven was clinical in their defensive third throughout the first half, measuring tall against a determined and skilful Czech attack. Come the half time whistle, Canada had held the home team to a scoreless 0:0 draw.

The top ranked European team did manage to put one passed Canadian goalkeeper and Alberta native, Asmir Begovic in the 56th minute. The Czech goal scorer demonstrated great composure and skill in the box, taking a cross from the wing and knocking a blistering volley in the back net.

While down 1:0, led by Canuck forward Andrea Lombardo, Canada decided to go on the attack, creating a series of opportunities late in the match. Their efforts fell short but were a testament of what the future holds for this young Canadian team. Late in the game, as a result of a low hard free kick entering the box and creating a scramble, the Czech’s scored a second with a close range shot in the 86th minute.

This encounter was a good test for the Canadian squad as the Czech Republic qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 by reaching the UEFA European U-19 Championship semi-finals in Poland in July 2006.

Canada will face the Czech Republic again on Friday, October 6th in Prague.

October 4, 2006 – International Friendly
U20 Canada vs. U20 Czech Republic
Time: 4:30pm
Location - FK Marila Pribram, Czech Republic

Canada 0 (0)
Czech Republic 2 (2)
Goals: Czech Republic - 56th min; Czech Republic - 86th min

Cautions: Canada - Lombardo 82nd minute; Czech - #18, 87th minute

Canada: 1-Begovic, Asmir; 2-Lacoste-Lebius, Olivier; 3-O'Connor, Kent; 4-Beaulieu-Bougault, Jonathan; 5-Lumley, Stephen (12-Attakora-Gyan, Nana 66); 6-Edgar, David; 7-Peters, Jaime; 8-Nunez, Cristian (15-Ayre, Keegan 72); 9-Lombardo, Andrea (13-Di Ioia, Massimo 82); 10-Johnson, Will (16-Gray, AJ 45); 11-Haber, Marcus (14-Lammie, Shane 45)

Substitutes not used: 17-Ling, Landon; 22-Monsalve, David
Head Coach: Dale Mitchell

Joe MacCarthy

10-06-2006, 06:35 PM

Men’s U-20 Team
Friday, October 06, 2006
Canada comes from behind to defeat the Czech Republic 2-1
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2550

http://i12.tinypic.com/48z0apt.jpg
Jamie Peters Scores the winning goal

OTTAWA, ONTARIO – Canada’s Men’s Under-20 team today returned from a 1-0 deficit in the 25th minute to defeat the Czech Republic 2-1 on home soil in a match played in the outskirts of Prague. Canada’s Andrea Lombardo of Toronto and Jaime Peters of Pickering struck in the 31st and 51st minutes respectively to level the two game series to one win each.

After giving up a 2:0 result on Wednesday, the young Canadian squad was hungry to create chances in the Czech attacking third.

Surprisingly, the home team struck first on a Czech corner kick that found Ondrej Kudela unmarked at the back post. Kudela made no mistake and banged it in for the goal and the 1:0 lead.

While local fans were expecting the canucks to collapse, Canada’s young guns kept their focus and came out flying. Canada peaked when forward Will Johnson sent a through ball to midfielder and Brampton Ontario native, AJ Gray. The speedy Gray stormed down the wing and crossed on target to Lombardo who then nailed the header for the goal, building the confidence and momentum for the team leading into the second half.

The half time pause deemed motivational for Canada’s U-20 team. The Canadian attack was causing numerous headaches to the Czech’s back four – more than they could handle. Canada’s efforts paid off when Gray, who performed brilliantly throughout ninety minutes, stunned his marker one on one with a quick dribble. Left alone on the wing side, Gray made a spectacular cross to Peters who headed it over the Czech goalkeeper at the 51st minute for a 2:1 Canada lead.

The home team didn’t cope well being down a goal and showed signs of hostility shortly after. The Czech frustration was apparent when Canadian defender David Edgar and Czech Republic’s Strestik scuffled behind the play. While Strestik was given a yellow, officials ruled against Canada, handing a red card to Edgar and ejecting him out of the game at the 58th minute.

Down a man, Canada somehow managed to prevail in front of this unfair Czech advantage for the win.

“We had to do a lot of things very well today to get a win in the Czech Republic,” said Head Coach Dale Mitchell. 'Both of our goals were quality and the last 30 minutes were especially difficult after David’s unfortunate red card. The players should be proud of themselves tonight.”

Both teams will participate in the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 in six cities across Canada from June 30-July 22.

Match Report:

Friday, October 6, 2006 - International Friendly
SK Roudnice NL – Prague, Czech Republic

Canada (1) 2
Czech Republic (1) 1
Goals: Canada - Lombardo (31), Peters (51); Czech Republic - Kudela (25)

Cautions: Canada - Ayre (45), Johnson (57), Lombardo (74); Czech Republic - Strestik (58), Suchy (61), Fenin (84)
Ejections: Edgar (58)

Canada: 22-Monsalve, David; 2-Lacoste-Lebuis, Olivier (5-Lumley, Stephen, 49); 3-O’Connor, Kent; 4-Beaulieu-Bougault, Jonathan (12-Attakora-Gyan, Nana, 65); 6-Edgar, David; 7-Peters, Jaime; 9-Lombardo, Andrea (14-Lammie, Shane, 86); 10-Johnson, Will; 11-Haber, Marcus; 15-Ayre, Keegan; 17-Ling, Landon (16-Gray, AJ, 10)

Head Coach: Dale Mitchell
Subs not used: 1-Begovic, Asmir; 8-Nunez, Cristian; 13-Di Ioia, Massimo;

Czech Republic: 1-Radek, Petr; 2-Held, Michal (8-Oklestek, Tomas, 45); 4-Pimpara, Jiri; 5-Simunek, Jan; 6-Kudela, Ondrej; 7-Kalouda, Lubos; 9-Fenin, Martin; 10-Mares, Jakub (11-Prochazka, Jiri, 68); 13-Micola, Tomas; 15-Strestik, Marek; 17-Suchy, Marek

Head Coach: Miroslav Soukup
Subs not used: 3-Pavlik, Petr, 12-Uchytil, Jan; 14-Hanzlik, Ales; 16-Frystak, Tomas; 18-Jeslinek, Jiri

Joe MacCarthy

12-09-2006, 12:47 AM

Men’s U-20 Team
Friday, December 08, 2006
Men’s U-20 to train in Florida and face US in Friendly
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2599

Ottawa, Ontario - The Canadian Soccer Association is proud to announce that Canada’s Men’s U-20 World Cup Team will train at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida from December 10-21, 2006. The camp will be highlighted by an International Friendly against the U-20 USA Men’s National Team on December 20th, 2006 at 3:30pm ET.

Since this camp does not fall on FIFA international dates, most European-based players will remain with their clubs. Consequently, the roster is composed mainly of North American-based players.

This training camp will give an opportunity for Head Coach Dale Mitchell to look at another group of core players in preparation of the FIFA U-20 World Cup this summer. In fact, this will be the first time these college players will be gathered together since the July 2006 US match series in Canada. Since then, these players have been competing mostly in the NCAA regular and post seasons.

“The camp in Florida will allow us to assess where this group of players is at as we begin monthly preparations leading in to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in July. We will have a camp each month to give players an opportunity to show that they belong in the final squad, and also prepare players who are currently without a club for next summer's tournament,” said Head Coach Dale Mitchell. “Obviously there are players with clubs who will not be available for all of our preparations.”

The momentum will continue in the New Year as Dale Mitchell is planning to bring the group together for another training camp in early 2007.

Canada’s most recent International Friendly was a 2:1 come-from-behind win against the Czech Republic in Prague, Czech Republic on October 6th, 2006.

Match Schedule
Date: December 20th, 2006
Time: 3:30 pm ET
Location: IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida

Roster

Pos. Complete Name Club Date of Birth Hometown Prov.
D ATTAKORA-GYAN, Nana National Training Centre - Ontario 27-Mar-89 Orangeville ON
M BONIFACIO, Brandon Cambuur Leeuwarden BVO (Netherlands) 29-Jun-89 Vancouver BC
M BOURGAULT, Jonathan St. Pauli FC (Germany) 27-Sep-88 Ile Bizard QC
M D'AGOSTINO, Mike University of Kentucky (USA) 07-Jan-87 Langley BC
F DI IOIA, Massimo Montreal Impact 18-Jun-87 Montreal QC
F ELLIOTT, Alex University of Portland (USA) 24-Apr-87 Vancouver BC
D GALA, Gabe National Training Centre - Ontario 29-Jun-89 Brampton ON
M GRAY, A.J. National Training Centre - Ontario 12-Apr-88 Brampton ON
GK KALTHOFF, Zach Unattached 20-Nov-88 Calgary AB
F LAMMIE, Selvin (Shane) National Training Centre - Ontario 3-Aug-88 Toronto ON
D LANG, Adam Washington University (NCAA) 9-Feb-88 Chilliwack BC
F LOMBARDO, Andrea FC Rieti SRL (Italy) 23-May-87 Toronto ON
D LUMLEY, Stephen National Training Centre - Ontario 16-Apr-87 Mississauga ON
GK MONSALVE, David University of Mobile (USA) 21-Dec-88 Brampton ON
M NUNEZ, Cristian National Training Centre - Quebec 07-Jul-88 Montreal QC
D O'CONNOR, Kent 1860 Munich (Germany) 5-Mar-87 North Vancouver BC
D OWUSU-ANSAH, Kennedy Hertha Berlin (Germany) 20-Jul-89 Toronto ON
F REVIVO, Daniel Winthrop University 23-Mar-87 Richmond Hill ON
D RICKETS, Tosaint University of Wisconsin - Green Bay (USA) 6-Aug-87 Edmonton AB
DM TURNBULL, Masumi University of Kentucky (USA) 30-Mar-87 Richmond BC

Staff

MITCHELL, Dale Head Coach
DASOVIC, Nick Assistant Coach
MULDOON, Kevin Equipment Manager/GK Coach
FRANKS, Chris Athletic Therapist
CELEBRINI, Randy Strength and Conditioning Coach
NUTT, Dave National Teams Administrator

Joe MacCarthy

12-13-2006, 10:23 AM

Men’s U-20 Team
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Canada’s U-20 Men to Host Scotland in March
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2600

http://i10.tinypic.com/2z7rdoh.jpg
Head Coach Dale Mitchell is getting his team geared up for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007

OTTAWA, ONTARIO - The Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) is pleased to announce that Canada’s Under-20 Men’s World Cup Team will host Scotland in a two-game international friendly series played on Saturday, March 24th, 2007 at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, BC and Tuesday, March 27th, 2007 at the Royal Athletic Park in Victoria, BC.

This two-match series will serve as preparatory competition for Canada in light of the upcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup next summer.

Scotland is one of six teams to have qualified from UEFA for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007. They earned a place in the U-20 World Cup along side Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Portugal and Spain at the UEFA European U-19 Championship held in Poland in July. They finished second behind Spain following a 2:1 loss in the final.

'The Scotland series will be the start of our 2007 Cross Canada Tour and our first major test of the year with most of our squad available according to the FIFA International calendar,' said Head Coach Dale Mitchell. “We know that they will be well supported here in Western Canada where many Scots originally immigrated. Any team that can get to the European final must be a quality side and we look forward to hosting them.'

Game times, tickets pricing and on sale dates will be made available in the near future.

Additional Tour dates and details will also be announced at a later time.

Game schedule:

Saturday, March 24, 2006 – Canada’s U-20 Men vs. Scotland – Burnaby, BC
Tuesday, March 27, 2006 – Canada’s U-20 Men vs. Scotland – Victoria, BC

List of qualified teams for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007:

Canada: (Host)

Europe (UEFA): Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Portugal, Scotland and Spain

Asia (AFC): Japan, Jordan, Korea Republic and Korea DPR.

Confederation of African Football (CAF) (Four teams will qualify): Qualifying tournament will be held January 21st to February 4th, 2007. Four teams will qualify.

South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL): Qualifying tournament will be held from January 7th - 27th, 2007. Four teams will qualify

Oceania Football Confederation (OFC): Qualifying tournament will be held from January 20th – 31st, 2007. One team will qualify.

Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF): two rounds of qualifying: Group A) January 17th-24th, 2007; February 21st – 25th, 2007. Four teams will qualify.

FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 – It’s gonna be huge.

In 2007, the world’s biggest game is coming to Canada. Canada will host the World’s finest under-20 players in six cities across the country – Victoria, Burnaby, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal – June 30 - July 22, 2007.

The biennial event is second only to the FIFA World Cup™ in size and scope and will showcase the most talented under-20 soccer players in the world. The tournament has been the coming-out party for some of the game’s top players - Maradona, Saviola, Raúl, Marco Van Basten, Luis Figo, Ruiz Costa, Thierry Henry, Adriano, Roberto Carlos, Bebeto and Dunga as well as Canada’s Craig Forrest and many members of the current Men’s World Cup Team.

Last held in CONCACAF in 1983 in Mexico, Canada’s most recent participation in this event occurred last June in the Netherlands from June 10 - July 2, 2005.

Canada enjoyed its best ever finish in a World Championship in December 2003, losing to eventual silver medalist Spain on a golden goal in the quarter finals in the United Arab Emirates.

For more information regarding the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007, please visit www.FIFA.com.

Joe MacCarthy

12-20-2006, 10:05 AM

Tks to Sigma at Vs for headsup

Lang plays RD for Canada U-20
By Jessica Murdy The Progress
Dec 19 2006
http://www.theprogress.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=39&cat=40&id=796416&more=

Over the past four months, Adam Lang has travelled to all points south in pursuit of a soccer career. As a University of Washington Husky, he’s seen the pitch at San Diego, UCLA, Oregon, Portland and Wisconsin, to name a few. He’s already played on fields in El Salvador and Italy with the Canadian National Junior Men’s team last year. But this last week, Lang has been in Florida training in the right defense position with Canada’s U-20 men, as they get set to play the U.S. team. And the Chilliwack grad says it’s his toughest competition yet.

“It’s just an exhibition game,” Lang says from a cell phone in his hotel room. “But this is the highest level that I’ve played at.”

Lang is new to the player pool, just getting word from his coach at the U of W about two and a half week ago. And despite his impressive national team experience as a younger player, the higher level of play can be felt consistently on the field, he says.

“There are better players here. The training sessions are more intense,” he says. “It is hard because everyone is really good.”

But he’s up to the challenge. The team may not have been eating and sleeping soccer, but it’s all they’ve done off the field.

It’s about all the 12-day schedule will allow for, Lang says.

From the time they wake up at 7 a.m. until they retire for the night, they’ve only practiced and played. Their first game was Thursday, with another on Saturday. The final game on Wednesday will be Lang’s last until soccer picks up in the new year.

The guys will all finally get to rest over the holidays, flying home on Thursday, and returning to their schools early January. Joining the team in Florida meant leaving classes a little early, in some cases, writing exams on the road or writing a couple days earlier.

“They let me do it,” he says of his teachers. “I wouldn’t have been able to come here and do this if they hadn’t.”

He’s been given the chance to play U-20 a little earlier, too.

“This is a born-in-’87 team, and I’m an ‘88,” he says. So he’s working hard to impress head coach, Dale Mitchell. At the level Lang is playing, every game and every practice matters, even at Wednesday’s exhibition, which is a closed-door match.

Scouts won’t be watching, the game won’t be televised, but he says they still feel the pressure.

“You go into these camps, and they see how you do,” he says. “It all depends on how you do as a player, and what positions they may be looking for.”

Joe MacCarthy

12-20-2006, 11:30 PM

Men’s U-20 Team
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Canada drops friendly to U.S.
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2605

http://i10.tinypic.com/4c2cwfd.jpg
Captain Beaulieu-Bourgault

OTTAWA (ONTARIO) – The Canadian men’s U-20 team faced a loaded United States squad at the end of their two-week training session in Bradenton, FL today. The Americans won 2:0 in the international friendly at the IMG Academy.

“We can’t complain about today’s result, because the Americans are certainly ahead of our group here as they prepare for CONCACAF qualifying next month,” says head coach Dale Mitchell. “The camp itself has been helpful and necessary to our preparations as we have been able to assess where these players are in their development.”

The Americans went up 2:0 in the first half and then protected their lead by making a full substitution at half time. The substitution was made so that the U.S. coach Thomas Rongen could see as many players as possible. Both teams were allowed to make as many substitutions as they wished, but the Canadians only switched six of their 11 throughout the match. Of the 20 players they took to camp, one player had already returned to school while two others didn’t dress because of injuries.

The Americans scored their first goal at the 21st minute when Mike Grella knocked in a header off a set piece. Five minutes later at the 26th minute, Grella helped set up Sal Zizzo for the second goal which was also headed in past the Canadian goalkeeper.

Canada’s starting 11 included veterans from the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup team Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault (Ile Bizard, QC) and Andrea Lombardo (Toronto, ON). Beaulieu-Bourgault served as team captain for the friendly. Despite the loss, Canada’s central defenders Nana Attakora-Gyan (Orangeville, ON) and Stephen Lumley (Mississauga, ON) both played well. Goalkeeper David Monsalve (Brampton, ON) started the game while Zach Kalthoff (Calgary, AB) was in goal for the second half.

The Americans had a full squad of 26 players (23 of whom made it onto the pitch) because they are in preparations for next month’s CONCACAF qualifications in Panama for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Canada hosts the 2007 event in July in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Burnaby and Victoria.

Canada’s next international games for the men’s U-20 team are in March against Scotland, the UEFA U-19 Championship finalists last July. The games take place March 24 in Burnaby and March 27 in Victoria.

Match Report:
Wednesday, December 20, 2006 - International Friendly
IMG Academy - Bradenton, FL, United States

Canada (0) 0
United States (2) 2

Goals: Canada - none; United States – Grella (21’), Zizzo (26’)
Cautions: none
Ejections: none

Canada: David Monsalve (Zach Kalthoff, 45’), Adam Lang (Mike D’Agostino, 28’), Nana Attakora-Gyan, Stephen Lumley, Kent O’Connor, A.J. Gray (Brandon Bonifacio, 74’), Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault, Masumi Turnbull (Massimo Di Ioia, 31’), Gabe Gala (Alex Elliott, 45’), Selvin Lammie (Daniel Revivo, 61’), Andrea Lombardo

Coach: Dale Mitchell. Injured (did not dress): Cristian Nunez, Kennedy Owusu-Ansah

United States Head Coach: Thomas Rongen

Joe MacCarthy

12-25-2006, 02:41 PM

Tks to Richard at bcsoccerweb for headsup

North Vancouver footballer steps onto world stage
By SAM COOPER Staff Reporter
http://www.northshoreoutlook.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=43&cat=40&id=798079&more=

North Vancouver’s Kent O’Connor is getting closer to his dream of representing Canada in the World Cup.

The former Collingwood Secondary student is currently training with Canada’s Under-20 soccer team in Florida and solidifying his position in advance of the U-20 World Cup to be held in Canada in 2007.

O’Connor has been on the U-20 team for a year and is part of a core group of athletes anchoring the team based off their club team play in Europe.

While Canada has never been near the top of “the beautiful game,” missing the last few World Cups, strong results in U-20 play bode well for the future, O’Connor said.

The defender has started a number of games for Canada, and played all 90 minutes in their 2-1 win over Brazil in Edmonton this May.

“We’ve got a great team and a lot of great young players in Canada,” O’Connor said this week, while resting before his team’s second practice of the day. “We’ve got just as good a chance of beating anyone in international play as any other team.”

“Eventually all the young players will filter up into the National team,” he added.

O’Connor has vaulted up Canada’s depth chart since joining his club 1860 Munich in Germany’s Second League, two years ago.

“European league guys bring knowledge and tactical ability as well as individual skill and talents to the Canadian team, and the coach’s are building on that,” O’Connor said.

He lists his personal strengths as good reading of the game’s flow and winning balls on defense, as well as going forward and distributing the ball on offense.

“The (Canadian) coaches think I’ve been helping (in those roles) so I’m happy,” he said.

It’s been quite an adjustment living and playing in Germany, but O’Connor now speaks the language and says he’s enjoying life in a different culture.

He’s even picked up on German fashion.

“I got some lederhosen and took them out to Oktoberfest,” he said, laughing.

He got a true taste of football fan madness while watching the 2006 World Cup in Munich, and has already gotten a little taste of the celebrity status given to footballers in Europe.

“We do our best to stay down to earth, but it is cool when kids run up to you and ask for your autograph,” he said. “Their enthusiasm gives you inspiration.”

Canada will host the U-20 World Cup in six cities across the country – Victoria, Burnaby, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal – June 30 to July 22, 2007. The biennial event is second only to the FIFA World Cup in size and scope.

The tournament has been the coming out party for some of the game’s top players - names like Maradona, Saviola, Raúl, Luis Figo, Thierry Henry and Roberto Carlos.

Joe MacCarthy

01-09-2007, 09:35 AM

Men’s U-20 Team
Monday, January 08, 2007
Canada prepares January U-20 camp in Florida
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2606

OTTAWA (ONTARIO) – Canada’s January men’s U-20 camp is set to open this week in Sunrise, Florida. Coach Dale Mitchell will have 20 players in camp from Jan. 10-22 at Las Palmas Hotel & Suites. Mitchell and his team are gearing up for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup which will take place in Canada this July.

“The purpose of the January training camp is to continue to work with players who are currently out of season or on a winter break in the case of a few with European clubs,” says coach Mitchell. “I am interested to see how five players who have not had an opportunity with this team yet perform during the camp.”

The five new invitees are Matt Lam (Edmonton) of AFC Ajax, Fabrice Lassonde (Mont-Saint-Grégoire) and Sean Rosa (Montréal) of the National Training Centre in Québec, Isidro Sanchez Macip (Puebla, Mexico) of Puebla de Zaragoza, and Shaun Saiko (Edmonton) of Middlesborough FC.

Fourteen of the other 15 players were all at Mitchell’s December camp in Florida, including Andrea Lombardo who is a holdover from Canada’s U-20 team at the 2005 World Youth Championships. Keegan Ayre (Coquitlam, BC) of Hibernian FC is the other player who was not at the December camp.

Along with the training, the Canadians will also play the United States’ U-20 team before the Americans head off to their CONCACAF qualifying tournament in Panama on Jan. 14. The Canadians, meanwhile, are planning to host their first two international matches of the 2007 season on home turf in March against Scotland: Mar. 24 in Burnaby and Mar. 27 in Victoria.

FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 – It’s gonna be huge

In 2007, the world’s biggest game is coming to Canada. Canada will host the World’s finest under-20 players in six cities across the country – Victoria, Burnaby, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal – June 30 - July 22, 2007.

The biennial event is second only to the FIFA World Cup™ in size and scope and will showcase the most talented under-20 soccer players in the world. The tournament has been the coming-out party for some of the game’s top players - Maradona, Saviola, Raúl, Marco Van Basten, Luis Figo, Ruiz Costa, Thierry Henry, Adriano, Roberto Carlos, Bebeto and Dunga as well as Canada’s Craig Forrest and many members of the current Men’s World Cup Team including Julian de Guzman, Paul Stalteri, Atiba Hutchinson and Iain Hume.

Last held in CONCACAF in 1983 in Mexico, Canada’s most recent participation in this event occurred last June in the Netherlands from June 10 - July 2, 2005.

Canada enjoyed its best ever finish in a World Championship in December 2003, losing to eventual silver medalist Spain on a golden goal in the quarter finals in the United Arab Emirates.

For more information regarding the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 and to purchase your tickets please visit www.FIFA.com

Roster
Pos Name Club Hometown Prov

D ATTAKORA-GYAN, Nana National Training Centre - Ontario Orangeville, ON
M SAIKO, Shaun Middlesborough FC (England) Edmonton, AB
M AYRE, Keegan Hibernian FC (Scotland) Coquitlam, BC
M D’AGOSTINO, Michael University of Kentucky (USA) Langley, BC
F ELLIOTT, Alex University of Portland (USA) Vancouver, BC
D GALA, Gabe National Training Centre - Ontario Brampton, ON
M GRAY, A.J. National Training Centre – Ontario Brampton, ON
G KALTHOFF, Zach Unattached Calgary, AB
F LAMMIE, Selvin (Shane) National Training Centre - Ontario Toronto, ON
F LOMBARDO, Andrea FC Rieti SRL (Italia) Toronto, ON
M ROSA, Sean National Training Centre - Québec Montréal, QC
D LUMLEY, Stephen National Training Centre - Ontario Mississauga, ON
G MONSALVE, David University of Mobile (USA) Brampton, ON
M NUNEZ, Cristian National Training Centre - Québec Montréal, QC
M LAM, Matt AFC Ajax Amsterdam (Netherlands) Edmonton, AB
M SANCHEZ MACIP, Isidro Puebla de Zaragoza (Mexico) Puebla, Mexico
D RICKETTS, Tosaint University of Wisconsin - Green Bay (USA) Edmonton, AB
F DI IOIA, Massimo Impact de Montréal Montréal, QC
D LASSONDE, Fabrice National Training Centre – Québec Mont-Saint-Grégoire, QC
DM TURNBULL, Masumi University of Kentucky (USA) Richmond, BC

Staff/Personnel
Head coach: Dale Mitchell
Assistant coach: Nick Dasovic
Equipment manager: Kevin Muldoon
Athletic therapist: Chris Franks
Strength and conditioning coach: Randy Celebrin
National Teams Administrator: Dave Nutt

Joe MacCarthy

01-15-2007, 10:40 AM

Tks to masster at Vs for headsup

B.C. big at Florida camp
Four players press for spot on under-20 men's national team
Dan Stinson
Vancouver Sun 01-13-2007

Four B.C. players are aiming to make a positive early impression on head coach Dale Mitchell over the next 10 days in the first training camp of the year for Canada's under-20 men's soccer team.

Midfielders Keegan Ayre of Coquitlam, Masumi Turnbull of Richmond, Michael D'Agostino of Langley and Vancouver forward Alex Elliott are among 20 players in camp at Sunrise, Fla., where Mitchell is evaluating potential final-roster candidates for the FIFA under-20 World Cup tournament next summer in six Canadian cities.

The Florida camp started last Wednesday and runs to Jan. 22. Mitchell will carry a final roster of 21 players for the World Cup tournament, scheduled for June 30 to July 22 in Burnaby, Victoria, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.

"It's tough to say at this point whether any of the B.C. guys will make the final roster," says Mitchell. "It's very early in the [evaluation] process, and we have several more training camps and exhibition games scheduled before the tournament starts. To be honest, it's how the players perform over the next three to four months that will determine their chances."

Ayre plays for the reserve team of Scottish Premier League club Hibernian. Turnbull and D'Agostino are with the University of Kentucky Wildcats of NCAA Division I, and Elliott plays for the University of Portland (Ore.) Pilots, also of Division I.

Vancouver midfielder Jacob Lensky is another potential B.C. candidate for Canada's final roster. He participated in a December training camp in Florida, but isn't taking part in the current camp due to club commitments with Feyenoord of the Netherlands First Division. He was recently transferred from Scottish Premier League club Glasgow Celtic to Feyenoord.

Mitchell says he will have a better idea of the B.C. players' chances for the final roster after Canada plays two exhibition games against Scotland, March 24 at Burnaby's Swangard Stadium and March 27 at Victoria's Royal Athletic Park. Scotland is among 11 nations that have qualified for the 24-team World Cup tournament to date after finishing second in European qualifying to zone winner Spain.

The games against Scotland are the start of the Canadian team's 2007 cross-Canada tour and the first major test of the year. Most of Canada's squad of players will be available for the tour.

"Jacob will be back for the series against Scotland," says Mitchell. "I've been following his career in Europe, but we'll see how he plays against Scotland and go from there. We've also pencilled in more international exhibition games in May and June, but our opponents haven't been decided. We hope to play games against teams that have qualified for the tournament, but nothing is finalized yet."

Mitchell invited five new players to the current camp -- all of them midfielders. They are Matt Lam and Shaun Saiko of Edmonton, Fabrice Lassonde of Mont-Saint-Gregoire, Que., Sean Rosa of Montreal, and Isidro Sanchez Macip, who lives in Puebla, Mexico.

GOAL DUST: The draw for the World Cup tournament will be made in March after all of the qualifying nations are known. Teams that have qualified to date are Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Japan, Jordan, Korea Republic, Korea Democratic Republic and Canada . . . Canada qualified automatically as host nation.

Joe MacCarthy

03-02-2007, 07:18 PM

Men’s U-20 Team
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Canada’s U-20 camp training in Florida
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2624

OTTAWA (ONTARIO) – Eleven days in, Canada’s U-20 team is enjoying a successful February camp at Las Palmas in Sunrise, FL. The camp closes on Thursday, but not before the team plays an exhibition match against Lynn University tomorrow afternoon.

The team’s next get-together will be in March when they play an international series against Scotland in Burnaby (24 March) and Victoria (27 March).

“The team has been training hard,” says forward Shane Lammie. “Everybody gets along well because most of us have been together for the last two or three camps.”

The Canucks arrived in Florida for their third winter camp on 10 February. The focus of the camp has been fitness and player evaluations. Yesterday on Monday 19 February, the team played an informal 70-minute scrimmage with Toronto FC, the Canadian expansion team that will begin play in Major League Soccer this season. Toronto FC’s roster included Andrea Lombardo, a Canadian U-20 player who just one month ago took part in Canada’s January camp.

The FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 takes place in six Canadian cities from 30 June to 22 July this summer. This event is expected to be the largest single-sport sporting event in Canadian history. For more information regarding the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 and to purchase your tickets please visit www.FIFA.com.

Joe MacCarthy

03-02-2007, 07:19 PM

Men’s U-20 Team
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Canada’s U-20 team closes camp in Florida
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2626

OTTAWA (ONTARIO) – Canada’s U-20 team wrapped up a 13-day camp in Florida today under head coach Dale Mitchell. Canada had 15 players in their camp which ran 10-22 February at Las Palmas in Sunrise, FL.

“We feel that this group of players has a good fitness base for the coming year after working hard for three consecutive camps in excellent training conditions in Florida,” says coach Dale Mitchell. “The boys looked much sharper in our final two games against Toronto FC and Lynn University. Everyone is now looking forward to some international matches in Canada.”

Those international matches are now just around the corner. Canada faces Scotland in Burnaby on 24 March and in Victoria on 27 March.

On Monday, Canada took part in an informal 70-minute scrimmage with Toronto FC, the Canadian expansion team that will begin play in Major League Soccer this season. Toronto FC’s roster included Andrea Lombardo, a Canadian U-20 player who just one month ago took part in Canada’s January camp.

On Wednesday, the last full day of the camp, Canada took part in an exhibition game against Lynn University’s soccer team. Both sides scored one goal each in the draw: Canada in the first half and Lynn University in the second half. Tosaint Ricketts scored for Canada at the 21st minute after he converted an A.J. Gray pass. Gray had beaten his man off the dribble before he cut the ball back on the ground from the touch line to Ricketts. Lynn University countered in the second half with a goal off the counter attack.

Joe MacCarthy

03-05-2007, 04:02 PM

Variety of styles awaits host
By ROB LONGLEY, SUN MEDIA
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2007/03/04/3695051-sun.html

TORONTO -- The Canadian team hoping to do its country proud this July has a nice soccer smorgasbord from which to dine.

As the host nation in the Under-20 World Cup, the Canadians were given a break and, as a designated top seed in Group A, avoid tournament powerhouses early on.

"We don't have any of the traditional big boys such as Brazil, Argentina and Spain," Canadian coach Dale Mitchell said after the draw. "But it won't be easy.

"I do think we have three difficult opponents though because they have three different styles and they come from three different federations."

First up in Toronto on July 1 will be Chile which, no doubt, will bring some of their South American flair and technical expertise to BMO Field.

The next Group E opponent -- July 5 in Edmonton -- will be Austria. While not yet a recognized world power, the Austrians did advance through a tough European qualifier in which Italy, England, Germany and France all were denied a spot.

SCRAPPY AFRICANS

The Canadians finish their preliminary round in Edmonton on July 8 against Congo. For that contest, they'll surely be up against the scrappy play that has defined African squads in recent years.

While acknowledging that there isn't a soft spot in the bunch, Mitchell hopes his players respond to the challenge, and the home crowd.

"I look at it like we're hosting. If we don't get out of our group, we'll be disappointed," Mitchell said. "And that's the message we will pass on to our players.

"We have to find some way to take advantage of being the host team. We had a great example from Germany in the 2006 men's World Cup, the way the country got behind them right from the start."

Torontonian Andrea Lombardo, who will be making his second appearance on the Canadian side in this tournament, sees it as the ultimate selling stage for the game.

"This can really be a spark for a lot of Canadians and not just in Toronto," said Lombardo, a forward.

"I know all the Ontario guys are getting excited about playing the opener in Toronto. This can really provide some momentum for the game in the city and the country."

---

GROUP A (AT EDMONTON)

- Canada -- Home-field advantage and an experienced squad are their aces. Don't let bye into field fool you.

- Chile -- Midfielder Alexis Sanchez a bonafide star already and should be a handful for Canada in the opener.

- Congo -- Captured the African youth championship and is the latest sensation from the soccer-crazed continent.

- Austria -- Back in for the first time since 1983 as country commits itself to youth development. Unknown quantity but they defeated some Euro powers to get here.

GROUP B (AT BURNABY, B.C.)

- Spain -- Undefeated in tough UEFA qualifying and considered one of the deepest teams in the tourney.

- Uruguay -- Returns to event after eight-year absence. Striker Edinson Cavani an early candidate for leading scorer.

- Jordan -- Developing soccer nation makes debut but should be easy fodder for favoured Spain.

- Zambia -- Clifford Mulenga one of tourney's stars. Scored a pair to knock out Cameroon.

GROUP C (AT TORONTO)

- Portugal -- The great Luis Figo led it to 1991 title. Midfielder Bruon Gama, who led the team to the under-17 title in 2003, is the new star.

- New Zealand -- First Kiwi team to qualify for this event and face a tough task with two heavyweights.

- Gambia -- Baby Scorpions qualify for first time. For their efforts, they get Portugal and Mexico. Ouch!

- Mexico -- A solid tourney favourite. Giovana Dos Santos is making his name with Barcelona as a budding pro.

GROUP D (AT MONTREAL)

- Poland -- Dawid Janczyk already is a legend at home, scoring a hat trick over Belgium during qualifying.

- Brazil -- We can only guess how many new stars will be unveiled for four-time winners. Here's one: Alexandre Pato.

- Korea Republic -- Has not reached the quarters since 1991, but should have solid fan support.

- United States -- Famous Freddy Adu will get the star treatment, but facing Brazil makes it a tough task.

GROUP E (AT OTTAWA)

- Argentina -- The defending champs are loaded with young talent. Ever Banega is being touted as next great Argentine star.

- Czech Republic -- Stout defence keeps it in all games. Attacking midfielder Marek Strestik provides some of the offence.

- Korea DPR -- Under-17 team reached quarters in 2005. Captain Kim Kum-Il was a force in qualifying.

- Panama -- Have lost all six contests at under-20s. Hopes lie with striker Josue Jafeth Brown.

GROUP F (AT VICTORIA)

- Japan -- Will make seventh consecutive under-20 appearance. Best result so far was runner-up to Spain in 1999.

- Scotland -- Gritty squad sure to be a fan favourite, a special treat for the fans in Victoria.

- Nigeria -- Flying Eagles were 2005 finalists. Could they be the future African stars?

- Costa Rica -- Ticos back after missing last two tourneys. Led by forward Jean Carlo Solorzano.

Joe MacCarthy

03-05-2007, 04:04 PM

Canada draws Chile, Österreich and République du Congo
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2631

OTTAWA (ONTARIO) – Canada’s men’s youth team has drawn Chile, Österreich (Austria) and the République du Congo for the upcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007. The four countries were drawn into the same group during the Official Draw, held Saturday 3 March in Toronto at the Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex at Exhibition Place. The Official Draw was broadcasted live across the country on CBC’s Sports Weekend.

“They are three teams all from different confederations and they all play a different style,” says Canadian head coach Dale Mitchell. “It will be a challenge to prepare for each, but by the fact that we are a seeded team, we can’t complain about the draw.”

Indeed, all three countries will bring their unique play to Canada this summer for the group stage of the tournament. Chile plays a possession-oriented game while Österreich should be a well-coached, tactical team. The République du Congo, meanwhile, should play a physical game that is typical of most African nations. Canada plays Chile on Canada Day 1 July in Toronto, Österreich on 5 July in Edmonton, and the République du Congo on 8 July again in Edmonton.

“We are happy to play the host Canada in the first game of the tournament in front of a sell-out game,” says Harold Mayne-Nicholls, president of the Federacion Futbol Chile. “There is a huge Chilean population here in Toronto and the excitement and pride for that day will be quite big. The players will be coming here to give a good account of themselves. There is nothing as special as playing in a World Cup, no matter (which) age category.”

“Our goal is to reach the last 16, but it will be a challenge because of the high caliber of competition of teams participating,” says coach Paul Gludovatz of Österreich. “We have a tough schedule with a lot of traveling between Edmonton and Toronto, not to mention two different kinds of (playing) surfaces, but we will be ready.”

“With the result of this draw, Congo can prevail just like any other team in the competition,” says country representative Pascal Akouala Goelot. “Even as champions of the African Youth Championships, the task will still be difficult (because we will) face countries that we respect very much.”

Canada has faced Chile seven times in international competition, including three times at the youth level. Both youth teams played against each other twice in 1987 (2:1 win and 1:1 draw for Canada) and once in 2001 (1:1 draw). The 9 June 2001 draw in Santiago, Chile was the last competition between the two nations.

Canada and Österreich have played each other only once in international competition, although it was at the senior level (2:0 win in 2006). Canada and the République du Congo have faced each other twice, both times in the 1997 Jeux de la francophonie in Madagascar (0:0 draw and 3:2 win for Canada’s youth team).

Canada has high hopes for the 2007 tournament, not only because they are hosts but also because they have a strong core of returning players. Canada could have as many as six returning players from Nederland 2005, a feat achieved only once in the history of the tournament (Syria’s seven in Portugal 1991). Goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, defender David Edgar, midfielders Jonathon Beaulieu-Bourgault and Jaime Peters, and forwards Will Johnson and Andrea Lombardo were all on the squad two years ago in Europe. All six were also named Canadian ambassadors for the road to the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

“We have some tough games and we will play against three very different teams,” says Lombardo, who was in attendance at the Official Draw on Saturday. “We are going to be well prepared and we will be ready to give something to our fans here in Canada.”

The FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 kicks off on 30 June and runs through to the final on 22 July.

Joe MacCarthy

03-05-2007, 04:11 PM

Men’s U-20 Team
Friday, March 02, 2007
Canada announces six ambassadors for the road to the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007

http://i17.tinypic.com/2u6ky1s.jpg

OTTAWA (ONTARIO) – With less than five months to go to what will be the biggest single-sport sporting event in Canadian history, Canada has named six ambassadors for its road to the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007. The six ambassadors are goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, defender David Edgar, midfielders Jonathon Beaulieu-Bourgault and Jaime Peters, and forwards Will Johnson and Andrea Lombardo.

All six players are returning members from the 2005 U-20 World Cup team in Nederland. They were also all nominees for the 2006 Canadian Youth Player of the Year and were together for integral international friendly matches against Brasil and Ceska Republika. These six players could represent the second-largest returning group in the history of the tournament, a group topped only by the Syrian seven in 1991. All six players are expected to become household names at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 this 30 June to 22 July.

“These six players should provide excellent leadership and experience to our squad during the U-20 World Cup,” says Canadian coach Dale Mitchell. “They not only have the benefit of one of these tournaments under their belt but are all in a good professional environment on a daily basis. We believe they can be the catalysts for a successful showing for us this summer.'

The U-20 Canucks will kick off their 2007 international series against Scotland on 24 March in Burnaby and 27 March in Victoria. After one more training camp in April, the team will then embark in a series of international matches in May and June in anticipation of the July tournament. Their first FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 match is on Canada Day in Toronto at the new National Soccer Stadium.

Joe MacCarthy

03-13-2007, 11:53 PM

Men’s U-20 Team
Monday, March 12, 2007
Canada announces roster for upcoming men’s U-20 camp
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2637

http://i9.tinypic.com/4igfock.jpg

OTTAWA (ONTARIO) – Canada’s men’s youth team heads to Langley, BC this week for two weeks of training and a pair of international friendly matches with Scotland. Canada’s U-20 team will play Scotland on 24 March in Burnaby and 27 March in Victoria. Both teams are on the road to the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 which runs 30 June to 22 July.

“We are pleased to get the majority of our roster together for the first time in 2007,” says head coach Dale Mitchell. “In particular it will be interesting to see how our European-based players are looking since we last saw them in October in the Czech Republic. The Scots will provide us with tough competition as they finished second during UEFA qualifying and will have some support here in British Columbia."

Canada’s North American-based players are expected to arrive in British Columbia on 14 March while the European-based players are expected to arrive after their club’s weekend matches. The two matches against Scotland will be Canada’s first of the 2007 season. The Saturday 24 March match takes place at 13:00 local time at Swangard Stadium while the Tuesday 27 March match takes place at 19:00 local time at Royal Athletic Park. Burnaby and Victoria are two of the six sites for the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Canada has high hopes for the 2007 tournament, not only because they are hosts but also because they have a strong core of returning players. Canada could have as many as six returning players from Nederland 2005, a feat achieved only once in the history of the tournament (Syria’s seven in Portugal 1991). Goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, defender David Edgar, midfielders Jonathon Beaulieu-Bourgault and Jaime Peters, and forwards Will Johnson and Andrea Lombardo were all on the squad two years ago in Europe. All six were also named Canadian ambassadors for the road to the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Along with Victoria and Burnaby, the four other sites for this tournament are Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa and Montréal. Canada will face Chile, Österreich (Austria) and the République du Congo in the group stage of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Toronto and Edmonton. Scotland, meanwhile, will face Japan, Nigeria and Costa Rica in Victoria and Burnaby.

NAME POS AGE
Attakora-Gyan, Nana | D | 18 | Orangeville, ON
Ayre, Keegan | M | 18 | Coquitlam, BC
Beaulieu-Bourgault, Jonathan | M | 18 | Île Bizard, QC
Begovic, Asmir | G | 19 | Edmonton, AB
D’Agostino, Michael | D/M | 20 | Langley, BC
Di_Ioia, Massimo | F | 19 | Montréal, QC
Elliott, Alex | F | 19 | Vancouver, BC
Gala, Gabe | D | 17 | Brampton, ON
Gray, AJ | M | 18 | Brampton, ON
Haber, Marcus | D/F | 18 | Vancouver, BC
Johnson, Will | M/F | 20 | born Toronto, ON
Kalthoff, Zach | G | 18 | Calgary, AB
Lammie, Shane | F | 18 | Toronto, ON
Lombardo, Andrea | F | 19 | Toronto, ON
Lumley, Stephen | D | 19 | Mississauga, ON
Monsalve, David | G | 18 | Brampton, ON
Nuñez, Cristian | D | 18 | Montréal, QC
O’Connor, Kent | D | 20 | North Vancouver, BC
Owusu-Ansah, Kennedy | D | 17 | Toronto, ON
Peters, Jaime | M | 19 | Pickering, ON
Ricketts, Tosaint | M/F | 19 | Edmonton, AB
Turnbull, Masumi | M/D | 20 | Richmond, BC

Dale Mitchell – Head Coach
Nick Dasovic – Assistant Coach
Kevin Muldoon – Equipment manager and goaltending coach
Eddie Cannon – Physiotherapist
Randy Celebrini – Strength and conditioning coach
Mike Campbell – Doctor
Dave Nutt – National teams administrator

Joe MacCarthy

03-25-2007, 08:39 AM

Men’s U-20 Team
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Canada defeats Scotland 3:1
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2651

http://i9.tinypic.com/48xcxw5.jpg
adidas Man of the Match: Tosaint Ricketts

The Hyundai men’s U-20 national team presented by Yahoo! Canada pulled off a 3:1 victory over Scotland today at the Percy Perry Stadium in Coquitlam, BC. Gabe Gala opened the scoring and Tosaint Ricketts followed through with a pair to complete the win.

'We started out quite sloppy and we didn’t play our best, so it was a big deal to win 3:1,' says defender David Edgar. 'Our team has good character and a fighting spirit. We have a good group of boys.'

http://i7.tinypic.com/4d4veja.jpg

This was the first match of a two-game international series between Canada and Scotland. The second match will be played on 27 March in Victoria at the Royal Athletic Park.

This was just Canada’s second-ever international match in Coquitlam (the other was a U-23 match in 1996). Canada had been scheduled to play in Burnaby at Swangard Stadium, but the officials changed the venue because of a waterlogged Swangard Stadium pitch (grass). Percy Perry Stadium features recently-installed FieldTurf.

Both teams started the match in the rain, but neither side could find the net in the first half. Scotland’s Greg Ross got the lone caution, booked at the 27th minute.

The rain slowed down in the second half and Canada was the first to find the back of the net at the 65th minute. After Gala’s score, Ricketts made it 2:0 at the 73rd minute. Scotland got one back two minutes later courtesy Steven Fletcher, but Ricketts made it 3:1 at the 80th minute.

Canada’s two cautions in the second half went to Cristian Nunez (55th minute) and captain Will Johnson (90+).

The adidas men of the match were Ricketts and Fletcher. Ricketts was playing in his first-ever game with the Canadian youth national team. The Hyundai sportsmen of the match were Jaime Peters (Canada) and Garry Kenneth (Scotland).

Canada had been training in Langley, BC before arriving in Vancouver on Thursday. Now that they have their first match out of the way, they will take the ferry from Vancouver to Victoria and then prepare for the Tuesday 27 March match.

This is a big weekend for Canada’s men’s national teams. Along with the Hyundai men’s U-20 national team presented by Yahoo! Canada, both the senior national team and U-17 team are in action tomorrow on 25 March (Sunday). Canada’s senior team faces Bermuda in Hamilton, Bermuda while Canada’s U-17 team faces Mexico in Mexico City. The U-17 also plays an exhibition match on Tuesday 27 March against Club America and on Friday 30 March against Cruz Azul.

Joe MacCarthy

03-26-2007, 09:48 AM

Dale Mitchell accepts limited availability of elite young players
By RON SUDLOW
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2007/03/23/3814368-cp.html

VANCOUVER (CP) - Canadian under-20 Dale Mitchell has come to terms with the limited availability of some of his players.

Unlike most countries, Canada's elite young soccer players are widely scattered among clubs in Europe and university programs in North America.

"It's a catch-22," Mitchell said Friday in an interview before Canada meets Scotland in a friendly on Saturday at Percy Perry Stadium in suburban Coquitlam, B.C.

The game was originally slated for Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, B.C., but was moved because of a waterlogged pitch.

"I think for all national team coaches you need your players to be in a good environment, especially at this age, when they all want to be professionals. Some of them are in that environment now and some of them are not quite there, but the ones that are end up being the key players within your group."

He'll be counting heavily on six players currently with European clubs when Canada plays host to the FIFA U-20 World Cup June 30-July 22 in Victoria, Burnaby, B.C., Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.

A key to Canada's success will be the play of goalkeeper Asmir Begovic of Edmonton, defender David Edgar of Kitchener, Ont., midfielders Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault of Ile Bizard, Que., and Jaime Peters of Pickering, Ont., along with forwards Will Johnson and Andrea Lombardo, both of Toronto.

"We're looking for them to take the responsibility, the expectation that's going to be put on them to be leaders in this team," Mitchell said.

Getting them together in a training camp in Canada is another issue, but they are available now because it's a week for international play in Europe.

"It makes it more difficult to get your hands on them, but when you do get your hands on them, in theory, you get a better developed player," Mitchell said.

The Canadians and Scots took advantage of the European schedules to set up two friendlies in B.C. The second is Tuesday in Victoria.

In addition to their development in Europe, the six Canadians bring the experience of playing in the U-20 tournament in Netherlands where their young side didn't advance from group play.

All but Begovic, who is recovering from a knee injury, are expected to see action against Scotland, a surprise second-place team among the six European qualifiers.

Edgar made the biggest splash overseas when he scored his first English Premier League goal on New Year's Day, giving Newcastle United a 2-2 tie with Manchester United.

Mitchell said expectations for Canada are higher than usual and preparation has gone well. There will be an additional six tune-ups, including a May 11 date with defending U-20 champion Argentina at BMO Field in Toronto.

"It's important for our boys to learn how to play in front of a crowd," he said.

"It's important for them to learn how to play with some expectations because with Canadian teams there's not always a ton of expectation at the international level, but we'll have some come this summer."

Group ticket sales have topped 500,000 for the 52 matches. Single-game tickets go on sale April 1.

Canada, which qualified as host country, is in a group A with Chile, Austria and African champion Republic of Congo. Their games will be played in Edmonton and Toronto.

Scotland, one of six teams to qualify out of Europe, will face Japan, defending champion Nigeria and Costa Rica in group play in Victoria and Burnaby.

Scotland lost 2-1 to Spain in the UEFA qualifying final, but have made it to their first FIFA world cup of any kind in a decade.

And expectations are high at home, said coach Archie Gimmell, who played for Scotland in the 1978 World Cup.

"Since we got to the final, everybody is expecting us to do wonders over here and as you know, if you've been in the game a long, long time, it doesn't happen that way."

He left five first-team players at home for this tour because of injury but promised a hard-working side.

"There's a great work ethic among the lads and a never-say-die attitude," he said.

He's also looking to the current tour to recruit a Tartan Army among the many ex-pat Scots who live in B.C. for support during the tournament.

Mitchell said Scotland will be a well-organized team that can vary its game.

"They also have some big boys up front that they can go to that have some skill and presence."

Notes: Canada's best result at the U-20 level was in 2003 in the United Arab Emirates when they lost their quarter-final to Spain in extra time ... Canada has qualified for seven of the previous 15 U-20 World Cups ... the Canadians have a 2-5-3 record in exhibition play leading to this year's tournament.

Joe MacCarthy

04-15-2007, 05:27 AM

Men’s U-20 Team
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Canada-Argentina tickets on sale this Monday
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2666

http://i18.tinypic.com/3ymfqc0.jpg
Jaime Peters

Tickets to game three of the Hyundai Canadian men’s U-20 tour presented by Yahoo! Canada go on sale this Monday 9 April 2007. The 11 May match between Canada and Argentina will mark the official opening of BMO Field in Toronto.

The Toronto tickets are available through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.ca or by calling 416-872-5000. Tickets prices range from $30-$100. Group sales are available through 416.360.GOAL.

Canada split their first two matches against Scotland in the Hyundai Canadian men’s U-20 tour presented by Yahoo! Canada. They won 3:1 in Coquitlam then lost 1:2 in Victoria. For match three in Toronto, Canada will be up against five-time world youth champions Argentina, the most-successful team in the history of the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Canada is hosting the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007. The six host sites are Victoria, Burnaby, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. The tournament runs 30 June to 22 July.

Shahbaz

04-15-2007, 06:09 AM

i have to say you guys have a pretty good U-20/U-21 team

that coach should become the senior NT coach for Canada

Joe MacCarthy

04-15-2007, 09:16 AM

i have to say you guys have a pretty good U-20/U-21 team. That coach should become the senior NT coach for CanadaIt looks like Toronto FC will be fulfilling the role for which it was intended. Many of the U20 players who are not playing in Europe are now with the Toronto FC reserves playing at a higher level than was previously possible without having been signed abroad.

While it is likely that someday coach Dale Mitchell (formerly one of Canada's all-time best players) will coach the senior NT it is looking like the job will go to Brazilian Rene Simoes (to be announced shortly).

Mitchell will have his hands full trying to get a positive result this summer at the WYC.

In some bizarre somewhat related news it is looking like Heerenveen is not going to renew U20 Will Johnson's contract. He has scored prolifically for the reserves (four goals this week alone, 20 in 25 games?) and has had much PT with the main team.

Chicago owns his MLS rights IIRC but TFC would love to have him.

He is far too good, however, to not play for some decent European side.

Edit: Looks like the disagreement between Heerenveen and Johnson is over money not talent. Also, Dale Mitchell got the senior men's NT job

Shahbaz

04-15-2007, 09:19 AM

^ cool ...i'll be rooting for Canada at the WYC (since my NT is not there)

Joe MacCarthy

06-07-2007, 08:28 AM

Men’s U-20 Team
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Ricketts’ hat trick evens series with USA
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2724

Canada 4 : 0 United States (match tracker)

OTTAWA (ONTARIO) - Canada’s men’s youth (U-20) team defeated their American counterparts on Wednesday night in Kingston, ON. The young Canucks won 4:0 on the strength of a Tosaint Ricketts hat trick in the fifth game of the Hyundai men’s U-20 tour presented by Yahoo! Canada. The victory helped Canada split their two-match series with the United States after a loss on Sunday in Ottawa.

'It was good what happened to us on Sunday,' said coach Dale Mitchell of the team’s 4:1 loss in Ottawa. 'We learned quite a bit and we went back to playing our strengths.'

It took Ricketts all of two minutes to score his first goal of the match. The striker displayed excellent skill and speed to break in and put the ball past American goalkeeper Diego Restrepo.

Canada continued to press and added a second goal just 17 minutes later off the foot of Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault. Another nine minutes after that, Ricketts scored his second goal as Canada went up 3-0.

At the other end of the pitch, Canadian goalkeeper Asmir Begovic maintained a clean sheet throughout the first half. David Monsalve took his place in the second half and did the same.

As for Ricketts, he completed the hat trick in the 65th minute, putting Canada up 4-0.

'It’s always good to score,' said Ricketts. 'That’s my job, especially as the lone striker.'

Ricketts became just the sixth youth player to score a hat trick for Canada, the first since Niall Thompson on 7 July 1991 (also a 4:0 win against the United States. Ricketts moves into first place amongst active youth players with five career goals (four games).

In the five years since Canada first played in Kingston, the national teams have faired well against their opponents. In five contests (all since 2003), Canada has four wins (senior women, senior men, senior men, youth men) and one draw (youth men). Attendance for Wednesday’s match was 3,382.

Canada’s next and final game in the Hyundai men’s U-20 tour presented by Yahoo! Canada will be played on 18 June in Edmonton, AB. Canada will face the Czech Republic at Commonwealth Stadium.

Joe MacCarthy

06-07-2007, 08:38 AM

Taking the field
By ROB LONGLEY -- Sun Media
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2007/06/06/4238746-sun.html

Jaime Peters knows as much or more than any Canadian player on this year's U-20 team about the thrill of performing in front of a lively, soccer-mad crowd.

Unfortunately, prior to this summer, the Pickering native had to go thousands of miles from home to experience the sensation.

A promising young midfielder with Ipswich Town in England, Peters loves coming home to Ontario to visit with family and friends.

All are no doubt impressed with his accomplishments, making it as a professional player at such a young age in soccer-crazed England.

Now his domestic rooting section will get a chance to sample the feeling first-hand when Canada opens the FIFA U-20 World Cup with a July 1 match against Chile.

"The passion in Britain is unbelievable," Peters said recently about regularly playing in front of 25,000 at Ipswich. "It's a great atmosphere.

"Now it's going to be great to play in front of my friends and family and show we can compete against the best in the world."

Peters, who recently turned 20, got a nice taste of the response he and his teammates can expect during Canada's sold out friendly against Argentina at BMO Field in May.

Peters was easily the most electrifying player on the pitch that night as Canada fought the good fight in a 2-1 loss to the defending champions. By the second half, he had the fans roaring every time he neared the ball.

Peters is one of the prospects Canadian coach Dale Mitchell hopes will continue his progress on the senior team he will take over after the U-20 event concludes.

"The good thing is that when they are with European clubs, they are getting training, getting good games," Mitchell said of Peters' development overseas. "When they come back, they are more developed and more mature players."

7 CANADA

JAIME PETERS

Born May 4, 1987 and raised in Pickering, Ont. ... Turned down offers from developmental squads of Manchester United and Chelsea before signing on with Ipswich Town ... Dynamic midfielder played a year of youth soccer in Germany at Kaiserslautern, which played host to some World Cup games in 2006 ... Made his debut with the Canadian national team at age 17 and has played in 13 contests since ... Got a taste of U-20 action as part of the Canadian team in the 2005 event in the Netherlands ... Also played baseball and basketball while growing up east of Toronto ... The 5-foot-7 speedster does his best work down the right flank ...

Joe MacCarthy

06-14-2007, 08:33 PM

Hottest feet in Canada boost soccer squad
Edmonton's Ricketts lock to make under-20 club

Scott Petersen
The Edmonton Journal
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/sports/story.html?id=7ba6a2ab-94f5-436d-aef4-20a78dd56b2c&p=1

Thursday, June 14, 2007

EDMONTON - Tosaint Ricketts can flat-out fly, and the wheels in his legs could soon cause the world's defenders to curse in a handful of languages.

The Edmonton product with the Jamaican roots looks like a lock for Canada's roster for the fast-approaching FIFA Under-20 World Cup. Boasting the hottest feet in the country by burning defenders to pop five goals in four games will do that.

That type of offensive success surprised even Ricketts. He was a lesser-known hopeful just a year ago.

"I always expect to do fairly well, but you never know how it's going to turn out coming to a new team with new people," said the 19-year-old. "But yeah, it's surprised me a lot how my success has been."

Ricketts gives a nod to his speed for his goal-scoring proficiency. He used to run track in high school, and run it well. He competed in the 100, 200, and 400-metre races, often winning city competitions, he said, and once taking the provincials in the 200.

Opponents can attest to the fact he doesn't slow down much with a ball at his feet. So does one of his former coaches, Sean Fleming of Edmonton's National Training Centre.

"He's a tremendous athlete and obviously his pace is something that is a very special gift that he has," said Fleming.

Fleming coached Ricketts from ages 15-17.

That extra gear was on display last week in a hat-trick performance during a 4-0 win over the U.S. in Kingston, Ont.

Ricketts stripped a defender on the first goal and ripped down the side to slide it through the keeper's legs. He added a little shake-and-bake around two defenders on his second goal before finishing the strike.

He completed the trick on a run down the side before cutting inside and letting loose.

Ricketts credits his success to hard work on his skills and fitness, which he said allows him to play as hard in the 90th minute of a game as he does in the first minute.

He also gives some credit to Fleming.

"He was good inspiration for me," said Ricketts. "He always pushed me. Earlier, like when I was younger, my attitude wasn't really the greatest, but he broke me out of that, built me up as a striker and got me playing how I am today."

Fleming believes Ricketts' attitude is part of the reason he's ascended to his current level. He said the player had a quiet confidence in his abilities and

possibly a bit of a strut in his walk, but also knew how good he could be, listened and worked hard.

Ricketts also went out of his comfort zone to play soccer the past two seasons at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

"I think, having done that, he's seeing the rewards for being so committed," said Fleming.

The Canadian team is also seeing those rewards.

Ricketts notched two goals in his first action against Scotland after entering as a late sub. And he's been named top Canadian his past two contests.

Those performances have vaulted him from potential support player to possible key player for Canada.

He'll be in the lineup for Monday's friendly at Commonwealth Stadium against the Czech Republic. He hopes that status will carry into the World Cup.

"I'm quite excited," said Ricketts. "It's going to be good playing in front of a home crowd. My family's going to be there, my mom hasn't seen me in a while. I'm happy about that."

And the Canadian coaching staff is no doubt happy they've found him, too -- just in time.

spetersen@thejournal.canwest.com

UPCOMING GAMES

Canada vs. Czech Republic - Friendly
Monday, June 18, 7 p.m., Commonwealth Stadium
FIFA Under-20 World Cup - June 30-July 22 at Victoria, Burnaby, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal

Joe MacCarthy

06-16-2007, 07:51 PM

Young striker bringing it on home
For Andrea Lombardo, those years in Italy learning the game are paying off
By BILL LANKHOF
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2007/06/16/4265921-sun.html

http://i15.tinypic.com/537dste.jpg
Andrea Lombardo, at 20 years of age, is one of Canada's brightest offensive stars of the future. (Craig Robertson/Sun Media)

There are moments when Andrea Lombardo looks up from the BMO Stadium pitch into the stands and gets the feeling he never left Italy.

It is, in those moments, that the just-turned 20-year-old striker for Toronto FC and Canada's under-20 team realizes how far both he and his sport have grown in a few short years.

"I knew it would be good, but I never expected the fan support to be so passionate," Andrea says, strands of hair hanging in dew-like fashion into his neck from a morning training session. "It's not like I get noticed on the streets, but the fans have a chant for me when I come on. It's an honour they think enough of me to do that.

"Our fans have a very European mentality ... When guys from the other teams go to take a corner where our fans are, they'll start throwing things at them or chanting: 'Who are You? Who are You?' You don't see that in any other MLS stadium. That's what they do in Europe or South America. It really makes you proud to play here."

Lombardo hasn't always had reason to feel that way. There was a time when the only thing that mattered to him was finding a way out of Toronto and out of Canada.

"He always said: 'Daddy, if I want to continue playing, you've got to get me out of here.' " says Onofrio Lombardo from the family home north of Toronto. "He never said, 'I don't want to be away from home, my friends.' Soccer is his passion."

At 15, Andrea earned a spot with Manchester City's development squad, only to lose it with visa problems. Soon after, he would follow his older brother, Steven, to Italy, to try out with Atalanta -- that country's No. 1 youth development program.

And, so began Andrea's meandering pathway from North York, via England, Milan and Perugia, to the stadium at Lake Ontario that he now calls home.

"I wanted to make soccer a career. At the time my father and I both knew that wasn't possible by staying in Canada," he says.

At 17, Andrea enrolled in high school at Atalanta's home base just outside Milan. He didn't speak much Italian.

"My dad would talk to me in Italian and I'd answer him in English. Then, I get over there and now I have to do Grade 12 in Italian. The only time I spoke English was when I talked to my parents on the telephone," he says.

Onofrio chuckles at the memory. To this day, he is undecided whether this chapter in the family history was hardest on his wife or on his youngest of three sons.

"We are a close-knit family. We spoke on the phone every day. It was hard," he says. "But our oldest son (Steven) had also played in Italy when he was 16 so we had some idea what it would be like. When my first son went, my wife (Anna Maria) said to me: 'Because of your stupid soccer, my son has gone away and he's only 16.' With Andrea it was more accepted that he really wanted to do this himself."

Onofrio had a brother and sister living in Milan. And, every four months he and Anna Maria would fly over to visit. Onofrio remembers the first time, in October of 2004.

"We had return tickets ready for him," he says. "He didn't want to show us how much he missed us, but when we were leaving he hugged his mother and he broke up and cried ... you could tell he missed Toronto, family and friends. But, he never used the return ticket. He said: 'I'm okay, I'm here to do a job.' "

Andrea would spend the next 31/2 years learning the intricacies of a sport in a way he would never have been able to do in Canada.

"I knew a lot of kids I played with who were amazing players but just fell off the rails and stopped playing," he says. "It's tough to see. It's a shame but that's what happens when you don't have the soccer environment. We have good grassroots players. It's just a matter of developing them like they do in Europe. "

"Atalanta was really good because from eight-year-olds to the first team, we all trained in one place. Eight or 10 pitches. When you're a kid that's important because you can see: 'Yeah, one day I want to be up there with those guys in Serie A.' Most of the good clubs over there have facilities like that."

About the only thing he couldn't stomach was the food. Living in the team dorm, all players were expected to eat in the cafeteria. Attendance was taken. Unfortunately, dessert should have come with a stomach pump.

"The food was disgusting," Andrea says, shaking his head. "We had to go down for dinner because if we didn't, we'd get into trouble. We'd get a plate of something, sit for about 20 minutes, then dump it, go back upstairs and order pizza. Three or four times a week. Good thing Italy has good pizza places."

But the soccer was good. He made his Serie B debut in October 2005 -- still one of the highlights of his young career next to playing on Canada's under-20 team. He signed a five-year pro contract in 2005 and today he is fluent in Italian, French, English and homemaking.

"When you move out at 16, there's a lot of maturing to do in a short amount of time," he offers. "My roommate and I learned to cook and do our own laundry."

He was also learning that soccer was growing up back home and after a season with Perugia, when Toronto FC came sniffing around, he asked for, and got, his release.

DEVELOPMENT

"I don't think I'd be playing with Toronto FC right now if I hadn't gone over there to play," he says. "It helped me develop because the biggest difference was that in Toronto you practise three times a week after school and if you didn't feel like going you'd call the coach and say: 'I've got to stay home and study.' In Italy that doesn't exist. There's no excuses for missing practice. There's no calling the coach. They treat you as a young professional and that's what got me where I am now."

He is now one of the brightest young offensive stars on the horizon for Canada. In a warmup game for the under-20 World Cup tournament, to be held next month in Canada, he was named man of the match in a 2-1 loss against powerful Argentina. Evidently, the only one who wasn't impressed was Andrea himself.

"I was really upset because their second, the losing goal, was actually my fault because the guy I was marking ended up scoring. I was supposed to do an interiew with a TV station after the game, but I was so upset someone else had to do it."

He has the stereotypical Italian temperament.

"That's one of my flaws. I'm very emotional," he says. "It's good for me in one way because it helps me play the game well, but it also gets me into trouble with yellow cards. I haven't had a red card, ever, but I have to keep my emotions in check."

He has helped the team beat Scotland, the Czech Republic and the U.S. -- all among the top 20 youth teams in the world. The tournament, he says, "could be a launch for the sport in the country. If we can have a good tournament, it'll gain this country some respect ... people will realize Canadians can play soccer, too."

Meantime, Anna Maria Lombardo has the potatoes with sausage and peas in the oven. And, pass the pasta a la bolonaise. Andrea's favourite.

"Italy was nice," he says, "but home is always home."

boris4c

06-17-2007, 04:17 AM

hmmm I saw Lombardo play and he didn't impress me at all.

Joe MacCarthy

06-17-2007, 10:20 PM

hmmm I saw Lombardo play and he didn't impress me at all.Well, maybe that's why you are sitting where you are and I am sitting where I am. He's been recognized by many others as a talent.

Joe MacCarthy

06-19-2007, 11:53 AM

Canada ties Czech Republic in U-20 men's soccer friendly
By DEAN BENNETT
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/2007/06/18/4271607.html

http://i12.tinypic.com/63ub8gm.jpg
Team Canada Will Johnson battles for the ball with Ceska Republika Jan Simunek during first half action at the U20 National Teams friendly match in preperation for the upcoming U20 Fifa World Cup at Common Wealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alta., on Monday June 18, 2007. (Photo by Jason Frasnon/Edmonton Sun)

EDMONTON - Canada's Jaime Peters lit up the pitch Monday before rain and lightning brought a premature end to a 0-0 friendly between the national under-20 men's soccer team and the Czech Republic.

The 20-year-old midfielder from Pickering, Ont., managed to beat his defender three times down the right side in the first half to cross the ball. Striker Tosaint Ricketts redirected one of the crosses past Czech goalie Tomas Frystak but just wide of the net.

"It's clear he's a player with good one-on-one ability. He got behind defenders and he got his crosses in," said Canadian head coach Dale Mitchell after the game, which was called at the 53-minute mark before 4,122 fans at Commonwealth Stadium.

Mitchell said Peters had been on a month-long break at the request of Ipswich, his club in the English League Championship, but said they expect him in peak condition when Canada hosts the under-20 World Cup from June 30 to July 22.

"We hope over the next two weeks his fitness level improves and he can be a 90-minute player for us. He needs to be for us to do well at the tournament."

Peters was unavailable for comment as the Canadian team refused to make him available to the media.

The Czechs were outshooting the Canadians 3-2 when the game was called. The rain eventually tapered off but the deluge had made the field unplayable.

"It wasn't the best start but we progressed very well through the game and it would have been interesting to see what would've happened," said Canadian player Kent O'Connor.

The Czechs were led by midfielders Lubos Kalouda and Marek Stretik, who combined for a couple of good scoring opportunities but could not get the ball past Canadian goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.

"We dominated in the first two minutes," Czech coach Miroslav Soukoup said through an interpreter. "But after that, the level of play was even and Canada had a few good scoring chances."

Canada had three corner kicks to five for the opposition and each side collected five fouls.

The FIFA U-20 World Cup will run in six cities: Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Victoria and Burnaby.

Notes: Star Canadian defender David Edgar did not play due to a strained abdominal muscle.

Joe MacCarthy

06-19-2007, 11:56 AM

Men’s U-20 Team
June 18, 2007
Canada, Czech Republic draw
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2742

http://i14.tinypic.com/53era80.jpg
Jaime Peters Photo: Dale MacMillan

Canada 0, Czech Republic 0, Weather 1: The final match of the Hyundai Canadian men’s U-20 tour presented by Yahoo! Canada was abandoned tonight because of inclement weather. The match was abandoned after 53 minutes with the score tied 0:0 because a storm rolled in and let out both thunder and lightning on Edmonton.

The match had been delayed for some 20 minutes before it was finally called.

The match at Commonwealth Stadium began under clear skies. Midway through the first half, Canada started to create some good scoring chances. In the 27th minute off a corner kick, Nana Attakora-Gyan headed a cross just over the crossbar. In the 34th minute, captain Will Johnson got in and got off a terrific shot, but was stopped by goalkeeper Tomas Frystak. A few minutes after that, Johnson chipped in a pass to hometown boy Tosaint Ricketts, but the Canucks were foiled again by the Czech stopper.

The Czechs also had some chances. Minutes before the end of the first half, the Czechs created a great chance on Asmir Begovic, but the Canadian goalkeeper was up to the task.

The second half didn’t last long as the skies opened up to rain, thunder and lightning.

This was the sixth and final game in the Hyundai men’s U-20 tour presented by Yahoo! Canada. The Canadians opened the tour back in March with a win and a loss against Scotland (24 March in Coquitlam and 27 March in Victoria). The team then lost 1:2 to Argentina in Toronto (11 May) before splitting their recent series with the United States (3 June in Ottawa and 6 June in Kingston. Tonight’s Match 6 was a scoreless draw.

Edmonton’s Tosaint Ricketts, who scored two goals against Scotland (24 March) and three goals against the United States (6 June), was the tour’s top scorer with five goals. He was also the adidas Man of the Match in three of the five games (there was no adidas Man of the Match tonight).

Canada’s next game is 1 July in Toronto against Chile, thus kicking off the much-anticipated FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007. With more than 750,000 spectators lined up for the 52-match tournament, the FIFA U-20 World Cup will be the largest single-sport event in Canadian history. After the Canada Day match, Canada returns to Edmonton to play Austria on 5 July and then Congo on 8 July.

boris4c

06-19-2007, 03:41 PM

Well, maybe that's why you are sitting where you are and I am sitting where I am. He's been recognized by many others as a talent.
Many other were not at all impressed by his skills.

Joe MacCarthy

06-22-2007, 10:07 AM

Tomorrow's stars today
By TERRY JONES -- Sun Media
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2007/06/18/4269914-sun.html

From Maradona to Ronaldinho to ...

It's a long, long, long list of the top names in the game who went on from the FIFAU-20 World Cup to superstardom.

Buy programs. Save the line-ups. Look at them when the World Cup begins in 2010.

For the fans, that's the drill and part of the the thrill. And the guessing game about which players might launch their careers to worldwide fame may as well begin now with the arrival of the Czech Republic team to play against Canada tonight at Commonwealth Stadium in the final friendly leading to the event.

Czech striker Marek Strestik, who scored five goals to lead the Czechs in qualifying for the event, is one of the players many expect to leave here a much bigger name than he came.

"I actually think they may have a couple of those players," said Canada's coach Dale Mitchell.

"Strestik is a great distributor of the ball and Martin Fenin always looks dangerous.

"Based on what we watched, those two guys impressed us the most. But when this is all over, maybe Strestik is the one you'll be talking about. He's pretty skillful."

SHOWCASE EVENT

This tournament was invented for young talent to strut their stuff for every player in the tournament, not just the ones who will become global stars.

"It's a showcase," said Will Johnson, the Toronto product.

"There are so many important people from the entire soccer world watching that if you have a good tournament, a lot of good things can happen. If you have a good game in a friendly, nobody sees it. But at the U-20 World Cup, a great number of important soccer people take notice."

It happened to him.

"I did well the last one and got a chance to play in Holland," said the forward with SC Heerenveen.

It's important for pro careers of every single player in the tournament he said, including the handful of Canadians who already are with pro teams in Europe.

"Nobody is playing for Real Madrid here," he laughed.

With every game you play, the more important eyes will watch you.

"If your team does well, the individuals on that team are going to do well. The deeper the team goes in the tournament, the more you help each other out."

Canada lost two and tied one in making an early exit from the previous tournament.

"You play against good players. If you do well, the pro clubs will take notice," said Jamie Peters, a midfielder from Pickering, Ont. who plays for Ipswich Town in England, another of the six players who has played in the U-20 World Cup before.

"It's the best young talent in the world with all the clubs and scouts. You prove yourself at this tournament and you will land a good job," said keeper Asmir Begovic of Edmonton who is a back up with Portsmouth and is said to have the attributes to become one of the best goaltenders in the world.

Coach Dale Mitchell says there's all that, but the biggest thing involved is for a Canadian to find out he can play with top young talent from countries like the ones Canada played to get to their final friendly and the teams they'll play when the tournament begins.

CONFIDENCE BUILDER

"What's so great about this is for a Canadian kid to discover he can play against the best young players from top soccer nations like Brazil and Argentina. It gives those kids a kind of confidence they can't get any other way."

But there's another angle to this, too.

Begovic says it's big for everybody, even the players who will not go on to have a career, players who will disappear from here.

The ones who play against the next Maradonas and Ronaldinhos in this tournament, if nothing else, will have that forever.

"It's an experience you won't forget in life. It's huge. And to do it in Canada, that's once in a lifetime."

Joe MacCarthy

06-22-2007, 10:10 AM

Multicultural backgrounds good for game
By DEREK VAN DIEST -- Sun Media
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2007/06/18/4269912-sun.html

Will Johnson, Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault and Cristian Nunez come from different ethnic backgrounds.

Yet together, the trio make up a formidable midfield combination for Canada's Under-20 soccer team. Moulding players with different styles has always been one of the challenges for Canada's national teams.

"You can look at it as a disadvantage or you can look at it as an advantage," said Canadian head coach Dale Mitchell.

"If you look at world soccer at the club level, they don't have a problem bringing in guys from different parts of the world. You look at the top teams in world soccer and they've got players from all over the place.

VARIED BACKGROUNDS

"One of the advantages of being in Canada, it's a multi-cultural country with a lot of different ethnic groups and I think long-term that's a positive for us. We have kids with African backgrounds, kids with Caribbean backgrounds, kids with South American backgrounds, kids with European backgrounds and kids with Asian backgrounds. There are not many countries that can say that and it's just a matter of developing everybody and trying to get everybody to come together as a team."

Johnson, 20, was born in Toronto, but grew up in the United Kingdom before moving to the United States. His grandfather, Brian Birch, played professionally for Bolton in England.

Beaulieu-Bourgault, 18, was born in Montreal. He signed with FC St. Pauli in Germany.

Nunez, 18, was also born in Montreal, but his father is from Argentina and his mother is from Nicaragua.

Tonight the trio will make up the heart of the Canadian midfield against the Czech Republic (7 p.m.) at Commonwealth Stadium in their final tune-up game for the upcoming Under-20 World Cup.

"Jon and I have been playing for three years together, so we kind of know each other," Nunez said.

"Will is more of an offensive midfielder. Our job is to try and get the ball and pass it to him and he does what he's good at. We kind of know what are roles are."

Unlike previous versions of the Under-20 team, this year's edition is more patient with the ball. They're more comfortable on it and therefore play more of a possession game.

The three are key contributors to that ball-possession game and will have big roles at this year's Under-20 tournament which kicks off on June 30th.

"We look to play a bit of soccer," said Johnson. "I would definitely say that this team is more talented then the last team. It's good that we have guys that can play football and it's going to help against some of the teams that also want to play that kind of style against us."

The three have contrasting styles of play. Beaulieu-Bourgault is a defensive midfielder that provides the link between the defensive and offensive thirds of the field. Nunez is a ball-possession midfielder with good skills and the ability to play in tight quarters. Johnson is an attacking midfielder who likes to run at defenders and create offensive opportunities.

"I think we are good together because we've been playing together for a while," Beaulieu-Bourgault said. "We've known Will for a couple of years and he's a very good player. So it's good that we know each other and it's fun to play with them."

DIFFERENT STYLE OF PLAY

The transition to a ball possession team from a kick-and-chase side is one that Canada is trying to make.

They're able to do that by having players on the team that are more comfortable on the ball. But it's an ongoing process.

"We play that way when we can. We try to," Mitchell said. "At the international level it's tough. Teams are well organized and if they see that one or two players are not that comfortable they come after you. Teams can see if someone is shaky on the ball.

"We're trying to develop our possession game and we know there are times where we have to slow it down and be a team that can hold on to the ball. It's just doing it without risk really."

Joe MacCarthy

06-22-2007, 10:18 AM

Canada names U-20 roster
By NEIL DAVIDSON
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2007/06/21/4279609-cp.html

TORONTO (CP) - Canada named its roster for the world under-20 soccer championships Thursday, with six returning veterans headlining the cast.

Goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, defender David Edgar, midfielders Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault, Jaime Peters and Will Johnson and forward Andrea Lombardo will form the spine of the host team at the tournament officially known as FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007.

"I think we're going to lean on them pretty heavily," Mitchell said Thursday. "They've got the experience, they've been through this before and it's important for them to play well and be leaders within the group, and we're confident that they're going to do that."

The team will be co-captained by Begovic and Johnson.

The 24-team event kicks off July 1, with Canada playing Chile in Toronto - one of six host cities. The tournament will end 51 matches later, also at Toronto's BMO Field, on July 22.

"I like the squad," Mitchell said. "All of those boys deserve it."

Mitchell, who will take over the senior side once the under-20 tournament is done, said his 21-man roster eventually sorted itself out.

"The thing that stood out for me is I've seen pretty much all of those guys play a good international game and be involved in a good win against quality opponents at some point in the last year or so," he said.

"You're hopeful they'll be able to do that, when it matters the most in the tournament," he added.

Beaulieu-Bourgault will play holding midfielder while Johnson works from the hole behind striker Andrea Lombardo. Peters will attack from the flanks.

Sixteen of the 21 players are with pro clubs - 11 in Europe and five with Toronto FC. Three are with NCAA schools and two are unattached.

While Canada has named a 21-man roster, nine additional players are available as injury replacements prior to the tournament. A player hurt during the competition cannot be replaced.

The Canadians are confident that Jamaican-born midfielder Simeon Jackson will get his Canadian passport before the tournament opens.

Canada is in a group with Austria, Chile and Congo and will play the rest of its opening round games in Edmonton. The other host cities are Victoria, Vancouver, Ottawa and Montreal.

Joe MacCarthy

06-22-2007, 10:25 AM

Canada announces roster for the FIFA U-20 World Cup
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2744

Ottawa (Ontario)- Canada’s men’s U-20 team announced its official roster today for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007. The team arrives in Toronto on 21 June for its final preparations before its opening match on 1 July against Chile at BMO field.

The 21-man roster includes six returning players from the previous FIFA U-20 World Cup: Andrea Lombardo, Asmir Begovic, David Edgar, Jaime Peters, Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault and Will Johnson.

The Canadian team will then head to Edmonton for games against Austria on 5 July and Congo on 8 July at Commonwealth Stadium.

1. Asmir Begovic/ GK / Edmonton, AB / Portsmouth FC (England)
2. Nana Attakora-Gyan/ D / Orangeville, ON / Toronto FC
3. Kent O'Connor/D / North Vancouver, BC / 1860 Munich (Germany)
4. David Edgar/D / Kitchener, ON / Newcastle United FC (England)
5. Marcus Haber/D/ Vancouver, BC / FC Groningen (Netherlands)
6. Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault/ M / Montréal, QC / St. Pauli FC (Germany)
7. Jaime Peters/ M / Pickering, ON / Ipswich Town FC (England)
8. Keegan Ayre/ M / Coquitlam, BC / Hibernian FC (Scotland)
9. Andrea Lombardo/ F / Toronto, ON / Toronto FC
10. Will Johnson/ M / Woodridge, IL / Heerenveen (Netherlands)
11. Simeon Jackson/ M/ Mississauga, ON/ Rushden and Diamonds (England)
12. Olivier Lacoste-Lebuis/ D / Montréal, QC / Strasbourg (France)
13. Stephen Lumley/ D / Mississauga, ON / Toronto FC
14. Tosaint Ricketts/ F / Edmonton, AB / U. of Wisconsin - Green Bay (USA)
15. Cristian Nunez/ M / Montréal, QC / Toronto FC
16. Alex Elliott/ F / Vancouver, BC / University of Portland (USA)
17. Gabe Gala/ D/M / Brampton, ON / Toronto FC
18. Kennedy Owusu-Ansah/ D / Toronto, ON / Hertha Berlin (Germany)
19. Michael D'Agostino / D/M / Langley, BC / University of Kentucky (USA)
20. David Monsalve/ G / Brampton, ON / Unattached
21. Zach Kalthoff/ G / Calgary, AB / Unattached

Head Coach: Dale Mitchell
Assistant Coach: Nick Dasovic
Equipment manager & goalkeeper coach:Kevin Muldoon
Team Manager: Dave Nutt
Physiotherapist: Eddie Cannon
Strength and conditioning coach: Randy Celebrini
Press Officer: Sandra Campbell

Joe MacCarthy

06-28-2007, 07:30 PM

Opportunity knocks
By ROB LONGLEY -- Sun Media
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/2007/06/28/4297319-sun.html

In the world's more traditionally soccer-crazed countries, the burden of expectation could be enough to bring even the best young men down. But the group of mostly teenage Canadians looking to make a huge impact in their homeland over the next three weeks don't see it that way.

The players on coach Dale Mitchell's home side see opportunity rather than oppression; a chance to sell the game like it has never been sold before domestically.

By the end of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which kicks off for the Canadians this sunday against Chile at Toronto's BMO Field, speedster Jaime Peters of Pickering, Ont., may be a household name. David Edgar of Kitchener, Ont., already an established pro in England, may get Don Cherry's attention for the hockey mentality he brings to the pitch. Andrea Lombardo, already getting known for his work with Toronto FC of the MLS, could become a hero in the bustling Italian neighbourhoods of his native city.

And if the squad advances out of group play, as it did in this event four years ago, soccer and the Maple Leaf could go together like never before.

"This is a great opportunity for us and a great opportunity for the sport here," Team Canada goalkeeper and Edmonton native Asmir Begovic said in an interview. "Most of us can't wait to show the country what we are capable of. It's a big stage for our sport."

Drawn into Group A, one of six four-team divisions in the FIFA-run event, the Canadian team opens in Toronto before shifting to Edmonton for its next two contests.

The scheduling allows for what organizers hope will be a massive Canada Day celebration at BMO Field, where the kickoff has long been sold out. Once the team makes a splash in Toronto, it will be off to Edmonton, a city that has long shown support for all manner of Canadian soccer teams. Mitchell, who will take over the senior men's side after his work in the U-20 event is complete, is guardedly optimistic at his team's chances.

The squad is deep with players who have experience in the event and during the past year the team has played tough against world powers such as Brazil, Argentina and the Czech Republic.

But these aren't friendlies, and playing against countries where the soccer infrastructure is deep-rooted in the culture is a serious challenge faced by any Canadian international side.

"We always have to be realistic when we set goals," Mitchell said in an interview. "Only two teams in our history have come out of the group stage.

"But considering we've had good preparation and we're playing at home, we are aiming to advance. If we got to the last eight like the 2003 team, I think that would be a great performance."

Adding to the challenge for the Canadian coach is the diversity of style his team will face in its opposition. Teams converging from all corners of the globe is the inherent appeal of any World Cup, and this event is no different.

"Sure it's difficult having teams from all over the world, but we have to concentrate on what we do," Toronto native and Team Canada midfielder Will Johnson said. "That's what makes it a World Cup. We need to do what we have to do to win games and not worry about the rest."

By opening against Chile, the Canadians will get a taste of the South American style, fast-paced and dangerous as it generally is.

For a little European flair, Austria is up next, providing a more technical approach. Not often considered among the best in Europe, let alone the world, the Austrians are improving rapidly at the youth level and will be a stout test.

The Canadians then wrap up group play with the second of its two games in Edmonton when they face Congo on July 7.

"I don't think you would look at our group and say it's drop-dead difficult," Mitchell said. "But every team in it could give us a problem. I look at it that (since) we're hosting, if we don't get out of our group, there will be disappointment. That's the message we'll pass on to our players -- there's a little expectation there and that is a good thing."

One of many good things that could come out of the biggest soccer show to sweep the country.

Joe MacCarthy

06-28-2007, 07:44 PM

Canada looks to Johnson
By NEIL DAVIDSON
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/2007/06/28/4297752-cp.html

http://i7.tinypic.com/54ai1ea.jpg
Canada's under-20 soccer player Will Johnson (right) jog with an unidentified trainer during a training session in this file photo. (CPimages/AP/Ginnette Riquelme)

TORONTO (CP) - Canadian Will Johnson has come a long way since the last world under-20 soccer championship.

"A lot of good things have happened, that's for sure," said the 20-year-old attacking midfielder.

Formerly the property of the Chicago Fire, Johnson is now under contract to Heerenveen in the Netherlands. And he is a key returning veteran of Canada's team at the world under-20 soccer championship that runs Saturday through July 22 in six Canadian cities.

"It's been amazing. I love playing in Europe," Johnson said in an interview. "Chicago, the MLS, it is what it is. It's not good but it's a decent league to start. But now that I've broken in over in Europe, there's no coming back. I'm very happy over there."

He recently signed a new deal with Heerenveen, which plans to loan him to newly promoted Dutch side de Graafschap next season. The club loaned out fellow Canadian Rob Friend to Heracles, also in the Dutch top flight, last season.

Heerenveen is a soccer crazy town about 100 kilometres northeast of Amsterdam in the province of Friesland, which follows the team closely. The team jersey shows off the flag of the region.

There are some 28,000 in the town and Heerenveen games are usually sellouts of 27,000.

Last season, Johnson played some 40 games for the Heerenveen reserves and, after Christmas, 15 games for the senior side. He is looking forward to his time with de Graafschap, anticipating that he will see plenty of action.

The speedy attacker is being counted on to play a key creative role for Canada at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007.

Canada opens Sunday in Toronto against Chile.

Johnson will start in the hole behind target man Andrea Lombardo, looking to link up with wingers Jaime Peters and Simeon Jackson. Johnson has pace and will often drop deep, looking to gain the ball and trigger the attack.

The five-foot-10 165-pounder is also a whirl of energy on the pitch. Watch him and he rarely stops running.

"He's somebody that can take a little bit of the pressure off of Jaime, because he comes from a different spot in the field, more central," said coach Dale Mitchell. "He's also somebody that can take people on. He's got a good shot, he can finish and he can slide people through (with passes).

"And Will has a terrific work rate too. He's willing to work back and work hard for the team and we're going to need that."

Johnson, who has already won three caps for the Canadian senior side, is one of six alumni of the Canadian team that went 0-2-1 at the 2005 under-20 tournament in the Netherlands.

"It was tough go for us over there. Much like Will, the team was a little on the young side," Mitchell said. "But I thought he was one of our better players in 2005. And he's a more developed and more experienced player now, so I think there's the opportunity to do well here for sure."

Johnson's family is English, but Will was born in Toronto while his parents - both physicists - were working at the University of Toronto. The family moved back to England and Will grew up in Liverpool before the Johnsons moved to Chicago when he was 10.

Both parents will be on hand to watch him, as will his brothers and sisters. His grandmother has also flown over from England.

"I'm really excited, They haven't seen me play in over a year now. They didn't get a chance to make it out to Holland this year, I can't wait."

"Last time they saw me play was in some Chicago Fire games. I've gotten a lot better and changed a lot of things since then. So hopefully they'll be quite impressed."

A lifelong Liverpool fan, his mouth is watering at the prospect of Spanish striker Fernando Torres joining the Reds.

Joe MacCarthy

06-30-2007, 03:13 PM

Canada Team Page
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/fifau20/teams/canada.html

Squad

Coach: Dale Mitchell

Roster

Goalkeepers: Asmir Begovic, David Monsalve, Zach Kalthoff.

Defenders: Nana Attakora-Gyan, Kent O'Connor, David Edgar, Marcus Haber, Stephen Lumley, Kennedy Owusu-Ansah, Olivier Lacoste-Lebuis.

Midfielders: Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault, Jaime Peters, Keegan Ayre, Cristian Nunez, Gabe Gala, Michael D'Agostino, Simeon Jackson.

Forwards: Andrea Lombardo, Will Johnson, Tosaint Ricketts, Alex Elliott.

Scouting Report

Strengths: As the host nation, Canada has a big advantage as all of their games will be home games. Coach Dale Mitchell has assembled the most talented Canadian youth squad ever, led by Portsmouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, Newcastle defender David Edgar, Ipswich Town midfielder Jaime Peters and Toronto FC forward Andrea Lombardo. Canada played a series of challenging exhibition games over the last year in preparation for this summer's tournament, including contests against Brazil, Argentina, Scotland, the Czech Republic and the United States. Well-organized in midfield and solid in defence, Canada will be a hard team to break down.

Weaknesses: The home-field advantage is a double-edged sword. The Canadian team will be the focus of media and fan scrutiny every step of the way, putting incredible pressure on Canada's young players. Canada won't have an easy passage into the second round, as it has been drawn into a group with Chile, African champions Congo and Austria.

Player to watch: Jaime Peters, from Pickering, Ont., is a key player for Canada. The speedy midfielder has loads of international experience, having played over 40 times for Canada's under-20 team. He even played on the men's Olympic U-23 squad at the tender age of 16. After impressive trials overseas in 2004, Peters turned down offers from Chelsea, Manchester United and several other clubs to join Ipswich Town in England, signing with the club in the summer of 2005. With his great speed, mazy dribbling skills and blistering acceleration, Peters will be one of the top players to watch this summer.

Prognosis: Mitchell's Canadian team has a point to prove this summer. After reaching the quarter-finals in 2003, Canada stumbled in Netherlands two years ago when it only earned a draw with Syria en route to crashing out in the first round. Canada hasn't forgotten its poor performance last time around and will use that, combined with the home-field advantage, as a motivation. Canada's first-round group isn't easy, but the Canadians have enough skill, talent and depth to finish second in the group – and they could even finish first ahead of Chile. Canada is defensively solid and well-organized in midfield, and opposing teams will find it difficult to break them down. An appearance in the second round is virtually assured, but the big question is whether Canada can reach the quarter-finals. With a little luck, the Canadians should be able to reach the final eight.

ROAD TO THE U-20 WORLD CUP

2007 qualification route: Canada automatically qualified as tournament hosts.
U-20 World Cup 1st round matches (all times local)

July 1 vs. Chile in Toronto (BMO Field) at 19:45
July 5 vs. Austria in Edmonton (Commonwealth Stadium) at 17:45
July 8 vs. Congo in Edmonton (Commonwealth Stadium) at 20:00

U-20 WORLD CUP HISTORY

Canada has qualified for the U-20 World Cup seven times, beginning in 1979 in Japan, the same tournament that Diego Maradona used to announce his presence to the world.

Canada qualified in 1985 in the Soviet Union and two years later in Chile, and bowed out in the first round both times, before advancing to the second round (where it lost to Spain) in 1997 in Malaysia. Canada followed that up by qualifying for the 2001 event (another first round exit).

A major breakthrough came in 2003 in the United Arab Emirates when Canada advanced to the second round where it defeated Burkina Faso 1-0. Canada put in a brave effort in the quarter-finals, losing to Spain 2-1. It is the farthest any Canadian team has progressed at the tournament. Two years ago in the Netherlands, Canada was sent packing after the first round.

Number of previous U-20 World Cup appearances: 7
All-time record: 24 games played, 4 wins, 5 draws, 15 losses
Goals for: 16 Goals against: 42
Biggest victory: 3-1 vs. Portugal in 1979
Biggest defeat: 0-5 vs. Soviet Union in 1985

Hosted the U-20 World Cup: 2007

1977 – Did not qualify
1979 – First round
1981 – Did not qualify
1983 – Did not qualify
1985 – First round
1987 – First round
1989 to 1995 – Did not qualify
1997 – Second round
1999 – Did not qualify
2001 – First round
2003 – Quarter-finals
2005 – First round

Joe MacCarthy

07-01-2007, 04:19 PM

Asmir's world settled at last
Canadian 'keeper poised to shine in spotlight
By BILL LANKHOF
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2007/07/01/4305161-sun.html

Asmir Begovic has grown up as a citizen of the global village, but his heart belongs to Canada.

Canada's under-20 netminder was born in Yugoslavia, spent his childhood in Germany, grew up in Edmonton, plays professionally in England and, when he now visits his parents' home, it involves a plane ticket back to Stuttgart, Germany.

"I'm Canadian but I have a lot of homes because my friends are in Edmonton. I have a place in Portsmouth and my parents moved back to Germany to be closer to their relatives," Begovic said this week as the team prepared for today's tournament opener against Chile.

The Canadians will rely heavily on the 20-year-old to get them past the fast-paced South Americans.

Begovic has been a member of the team since he was 17, making his debut in a 1-0 loss to the U.S. He has played in 14 matches, conceding only one goal in his first five games.

Not bad for a kid whose first memories of soccer involve kicking a ball in the house because anyone sticking their head out the door might end up getting it shot off.

Begovic was born into a Bosnian Muslim family. His father, Amir, was a professional soccer goalie with the Leotar team near the predominantly Serbian town of Trebynje. His mother was in law school.

"They had good jobs and had to give them up," he said.

He doesn't remember much about the looting, the killing, the agony of a people torn apart by sectarian and religious zealots.

"I was only four when we moved to Germany," he said. "I was too young to understand or remember the horrid things that happened, which is probably a good thing. My parents decided it was best to get out of there ... they had to take most of the toll."

Young Asmir idolized his father.

"All I ever wanted to be was a goalkeeper like him," he said. "The other kids all wanted to score goals. I never did."

The family spent six years in Germany, where Asmir built a foundation in the sport. "It's where I started playing organized soccer," he said. "It was great there because the people love football and I got really good coaching. It's part of what got me here."

They might have loved football. But Bosnians? Not so much. So, when he was 10, Asmir was on the move again, this time to Edmonton with his father and mother.

"In Germany, they started to bring in rules that if you were Bosnian, you needed papers to live there.

"They weren't easy to get and my parents knew some people who'd moved to Canada, so they figured it was worth it."

Asmir grew into a tall, dark, handsome lad who, by the time he was 16, was as Canadian as maple syrup. By 18, he had signed his first pro contract with Portsmouth.

"It's funny. I don't have any memory of Bosnia," he said. "I was born there but I've never been back. Part of me feels a curious connection and I do want to go there some day and see where I was born. It would just be nice. But Canada is the main thing in my life."

He knows how much this tournament means, not just to the team, but to the country and his sport's future here.

"Growing up, you just wish you could play in something of this magnitude in Canada. It's going to help the next generation of kids," he said.

"It'll be an eye-opener that you can play soccer and that if you work very hard you can turn something you love into a profession. Canadians have never really had that when it comes to soccer."

Pressure? Part of the job, Begovic said.

"There is extra pressure because if you make a mistake it usually ends up in the back of the goal," he said. "For me, there is no better feeling in the world than making a good save. It makes me smile."

So it is in soccer as in life, that Begovic learned many years ago -- any time you can walk away with a smile, you've won.

Joe MacCarthy

07-01-2007, 04:22 PM

Canada will have its hands full
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Columnists/Gross/2007/07/01/4305162-sun.html

Team Canada's players are hoping fans at BMO Field provide a "chilly" reception to the opposition tonight.

That said, Team Canada will be in tough in its first FIFA under-20 World Cup match against Chile.

That is the opinion of Jose Couceiro, head coach of Portugal's under-20 team, the Toronto home team in the competition.

Couceiro, a strapping 44-year-old, could still be playing first division in Portugal for one of the four teams he has played with, just as Detroit Red Wings' Chris Chelios can still chase pucks at age 45.

Couceiro didn't mean to play down the talent of the Canadian young men. He merely compared the two teams.

FOOTBALL MENTOR

"The Canadian team has several very good players," said the Portuguese football mentor, who also served as general manager of the Sporting Lisbon and Alverca teams in the past.

"I like best David Edgar and Will Johnson. But Canada has also some other good players.

"Chile is an exceptional team. It is very different from Canada. Chile has a defensive star in Arturo Vidal, who plays top class soccer in Germany. Their best forward is striker Alexis Sanchez, who plays in Italy. The Chileans rely mostly on a 4-4-2 system, but often switch to a 4-3-3, which is the system I favour.

"Chile also occasionally plays a 4-2-3-1 (to confuse the opposition). I saw them play in the South American championship and they are tough."

I met Couceiro at a special banquet arranged for the Portuguese team by Alex Franco, owner-publisher of the local Portuguese newspaper.

Some 800 fans attended the affair sponsored by the Bank of Portugal and Bank of Montreal. Needless to say, the coach, as well as the players, had sore hands from signing autographs on scraps of paper, T-shirts and scarfs by the end of the evening.

Yesterday, Franco organized a tour of Niagara Falls for the Portuguese team, while Canada prepared for today's game. Originally, they were supposed to train at BMO Field.

But on Thursday night, coach Dale Mitchell changed all of that and kept the players in their downtown hotel to meet the press. The problem was that Mitchell didn't notify the press of the changes.

Perhaps by confusing the media, he hoped to confuse the Chileans later today.

It would be appropriate to leave today with a win, or at least a tie on Canada Day with Team Canada's pride unblemished, particularly in view of the fact that the organizers in the six Canadian cities have sold almost one million tickets, even though the sales could have been better in Edmonton.

Joe MacCarthy

07-01-2007, 04:25 PM

Chile on Canada's plate
Win tonight will fuel plenty of optimism
By DEAN MCNULTY, SUN MEDIA
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2007/07/01/4305160-sun.html

http://i13.tinypic.com/4mjfj3p.jpg
Team Canada runs a lap around the field during practice in Toronto, Saturday, June 30, 2007. Canada's U20 team plays it's first game on Sunday against Chile in Toronto. (CP PHOTO/Aaron Harris)

It doesn't have to be pretty, but a win today by Canada over Chile at BMO Field would almost certainly make the home team a favourite to advance out of Group A of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup of Soccer.

The Chileans look to be the Canadians' toughest foe in the four-team grouping that also includes Austria and the Congo.

A loss today won't necessarily send the young Canucks to the sidelines but it would mean they would need wins over both Austria and Congo to advance to the round of 16.

Canadian coach Dale Mitchell said that in one sense it is good that the team will play the highest-ranking team right out of the gate.

"I would put Chile on a level with Argentina and Brazil," he said after last night's final practice. "I think we will need four or five points to get out of our group and, if we can get three against Chile, it would be a huge advantage for us."

Mitchell said that it is always important to start a tournament like the U-20 World Cup with a win to develop momentum, but it becomes doubly important when you are the host country.

"We know the atmosphere at BMO (today) will be electric," he said. "We must take advantage of being at home and the quicker we do that the better it will be for us in the games that follow."

The team appeared loose yesterday and to a man said they were excited rather than nervous about playing in front of a sold-out stadium to start the competition.

Defender/midfielder Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault said the team is "quietly confident" of a good result against Chile.

"We have been preparing for this game for two years," the 18-year-old Montreal native said. "And we all know one another pretty good."

He rejected the suggestion that Canada's lack of international experience hosting a tournament of this size would hurt the team's chances.

"We may be young but we have all played a lot of international games," he said. "Most of us have played on the under-17 team and we have been playing top teams for two years."

Beaulieu-Bourgault said he thinks the expected fan reaction at BMO to the Canadian team will have an adverse effect on all the Chileans.

"(The fans) will be our 12th man, for sure," he said. "We know that we will have to work hard, but we will be energized by the fans."

He said that his own experience playing for FC St. Pauli in the German league brought him into contact with many South American players, so he sort of knows what to expect from Chile.

"We have seen lots of video of them," Beaulieu-Bourgault said. "They play that South American style, always attacking, but I think we will be ready for them."

One factor that surely will help Canada will be a red card suspension to Alexis Sanchez, Chile's top player.

"It may seem like a good break for us," Mitchell said. "But (Chile) is so deep in talent that they will be able to get two or three players of top calibre to replace Sanchez."

Joe MacCarthy

07-04-2007, 07:20 PM

Nunez thrives in Canadian midfield
By NEIL DAVIDSON
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2007/07/03/4309863-cp.html

(CP) - Cristian Nunez doesn't get the press that goes to some of his more heralded teammates on the Canadian under-20 soccer team.

But the youngster was one of the few bright spots in Canada's opening 3-0 loss to Chile at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Playing alongside holding midfielder Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault, Nunez did his job in the centre of the park. An economical player who operates without flash, he won the ball and distributed it.

"I was working hard," he said Tuesday from Edmonton. "I did OK."

Still he wasn't happy with his showing, saying he didn't help the team win.

"I was very, very upset about the result," he said. "It's a team sport, right? I'm kind of disappointed but we have two more games and hopefully we can do better. And I think the guys are very motivated right now."

Canada plays Austria on Thursday and Congo on Sunday. Those two teams tied 1-1 Monday night in Edmonton with the Austrians flubbing a late chance for the go-ahead goal.

The top two teams in each of the six first-round groups, plus the four best third-place finishers will advance to the knockout round of 16.

Nunez says fans will see a different Canadian team Thursday.

"It's not only the loss, it's the way we lost. The guys are very very, very upset about that and right now we are very pumped about the next game."

Coach Dale Mitchell usually keeps his emotions and thoughts to himself, but he was clearly not happy with his team's showing against Chile.

"Yeah, sometimes he doesn't show emotion but we kind of know him because we've been with him for a long time," Nunez said. "We know when he doesn't like things and he lets us know too."

So did Mitchell make his feelings known after the Chile debacle?

"He was very disappointed," said Nunez.

"But he has trust in us, he has faith in us," he added. "He knows we can do better and we're going to do better."

Nunez, who turns 19 on Saturday, is currently playing for the Toronto FC reserves. He earned a three-year contract with FC Lyn Olso in Norway last summer but had to come home when he was unable to secure a work permit.

Given his druthers, Nunez would rather play a more offensive game.

"I'll do anything to help the team, but I feel more comfortable going offensively."

But Mitchell's system calls for wingers Jaime Peters and Simeon Jackson to attack from the flanks with Will Johnson creating in the hole behind target man Andrea Lombardo.

When the system works - and it didn't against Chile - it puts a lot of defensive pressure on the two central midfielders - especially if the wingers don't track back to help out.

Nunez said the players talked about the Chile loss, but are now looking ahead rather than behind. He acknowledges the side feels a little pressure playing at home but says that disappears when the players take the pitch.

"Once you're on the field, it's your game. You have to enjoy it, right. So you have to put that pressure away and play for yourself and play for the team. Nothing else matters."

A fan of FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi, Nunez grew up in Montreal and worked his way up through the Quebec provincial ladder. His father is originally from Argentina and his mother from Nicaragua.