Canada vs Luxembourg (R)

[Joe MacCarthy]

Date: Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Time: Kickoff 8 pm Local time

http://tinypic.com/fd688i.jpg
Place: Stade Alphonse Theis, Holleschbierg à Hesperange near Luxembourg City
Television: Rogers Sportsnet 2:00 PM ET Tentative

Confirmed so far:

Goal: Lars Hirschfeld, Kenny Stamatopolous
Defenders: Chris Pozniak
Midfielders: Patrice Bernier
Forwards: Stephen Ademolu

Results this year:
February 9, 2005 N. Ireland Friendly Win 1:0 Belfast, Northern Ireland
March 26, 2005 Portugal Friendly Loss 1:4 Barcelos, Portugal
July 2, 2005 Honduras Friendly Loss 1:2 Burnaby, BC
July 7, 2005 Costa Rica Gold Cup Loss 0:1 Seattle, USA
July 9, 2005 USA Gold Cup Loss 0:2 Seattle, USA
July 12, 2005 Cuba Gold Cup Win 2:1 Boston, MA
September 3, 2005 Spain Friendly Loss 2:1 Santander, Spain

Opponents Fifa Rankings
USA 7
Spain 8
Portugal 9
Costa Rica 20
Honduras 40
Cuba 76
Canada 86
N. Ireland 104
Luxembourg 152

[supersjd]

GO CANADA GO! This is the perfect game to show what Canada is capable of. I hope we play well. I'm watching this one for sure.

[chuncho_azul]

canada should win this one!

[RealMadrilismo]

my high school had a better stadium lmao

[Joe MacCarthy]

Doesn't matter where you play or how you look. The Russian National hockey team in 1972 looked like a joke except they forgot to play that way.

On paper we should win, but again we're not playing on paper, we're playing on turf so who knows. We thought that about Malta and we lost. In 2000, Mexico and Columbia thought that about us and we won.

Waiting for the lineup announcement. Should be another lineup of half our main team and the rest being depth players.

[supersjd]

Waiting for the lineup announcement. Should be another lineup of half our main team and the rest being depth players.

when you post it could you put what club each player is from

[Joe MacCarthy]

Men's World Cup Team
Monday, November 07, 2005
Yallop Announces Squad for Luxembourg
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2343

http://www.canadasoccer.com/images/media/simpson_yallop.jpg
Josh Simpson and Frank Yallop
Photo: Dale MacMillan/CSA

Ottawa, Ontario – Canada’s Senior National Team Head Coach, Frank Yallop, has announced his 16-man roster for the upcoming November 16th international friendly against Luxembourg. The match will be played at the Stade Alphonse Theis in Hesperange, Luxembourg and will be broadcast live at 2pm ET on all of the Rogers Sportsnet channels.

Yallop has recalled several players who featured in Canada’s 2-1 loss to Spain on September 3rd in Santander, Spain.

“This match against Luxembourg will give us an excellent opportunity to take a look at a few players who have been doing very well with their clubs recently,” said Canadian Head Coach Frank Yallop.

Sandro Grande, who netted Canada’s only goal in Santander, will be returning along with several others who have been ever-present in Yallop’s squad of late – Energie Cottbus defender Kevin McKenna; Tromso midfielder Patrice Bernier; Millwall-based winger Josh Simpson along with highly sought-after Atiba Hutchinson of Helsingborg and Major League Soccer MVP candidate Dwayne de Rosario.

FC Boden goalkeeper Kenny Stamatopoulos was rewarded for his performance in Spain with a recall. This time Stamatopoulos will be joined by Bernier’s Tromso teammate Lars Hirschfeld who has been instrumental in the Norwegian club’s march into the group stage of the UEFA Cup.

The Luxembourg match will also provide Yallop the opportunity to see a handful of players that have been in and out of Canada’s lineup over the past year. Haugesund defender Chris Pozniak, FC Kuban’s Ante Jazic, Daniel Imhof of St. Gallen, Leicester City’s Iain Hume and veteran midfielder Jim Brennan of Norwich City have all been included in Canada’s squad of 16.

The friendly will also be a chance for Ive ‘Johnny’ Sulentic, Will Johnson, and Stephen Ademolu to impress Yallop.

For Sulentic, the recall is the first since he made his debut for Canada on January 18, 2004 in a 1-0 victory over Barbados. The invite is also the first since his move from the Vancouver Whitecaps to FC St. Pauli for the 2005/6 season.

Ademolu, who last donned a Canadian jersey during Olympic qualifying in February 2004, earns his first call-up to the senior squad after an impressive season with Norway’s Tromso.

Chicago Fire striker and youth team standout, Will Johnson, has also been included in Yallop’s squad. The 18-year-old played in all three of Canada’s matches at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in Holland this past summer and has been tipped by many to shine when Canada hosts the biennial event in the summer of 2007.

Several players were unavailable for selection – Olivier Occean, Ali Gerba, and Marco Reda are all carrying injuries while Molde FK striker Rob Friend, fresh off his side’s 4-2 victory over Lillestrom in the Norwegian Cup Final (thus guaranteeing a spot in next year’s UEFA Cup) will remain with his club as they prepare for their two-legged series (November 13 and 19) against Moss FK for the right to stay in the Norwegian Premier Division.

Fulham striker Tomasz Radzinski, Deportivo La Coruña midfielder Julian de Guzman, and Tottenham Hotspur defender Paul Stalteri will all remain with their clubs during the international break. Several USL-based players who have featured in the Canadian team of late will also be absent.

“Unfortunately for the USL-based guys, the friendly comes at a time when they have been off for close to two months,” said Yallop. “But at the same time, it allows us to perhaps add to the depth of the squad which would certainly be beneficial down the road.”

The squad will arrive in Luxembourg on Sunday after the weekend fixtures and will train twice before the match on November 16.

Roster for Luxembourg Friendly

# Player Pos. DOB Caps G/S Club Hometown
33 Hirschfeld, Lars GK 10/17/1978 18 5 Tromso Edmonton, AB
1 Stamatopoulos, Kenny GK 8/28/1979 2 0 FC Boden Markham, ON
3 Pozniak, Chris D 01/10/1981 13 0 Haugesund FK Scarborough, ON
4 McKenna, Kevin D 1/21/1980 31 9 Energie Cottbus Calgary, AB
5 Grande, Sandro M 9/29/1977 9 1 Viking Stavanger Montreal, QC
6 Jazic, Ante D/M 2/26/1976 12 0 FC Kuban Halifax, NS
7 Hume, Iain F 10/30/1983 13 0 Leicester City Brampton, ON
8 Imhof, Daniel M 11/22/1977 31 0 Bochum Smithers, BC
9 Johnson, Will F 1/21/1987 0 0 Chicago Fire Woodridge, IL
10 Bernier, Patrice M 9/23/1979 13 0 Tromso Montreal, QC
11 Brennan, Jim M 05/08/1977 41 5 Norwich City Newmarket, ON
12 Sulentic, Ive M 12/24/1979 1 0 St. Pauli Richmond, BC
13 Hutchinson, Atiba D/M 02/08/1983 17 2 Helsingborg Brampton, ON
14 de Rosario, Dwayne M/F 5/15/1978 34 7 San Jose Earthquakes Scarborough, ON
15 Simpson, Josh D/M 5/15/1983 12 0 Millwall Victoria, BC
17 Ademolu, Stephen F 10/20/1982 0 0 Tromso Windsor, ON

Staff
Andy Sharpe - Head of Delegation
Frank Yallop - Head Coach
Mark Watson - Assistant Coach
Paul Dolan - Goalkeeper Coach
Richard Bate - Technical Director
Morgan Quarry - Team Manager
Victor Mendes - Equipment Manager
Dave Foley - Physiotherapist

[Joe MacCarthy]

Canada goes with youth
Yallop rests vets for Luxembourg
By NEIL DAVIDSON

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2005/11/07/1296803-cp.html

(CP) - Canadian soccer coach Frank Yallop has continued his policy of squad rotation and giving youth a chance in announcing his roster Monday for a Nov. 16 friendly in Luxembourg.

Top pros Tomasz Radzinski (Fulham, England), Paul Stalteri (Tottenham, England) and Julian de Guzman (Deportivo La Coruna, Spain) have not been called up for the game against the modest European side, ranked 152nd in the world.

Radzinski and de Guzman both played in the 2-1 loss in Spain on Sept. 3. Stalteri's wife, meanwhile, is due to give birth the week of the Luxembourg game.

Yallop had told his veterans that most would see action in either the Spain or Luxembourg game.

"We're building for the 2007 Gold Cup and (World Cup) qualifying in 2008," Yallop said Monday from Vancouver. "That is the thing that is always in the back of my mind.

"Yes, we'd love to get a great result against Luxembourg and I expect us to play well and get something out of the game. But I'm not going to beat myself up over not being able to win at this point, because I am trying a lot of new players. I'm trying to experiment. I'm trying to give guys chances that I'm not sure if they're good enough. I'm hoping they will be, but you never know until they get out there on the field. . . .

"It's a first step for some of the players, a first look for me. ... Hopefully by the end of the campaign of 2006, I should have a good idea of my squad going into the next year."

Seven of the 16-man Canadian squad for Luxembourg were born in the 1980s. Forwards Will Johnson (Chicago Fire) and Stephen Ademolu (Tromso, Norway) are both uncapped. Johnson is 18 and Ademolu 23.

Attacking duties will probably fall on the shoulders of Dwayne DeRosario, a finalist for MLS MVP as an attacking midfielder with San Jose this season.

Strikers Olivier Occean and Ali Gerba - and defender Marco Reda - are all unavailable because of injury while forward Rob Friend has been allowed to stay in Norway to help his club Molde FK in its battle to avoid relegation.

Midfielder Johnny Sulentic (St. Pauli, Germany) earns a recall. His only other cap was in Yallop's first game as coach, a 1-0 victory in Barbados in January 2004.

Goalkeeper Lars Hirschfeld, who has been turning heads with his play with Tromso, will start for Canada. Kenny Stamatopoulos, who played against Spain, will be his backup.

United Soccer League players were not chosen because they are out of season.

Familiar faces chosen include forward Iain Hume, defenders Kevin McKenna and Chris Pozniak, defender-midfielders Atiba Hutchinson and Ante Jazic, and midfielders Jim Brennan, Sandro Grande, Patrice Bernier, Daniel Imhof and Josh Simpson.

Yallop says his team's confidence is growing and that it can cause opponents trouble, although there is room for improvement.

"I still think we haven't shown our true 90-minute football (skills) yet," Yallop said. "Parts of that (Spain) game were excellent and then we have a spell of 10 minutes when we kind of fall apart. I'm trying to work on that. It's just playing together a little more, steadying down once a team gets us on the rack a little bit, make sure that we do the right things in the match."

Yallop, meanwhile, says he is keeping an eye on de Guzman's younger brother Jonathan, a midfielder who has cracked Feyenoord's first team in the Netherlands and has been earning rave reviews.

De Guzman, 18, has not yet committed to Canada and will have options down the line through his years in the Netherlands.

A Sky Sports report in Britain said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger recently watched Feyenoord to check out several young players, including de Guzman.

"I have spoken with Jonathan a number of times," Yallop said. "I don't want to put him on the spot at all.

"I just basically said we'd love to have you part of our program. He knows that. . . . Really in the end, it's up to the player. We're hoping he does become part of the Canadian setup but we have to realize that players have choices and they have to make them.

"He will be great to have in our program. I'm hoping some day we do get him."

Notes: Canada is currently ranked 86th in the world ... Luxembourg went 0-12-0 in World Cup qualifying, outscored 48-5. ... TV is showing the Canada-Luxembourg game live at 2 p.m. ET

[chuncho_azul]

my high school had a better stadium lmao

lol :lol:

its canada. what you expect

[Joe MacCarthy]

its canada. what you expectThank you for those insightful comments gentlemen.

The game is being played in Luxembourg not Canada and I doubt if Canada as an opponent makes much difference in regards to the stadium. The site was moved as the game was initially to be held in Esch.

We are playing a National team same as we did earlier in Spain, where we play hardly matters.

[toronto_soccer]

excellent thread.

[chuncho_azul]

Thank you for those insightful comments gentlemen.

The game is being played in Luxembourg not Canada and I doubt if Canada as an opponent makes much difference in regards to the stadium. The site was moved as the game was initially to be held in Esch.

We are playing a National team same as we did earlier in Spain, where we play hardly matters.

you are welcome gentleman :p

all in all. good luck to canada!

[Joe MacCarthy]

Men's World Cup Team
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Hirschfeld Replaced by Begovic

http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2344

Ottawa, Ontario – Canada’s Tromso-based goalkeeper Lars Hirschfeld has withdrawn from the Canadian squad that will face Luxembourg on November 16th due to soreness in his knee. The injury was sustained in the Tromso-Strasbourg UEFA Cup match last week but was not revealed to the Canadian Soccer Association until Monday morning.

Canadian Head Coach Frank Yallop has decided to include promising youngster Asmir Begovic to the squad as Hirschfeld’s replacement.

The 18-year-old Begovic is currently on loan with La Louvière of the Belgian First Division and has made two starts this season – a 4-1 loss to Roulers and a 3-2 loss to Genk.

Like another 18-year-old (Will Johnson, Chicago Fire) included in Yallop’s 16-man roster, Begovic has been touted as a future star for Canada and will likely be a regular fixture in Dale Mitchell’s U20 team as they build-up toward the FIFA World Youth Championship in Canada in 2007.

Canada’s November 16th match against Luxembourg will be broadcast live at 2pm ET on all of the Rogers Sportsnet channels.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Men's World Cup Team
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Peters Replaces Grande in Luxembourg
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2346

http://www.canadasoccer.com/images/media/peters_action.jpg
Jaime Peters

Ottawa, Ontario – Ipswich Town midfielder, Jaime Peters, has been added to Frank Yallop’s squad ahead of Wednesday’s friendly against Luxembourg.

Peters will replace Sandro Grande who is struggling with a niggling calf injury. Grande, who is currently with Viking Stavanger in Norway, aggravated the injury during a training session with his club on Saturday. The Montreal-native was assessed by Canada’s medical staff yesterday and ruled unfit to participate in the mid-week friendly.

Peters will arrive in Luxembourg City today.

Canada’s November 16th match against Luxembourg will be broadcast live at 2pm ET on all of the Rogers Sportsnet channels.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Men's World Cup Team
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Canada Victorious in Luxembourg
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2347

http://www.canadasoccer.com/images/media/hume_action.jpg
Iain Hume - 1 goal

Ottawa, Ontario – Canada’s Men’s National Team defeated European-side Luxembourg 1-0 today thanks to a clinical finish from Leicester City striker Iain Hume in minute-69.

Canada fielded a relatively young line-up for the Luxembourg encounter with three of the roster of 16 only 18 years of age – Asmir Begovic, Jaime Peters, and Will Johnson.

The Canadians dominated much of the game and never really looked threatened by a Luxembourg attack that lacked both pace and guile. Despite dominating the encounter, Canada could not break down an organized Luxembourg defense. But when Hume broke away along the left side of the area and coolly chipped his shot into the far corner, it was evident that Canada had done enough to grab the win.

For the most part, the opening half was an uneventful one with both Luxembourg and Canada finding it difficult to exploit the other’s defense. However, Canada looked the far more inventive side and for the most part dictated the pace of the half. The Canucks looked incredibly comfortable on the ball for extended periods of time but could not translate that possession into clear-cut chances.

But as the half progressed, Canada seemed to inch closer to grabbing the opener.

Following a foul in minute-39 on debutant Stephen Ademolu near the left corner of the Luxembourg penalty area, Hume whipped in his free kick toward Canadian captain Kevin McKenna, positioned at the right corner of the six-yard box. The Luxembourg defense dealt with the set piece but the half-chance seemed to encourage the young Canadians.

Five minutes later the Canadians came close again.

Atiba Hutchinson stepped in front of a Luxembourg midfielder to intercept a pass, then slithered between two defenders and slipped a ball for Dwayne de Rosario in the left channel. De Rosario swung his cross toward the front post but again Luxembourg’s defense reacted first, stepping in front of Ademolu’s run.

Canada produced a few more opportunities in the early moments of the second half but again the final ball from Canada failed to pry open any gilt-edged chances.

But with two-thirds of the match over, the Canadians finally sliced open Luxembourg on the counter for a deserved opener.

De Rosario collected a ball in the middle of the field and advanced, at pace, toward the Luxembourg defense. The San Jose-based midfielder found Hume on the left and the diminutive striker sped into the left side of the Luxembourg penalty area. Hume out-waited the advancing Luxembourg keeper and just as the net-minder committed, Hume clipped his shot over him and into the side netting.

Canada saw off the remaining twenty minutes and when the whistle blew for full-time, the Canucks had done just enough to earn the victory.

Next up for Canada…

Canada’s Men’s National Team has agreed to an international friendly on March 1st, 2006 (the next available International Match Date on the FIFA coordinated International Calendar) against Austria. The match will be played at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna, Austria. Kick-off has tentatively been scheduled for 8:30pm local time.

http://www.stadiumguide.com/ernsthappel2.jpg

Name: Ernst Happel Stadion (before 1986: Prater Stadion)
Inauguration: 1931
Renovations: 1986
Capacity: 49,000 seats
Address: A - 1020 Wien, Meiereistraße
http://www.stadiumguide.com/ernsthappel.htm

Wednesday, November 16, 2005
International Friendly
Stade Alphonse Theis
Hesperange, Luxembourg

CANADA – 1 (0)
LUXEMBOURG – 0 (0)
Goals: CANADA – Hume 69; LUXEMBOURG – none
Cautions: CANADA – none; LUXEMBOURG – none
Expulsions – none
Referee: Gomes Costa (POR)

CANADA: 1-Kenny Stamatopoulos; 3-Chris Pozniak; 13-Atiba Hutchinson; 4-Kevin McKenna (capt); 5-Ante Jazic (15-Josh Simpson, 59); 12-Ive Sulentic (16-Jaime Peters, 64); 14-Dwayne de Rosario; 8-Daniel Imhof (10-Patrice Bernier, 46); 11-Jim Brennan; 7-Iain Hume; 17-Stephen Ademolu (9-Will Johnson, 84)
Head Coach: Frank Yallop (CAN)
Subs not used: 22-Asmir Begovic

[Joe MacCarthy]

Canada blanks Luxembourg

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2005/11/16/1309830-cp.html

HESPERANGE, Luxembourg (CP) - Iain Hume scored in the 69th minute as Canada defeated lowly Luxembourg 1-0 on Wednesday, rescuing the Canadians against a soccer minnow ranked 66 places below them.

The Leicester City striker broke the deadlock in an uninspired match at the Stade Alphonse Theis when he raced down the left, leaving a defender in his tracks and scooped the ball over the onrushing Luxembourg 'keeper. It marked the first goal for Canada for the 22-year-old from Brampton, Ont. It came in his 14th appearance for the senior side.

Luxembourg is ranked 152nd in the world by FIFA, compared to No. 86 for Canada. The two teams had only met once before, with Canada winning 2-0 some 32 years ago.

Slightly smaller than Rhode Island, Luxembourg has a population of about 487,000 - roughly the same as London, Ont. Its soccer team took a beating in this round of World Cup qualifying, losing all 12 matches while being outscored 48-5.

Luxembourg is 2-89 in its World Cup qualifying history, with wins over Portugal in 1961 and Turkey in 1972.

Canadian coach Frank Yallop did not call in all his top players, electing to rotate them between the Luxembourg game and a 2-1 loss to Spain on Sept. 3.

Forward Tomasz Radzinski (Fulham, England) and midfielder Julian de Guzman (Deportivo la Coruna, Spain) were not summoned after playing in Spain while fullback Paul Stalteri (Spurs, England) was not called in for either game because his wife is expecting.

Goalkeeper Lars Hirschfeld and midfielder Sandro Grande had to pull out of the squad for Wednesday's game through injury.

Still Canada did field veteran striker Dwayne DeRosario, defender Kevin McKenna and midfielder Jim Brennan.

Forwards Stephen Ademolu and Will Johnson both won their first cap for Canada.

[Milos_]

i saw the game,thank you sportsnet:Dit was an ok game,Canada didnt play all that well but atleast we won,i saw some Canadian fans in the crowd kinda shocked me that they were in Luxembourge,but good on them those are some real fans.Will Johnson got to play:) i saw him play 2 MLS games i think he started one of them,im not sure.....i really like him

[supersjd]

I knew Canada would take this one. GOOD JOB!!!

[chuncho_azul]

awesome canada! though it was a ***** opponent

[supersjd]

awesome canada! though it was a ***** opponent

lol it's true but who cares at least we won! :lol:

[supersjd]

Do paul stalteri and tomasz radzinski still play on the canadian national team?

[Joe MacCarthy]

Do paul stalteri and tomasz radzinski still play on the canadian national team?You have doubts? :) Fear not. FY is trying out new players, giving them a look (Ademolu, Sulentic) Stalteri and Rad are known quantities. We have another year or so before the lineup will start to be set in prep for WCQ so you'll see some different lineups/players.

The vets were going to play either Spain or Luxembourg so they wouldn't have to be away from their clubs, so often. Rad played against Spain and Paul who had some injuries early and was trying to establish himself with Spurs was slated for Lux. He had to cancel because his wife is due to have their first child (haven't heard if she has or not yet) If there is anyone who answered the call for Canada it's been Paul, time and again and Mrs. S is a big Canadian fan favourite.

I have a theory that people who risked their club career to play for Canada have always come out on top, while those who refused have not fared so well. Young DeGuzman has always said he will decide when his club career is established so he has not refused. Tam Nsaliwa, Brad Parker and Dylan Hughes have refused and Tam is struggling and the latter two are for all intents and purposes out of the game.

The only truly eligible players who are not playing are Jon DeGuzman and Tam Nsaliwa and both will likely enter or re-enter the picture.

Earlier in his career Rad had issues about showing up and trying to establish his career at Anderlecht. He was out of the scene for a while until, rumour has it, his parents encouraged him to come back and play. Ironically, he has showed every time he has been asked when he has been playing for more high profile teams than Anderlecht (Everton, Fulham) and has become something of a leader.

Rad has gone on record as saying he wants to return to Canada when his career is over to give something back in coaching. He also said he wanted to play for Canada as long as he is able.

I think the next friendly against Austria will see a reunion of more of the big guns and be less experimental after the lackluster showing against Luxembourg.

[supersjd]

I think the next friendly against Austria will see a reunion of more of the big guns and be less experimental after the lackluster showing against Luxembourg.

that's great to hear that they're still playing for canada. when i saw the lineup for the luxemburg game i was a bit confused but now i understand. i'm excited for the austria game to see the real canada national team.

[mrdeeds]

A win is a win. This is definitely something the National Team can build on. Way to go!! :rockon:

[Joe MacCarthy]

I'm only speculating about a top lineup against Austria, injuries, in season players and the timing of getting a player away from their club always come into play. FY doesn't want to p.o. any club so he won't have problems getting a player when we really need them. ie WCQ

I'm no judge of talent I just go by what I read, so I'll put into bold who I think is probably a starter, put sub by who is likely a sub, or both to a player who might sub or start. The rest are either not ready or not likely to be considered etc

This was the Luxembourg lineup:

Kenny Stamatopoulos sub
Chris Pozniak
Atiba Hutchinson
Kevin McKenna (Capt)
Ante Jazic sub
Josh Simpson sub
Ive Sulentic
Jaime Peters sub
Dwayne de Rosario
Daniel Imhof sub
Patrice Bernier both
Jim Brennan both
Iain Hume both
Stephen Ademolu
Will Johnson
Asmir Begovic

Who's missing of the probable starters? Tomasz Radzinski, Julian DeGuzman, Paul Stalteri, Mike Klukowski, Lars Hirschfeld, Greg Sutton and sub/starters Olivier Occean, Ali Gerba, Sandro Grande and Marco Reda whose contract will expire at AaB Alborg. So there are the guys you didn't see.

Jason DeVos, Paul Peschisolido and Pat Onstad have effectively retired from international play, although we might see DeVos back, which would be very welcome.

S'pose I should also list the promising kids not already here who I would hope would get a peek in upcoming friendlies: David Edgar, Ryan Gyaki (injured), Nik Ledgerwood, Daniel Fernandes, Marcel DeJong and Tyler Hughes.

Also here are the young guys who have received a quick peek but haven't made the big time...yet :) Maycoll Canizales, Rob Friend, Tam Nsaliwa, Rocco Placentino, Rhian Dodds and Felix Brillant. As you can see the pool is much larger and of a higher calibre than it was just a few years ago. That's almost forty players deemed close enough to wear the leaf.

We're getting there, slowly but surely.