Soccer in Canada | Canada Hosting the 2026 World Cup

[elly63]

Originally Posted by JHikka

The Toronto game was a Tuesday night in mid-October. Outdoors.

Mid October... Brrr

[king10]

Good game. Can't wait to see how our exciting youngsters and top vets stack up against higher competition in the Gold Cup and Nations A League.

[Denscity]

Originally Posted by elly63

Mid October... Brrr

Yes true, but Toronto is twice the size of Vancouver. And French Guyana couldn’t be a smaller draw in Vancouver haha.

[Denscity]

Originally Posted by king10

Good game. Can't wait to see how our exciting youngsters and top vets stack up against higher competition in the Gold Cup and Nations A League.

Ya agreed!

[JHikka]

CONCACAF Nations League draw has placed Canada in a group with USA and Cuba. Goal should be to avoid relegation but I think this Canada team can genuinely push the US a bit. It's nice to finally get some competitive matches against our neighbours.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by JHikka

CONCACAF Nations League draw has placed Canada in a group with USA and Cuba. Goal should be to avoid relegation but I think this Canada team can genuinely push the US a bit. It's nice to finally get some competitive matches against our neighbours.

Paraphrase from Liam Millar - Kilmarnock (Liverpool) after watching US vs Colombia "They're no better than we are" The next gen of Canadian kids are ready to take on the world.

[elly63]

Together We Rise: Canada Soccer announces squad for the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup
Men's National Team canadasoccer.com May 30 2019

Canada Soccer have selected their squad for the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup, the confederation’s championship that kicks off 15 June at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The biennial competition provides a tremendous opportunity for the Canadian squad as they face Concacaf’s top nations for the first time since reaching the Quarter-finals in 2017.

Canada will play in the first match of the tournament when they face Martinique on 15 June in Pasadena (19.30 ET / 16.30 PT) before facing Mexico on 19 June in Denver (22.00 ET / 20.00 MT) and Cuba on 23 June in Charlotte (18.00 ET). From 16 nations divided into four groups, the top two nations from each group will advance to the 2019 Quarterfinals.

“We laid a good foundation culturally and tactically through Concacaf Nations League Qualifying and the team seem focused and ready to push each other and the country as far as they can in the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup,” said John Herdman, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team Head Coach. “The tournament will be tough with the quick turnaround of games, the travel schedule and playing at altitude in Denver against a very good opponent, then to the heat and humidity of Charlotte, but this is what you want as a team to be tested and then to grow from those experiences. We’ve been tested in different ways through Concacaf Nations League and now we head into a tournament setting where things will move at a rapid pace. It’s going to be great to see the team come together in this moment.”

Every match will matter as Canada continues to build momentum along their journey to the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™. The 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup will provide Canada’s young players with an important test before Concacaf Nations League Group A begins in the Fall and then FIFA World Cup Qualifiers start thereafter.

Unlike two years ago, national teams will not be able to switch their squad after the group stage. In all, the competition runs 23 days from 15 June to 7 July, with the Ffinal to be played at Soldier Stadium in Chicago, IL on 7 July. Ahead of the Concacaf Gold Cup, Canada will hold a training camp that opens in early June.

Canada will look to improve on their last performance at the 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup after they went unbeaten in the group stage for the first time since 2009. Two years ago, they won 4:2 over French Guiana before drawing 1:1 with Costa Rica and 0:0 with Honduras.

CANADA'S SQUAD

The Canada squad features 16 players with Concacaf Gold Cup experience, 12 of whom helped Canada reach the Quarter-finals of the 2017 edition. Four players return after missing the last edition: former Canadian Players of the Year Atiba Hutchinson and Will Johnson as well as former Canadian U-20 Players of the Year Doneil Henry and Ashtone Morgan.

Of note, Hutchinson will be making his sixth appearance at the Concacaf Gold Cup, equaling the national record held by Julian de Guzman. Hutchinson previously helped Canada reached the Semi-final stage in 2007 and the Quarter-final stage in 2009. This will be Hutchinson’s first Concacaf Gold Cup since 2011, also his first since his Summer 2013 move to Beşiktaş JK in Turkey.

Milan Borjan, Jonathan Osorio, Samuel Piette and Russell Teibert are all making their fourth appearance at the Concacaf Gold Cup. Others returning from the last Concacaf Gold Cup in 2017 are Scott Arfield, Lucas Cavallini, Maxime Crépeau, Alphonso Davies, Junior Hoilett, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Cyle Larin and Jayson Leutwiler.

Davies was a standout at the last Concacaf Gold Cup, named to the tournament all-star team and winner of the Top Scorer and Best Young Player awards. Still only 18 years old, Davies just completed his first season in the German Bundesliga.

While Borjan has recently won back-to-back Serbian SuperLig titles with Red Star Belgrade, Osorio has won a trio of Canadian Championship titles with Toronto FC since 2016. In 2018, he was MVP and Top Scorer of the Canadian Championship as well as the Golden Boot winner in Toronto FC’s run to the Concacaf Champions League Grand Final.

All seven Concacaf Gold Cup debutants are 22 or younger, including first-time call up Noble Okello of Toronto FC. Other debutants are Zachary Brault-Guillard, Marcus Godinho, Kamal Miller, teenagers Jonathan David and Liam Millar, and 2018 Canadian Youth International Player of the Year Derek Cornelius.

For the second competition in a row, Canada features a team with an average age younger than 26 (average 25.53 years across 23 players). Along with the group of 23 players selected for the Concacaf Gold Cup, Canada's pre-tournament camp in California will feature Adam Straith of VfL Sportfreunde Lotte as a 24th player.

CANADA AT THE CONCACAF GOLD CUP

The Concacaf Gold Cup is the official national team championship of the confederation. Drawing large crowds and millions of television viewers from across the region, the Concacaf Gold Cup is a celebration of soccer, sportsmanship, and culture. For the first time, the 2019 Concacaf Gold will feature 16 participating nations, three host countries, and 17 venues.

Beyond the group phase, the top-two nations in each group will advance to the competition’s Quarter-finals to be played in Houston and Philadelphia. The Concacaf Gold Cup continues with the Semi-finals on 2 July in Glendale and 3 July in Nashville followed by the Final on 7 July in Chicago.

CANADA SQUAD & PROFILES

“Following a strong showing in Concacaf Nations League Qualifying, we need these tougher tests now,” said Herdman. “The Concacaf Gold Cup will be important for our preparations for FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. We have a talented group, but now they will be fully tested in a tournament setting. The team are motivated to do well for Canada.”

CONCACAF CHAMPIONS

Canada are two-time Concacaf champions, having won the Concacaf Championship in 1985 and the Concacaf Gold Cup in 2000. In winning the 1985 Concacaf Championship, Canada qualified for the 1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico™; in winning the 2000 Concacaf Gold Cup, Canada qualified for the FIFA Confederations Cup Korea/Japan 2001.

MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM

Canada Soccer's Men's National Youth Teams, meanwhile, have won two Concacaf titles: both the 1986 and 1996 Concacaf Men's Youth Championships. Canada have qualified for eight editions of the FIFA U-20 World Cup and six editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

CANADA SQUAD

GK- Milan Borjan | SRB / FK Crvena zvezda (Red Star Belgrade)
GK- Maxime Crépeau | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
GK- Jayson Leutwiler | ENG / Blackburn Rovers
CB- Derek Cornelius | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
CB- Doneil Henry | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
CB- Kamal Miller | USA / Orlando City SC
FB- Zachary Brault-Guillard | CAN / Impact de Montréal
FB- Marcus Godinho | SCO / Heart of Midlothian FC
FB- Ashtone Morgan | CAN / Toronto FC
M- Scott Arfield | SCO / Glasgow Rangers FC
M- Atiba Hutchinson | TUR / Beşiktaş JK
M- Will Johnson | USA / Orlando City SC
M- Mark-Anthony Kaye | USA / Los Angeles FC
M- Noble Okello | CAN / Toronto FC
M- Jonathan Osorio | CAN / Toronto FC
M- Samuel Piette | CAN / Impact de Montréal
M- Russell Teibert | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
F- Lucas Cavallini | MEX / Puebla FC
F- Jonathan David | BEL / KAA Gent
F- Cyle Larin | TUR / Beşiktaş JK
W- Alphonso Davies | GER / FC Bayern München
W- David Junior Hoilett | WAL / Cardiff City FC
W- Liam Millar | ENG / Liverpool FC U-23

[elly63]

Together We Rise: Canada Soccer announces squad for the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019
Women's National Team/Olympic Team canadasoccer.com May 25 2019

Canada Soccer have announced their official 23-player squad for the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™. Unveiled with the theme “Together We Rise”, Canada’s official squad will compete in their seventh consecutive FIFA Women’s World Cup™ building on the program’s existing foundation and peaking towards the best possible performances on the world’s biggest stage.

Canada are just four years removed from a Quarter-finals finish at the record-breaking FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™, played from coast to coast across Canada. That competition provided unprecedented exposure for women’s football in Canada and around the world, attracting a worldwide television audience of more than 750 million viewers. Once again in 2019, fans will be able to watch every match live in Canada on CTV and TSN.

“We are going there to win it, but we have been very good at taking things one step at a time,” said Kenneth Heiner-Møller, Canada Soccer’s Women's National Team Head Coach and Women’s National EXCEL Director. “We didn’t look beyond the Algarve Cup and we didn’t look beyond matches against England or Spain; we only looked at what was right in front of us. Right now, there are three group matches in front of us and we are focused very clearly on Cameroon, New Zealand and Netherlands.”

Across eight international matches in 2019, Canada are undefeated with five wins and three draws, along with seven goals scored and just one conceded. Canada’s scoring leader is team captain Christine Sinclair who has scored four times in eight matches, leaving her just four goals back of the all-time international record.

Canada’s squad is connected, passionate, and committed to excellence at this summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup™. Canada qualified last October before finishing second at the 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship.

CANADA’S 23-PLAYER SQUAD

The Canada squad features nine returning players from the most recent FIFA Women’s World Cup™, a sixth-place finish on home soil in front of a record-setting 1.35 cumulative spectators. Notable returning stars include recent Canadian Players of the Year Kadeisha Buchanan and Christine Sinclair. At Canada 2015, Buchanan was both a tournament all-star selection as well as the Best Young Player award winner.

Of note, Sinclair will be making her fifth appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ finals, equaling the national record held by Karina LeBlanc. Along with helping Canada finish in fourth place at USA 2003, she has recently captained Canada to back-to-back bronze medal performances at the Olympic Games.

Buchanan is coming off her third UEFA Champions League winning season with Olympique Lyonnais. She has won eight trophies in three seasons with her French club.

Canada’s other returning veterans are goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé, fullbacks Allysha Chapman and Ashley Lawrence, midfielders Jessie Fleming, Sophie Schmidt, and Desiree Scott, and forward Adriana Leon. Schmidt is making her fourth appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ while Labbé and Scott are making their third appearances.

Of Canada’s 14 debutants, half of them were still teenagers four years ago when Canada hosted the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in 2015. Those youngsters are goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, centre back/midfielder Rebecca Quinn, fullback Jayde Riviere, midfielders Gabrielle Carle and Julia Grosso, and forwards Jordyn Huitema and Deanne Rose. Of those seven, Grosso, Huitema and Riviere are all 18 years old.

The seven other FIFA Women’s World Cup™ debutants are goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo, centre backs Shannon Woeller and Shelina Zadorsky, fullbacks Lindsay Agnew and Jenna Hellstrom, and forwards Janine Beckie and Nichelle Prince.

CANADA AT THE FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP FRANCE 2019™

Following Canada’s 10 June opener against Cameroon in Montpellier, Canada will face New Zealand on 15 June in Grenoble and Netherlands on 20 June in Reims. Beyond the group phase, two or three nations from Canada’s group will advance to the Round of 16 with those initial knock-out matches to be played from 23-25 June. Beyond the Round of 16, the Quarter-finals are 27-29 June, the Semi-finals are 2-3 July, and the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ Final is 7 July.

CANADA AT THE FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

Fans are encouraged to be part of Canada’s journey at the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ from 10 June to 7 July by watching all the action live on TSN and RDS. Fans can also follow the Women’s National Team both on and off the pitch across Canada Soccer’s digital channels including CanadaSoccer.com, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

“Heading into an away FIFA Women’s World Cup, we hope that the echo from our Canadian fans back home will carry us through our month in France,” said Heiner-Møller. “Having that Send-Off Match was exactly what we needed and it will have a resounding effect on our players for a long time.”

OLYMPIC MEDAL WINNERS & CONCACAF CHAMPIONS

Canada are two-time Olympic bronze medal winners (2012 and 2016) and two-time Concacaf champions (1998 and 2010). In all, Canada have participated in seven consecutive editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ (1995 to 2019) and three consecutive editions of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament (2008 to 2016). At Rio 2016, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team were the first Canadian Olympic team to win back-to-back medals at a summer Olympic Games in more than a century.

WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM

Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Youth Teams, meanwhile, have won four Concacaf youth titles: the 2004 and 2008 Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship, the 2010 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship, and the 2014 Concacaf Girls’ Under-15 Championship. Canada have qualified for seven editions of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup (including a silver medal at Canada 2002) and all six editions of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup (including a fourth-place finish at Uruguay 2018).

CANADA SQUAD

1- GK- Stephanie Labbé | USA / NC Courage
2- FB- Allysha Chapman | USA / Houston Dash
3- CB- Kadeisha Buchanan | FRA / FCF Olympique Lyonnais
4- CB- Shelina Zadorsky | USA / Orlando Pride
5- CB- Rebecca Quinn | FRA / Paris FC
6- W- Deanne Rose | USA / University of Florida
7- M- Julia Grosso | CAN / University of Texas at Austin
8- FB- Jayde Riviere | CAN / Ontario Super REX & Markham SC
9- F- Jordyn Huitema | FRA / Paris Saint-Germain
10- FB- Ashley Lawrence | FRA / Paris Saint-Germain
11- M- Desiree Scott | USA / Utah Royals FC
12- F- Christine Sinclair | USA / Portland Thorns FC
13- M- Sophie Schmidt | USA / Houston Dash
14- M- Gabrielle Carle | USA / Florida State University
15- W- Nichelle Prince | USA / Houston Dash
16- F- Janine Beckie | ENG / Manchester City FC
17- M- Jessie Fleming | USA / UCLA
18- GK- Kailen Sheridan | USA / Sky Blue FC
19- F- Adriana Leon | ENG / West Ham United FC
20- CB- Shannon Woeller | SWE / Eskilstuna United
21- GK- Sabrina D'Angelo | SWE / Vittsjö GIK
22- FB- Lindsay Agnew | USA / Houston Dash
23- F/FB- Jenna Hellstrom | SWE / KIF Örebro

[elly63]

Rumor: Ajax in conversation with Ghent about Canadian teen sensation
voetbalprimeur.nl May 30, 2019

Ajax has a wide interest in Jonathan David from AA Gent. The nineteen-year-old attacker made an impression this season in Belgium, where he scored twelve times in 33 league games. David is also on the radar of Freiburg and Borussia Mönchengladbach, but it is Ajax that gets it. The Amsterdammers would already be in discussion with Ghent to discuss a switch. ( Gazzetta )

CLUB NEWS. Top talent talks to Genk on Monday, Ghent striker on Ajax radar
nieuwsblad.be 31/05/2019

KAA GENT Jonathan David on the radar of Ajax

Jonathan David (19) is part of the final selection of Canada, which is participating in the Gold Cup and will compete against Martinique, Mexico and Cuba in the group stage. The young striker of the Buffalo's is also in Ajax's interest that his performance has followed closely over the past few months. David immediately got noticed in his debut season and scored fourteen goals for AA Gent. (ssg)

[elly63]

Heads up everybody...starts this afternoon!

Canada ready to kick off FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 against Cameroon
Women's National Team canadasoccer.com 9 June 2019

An exciting summer of soccer officially begins Monday with Canada’s opening match at the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019. On the world’s biggest stage, Canada will be striving for their best-ever performance under the banner “Together We Rise” with every match broadcast live back home on CTV, TSN and RDS.

Canada face Cameroon in their opening match on Monday 10 June at Stade de la Mosson in Montpellier, France. The Group E match kicks off at 21.00 local and will be broadcast live on TSN, CTV and RDS at 15.00 ET / 12.00 PT. Extended match day coverage is featured across Canada Soccer’s digital channels include Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Fans are encouraged to follow Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team every step of the way by using their social media handle, #CANWNT.



The Monday match will be the first-ever encounter between the two nations at the international “A” level. Canada are undefeated across nine matches in 2019, including a 3:0 home Send-Off victory over Mexico on 18 May.

“Cameroon are definitely a high-quality team and they pose different threats than teams we face normally,” said Canada forward Janine Beckie. “Their transition is really good, they are very quick, they have a lot of range in the back, so I think we need to be aware defensively. We just need to impose ourselves. If we focus on ourselves, I think we can get the result.”

Canada held a two-week training camp in Spain as part of their final preparations prior to the start of the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™. The team feels confident and ready to take on the world’s best teams.

“Our Send-Off match in Canada was so important for us to just feel our fans’ energy, to feel their support, and to have that sea of red supporting us from afar,” said Canada midfielder Desiree Scott. “For our fans, continue to support us because we feel it. We feel their energy, appreciate their support, and they should know that we are here striving for greatness and we want to bring that trophy back home.”

This marks Canada’s seventh consecutive appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup™. Just last year, Canada finished second at the Concacaf Women’s Championship along with their qualification for France 2019.

“Now, it’s all about being here and living the moment,” Kenneth Heiner-Møller, Canada Soccer’s Women's National Team Head Coach and Women’s National EXCEL Director. “We do like to play friendlies, but it is so different to play in a FIFA Women’s World Cup. You don’t get this moment back. That could be a pressure, but it can also be an excitement. We know we have the support from back home and that is very important for us.”

CANADA AT THE FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP FRANCE 2019

Following Canada’s 10 June opener against Cameroon in Montpellier, Canada will face New Zealand on 15 June in Grenoble and Netherlands on 20 June in Reims. Beyond the group phase, two or three nations from Canada’s group will advance to the Round of 16 with those initial knock-out matches to be played from 23-25 June. Beyond the Round of 16, the Quarter-finals are 27-29 June, the Semi-finals are 2-3 July, and the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ Final in 7 July.

CANADA AT THE FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM
TOGETHER WE RISE

[elly63]

Kadeisha Buchanan's goal holds up as Canada shuts out Cameroon in opener
Defender scores her 4th goal in 89 career matches; Canadians face New Zealand on Saturday
Neil Davidson The Canadian Press Jun 10, 2019

Centre back Kadeisha Buchanan scored the breakthrough goal on the eve of halftime against a stubborn Cameroon defence Monday as Canada opened its Women's World Cup campaign with a 1-0 win in Montpellier, France.

The Indomitable Lionesses, ranked 46th in the world, parked the bus early against No. 5 Canada.

The first-half storyline was Canada trying to play the ball and a physical Cameroon looking to stop it. The Africans strung five defenders in a line behind a holding midfielder when Canada had the ball, looking to win it back and send a long ball to a streaking forward.

At times, the Canadians seemed in search of perfection when a shot on target would have done nicely. Cameroon, meanwhile, took no prisoners with some hard-nosed play.

The breakthrough finally came in the 45th minute off a Janine Beckie corner. Buchanan, like an Exocet missile, came steaming through the penalty box at the far post, soared in the air and headed the ball downwards off the turf into the goal.

It was the fourth goal in 89 career matches for Buchanan — her third off a header and her first since February 2016. The relief for Canada was palpable.

Sinclair 3 goals shy of world record

Canada had 69 per cent of possession in the first half and seven corners to Cameroon's two, but only managed two shots on target to Cameroon's one.
Canada now heads 295 kilometres northeast to Grenoble where it faces New Zealand on Saturday. The 19th-ranked Football Ferns open Tuesday against the eighth-ranked Netherlands.

There were no surprises with the Canadian lineup with goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe behind a back four of Allysha Chapman, Buchanan, Shelina Zadorsky and Ashley Lawrence. Desiree Scott served as holding midfielder with Sophie Schmidt and Jessie Fleming behind a front three of Beckie, Nichelle Prince and Christine Sinclair.

Sinclair, who turns 36 on Wednesday, became Canada's oldest player to feature at a World Cup. The star striker from Burnaby, B.C., at her fifth World Cup, is three goals from tying retired American Abby Wambach's world record of 184 goals.

Smiling singers

Canada's starting 11 came into the game with a combined total of 1,120 caps, with Sinclair, Schmidt and Scott accounting for 609 of those. Still, coach Kenneth Heiner-Moller was able to field a squad with Prince the least experience starter at 50 caps.

Cameroon's starting 11 featured just one player, goalkeeper Annette Ngo Ndom, who plays her club soccer at home. Defender Estelle Johnson, a newcomer to the team who was born in Cameroon but raised in the U.S, earned her second cap.

There were smiles aplenty from the Canadian women as they finished singing "O Canada" and Canadian flags waved in the crowd. Labbe moved to the music as the Canadians huddled before kickoff.

[elly63]

Canada tops New Zealand, qualifies for round of 16
Fleming, Prince provide offence in 2-0 win
Neil Davidson The Canadian Press Jun 15, 2019

Jessie Fleming and Nichelle Prince scored second-half goals as Canada moved into the round of 16 at the Women's World Cup with a 2-0 win over New Zealand on Saturday.

As in the opening 1-0 win over No. 46 Cameroon, goals proved hard to come by initially for the fifth-ranked Canadians despite dominating play.

The breakthrough came in the 48th minute. A probing long ball found Prince down the left flank and the speedy forward outraced two defenders before squaring the ball for the 21-year-old Fleming to slot in her ninth goal in 68 appearances — and first at the World Cup.

Captain Christine Sinclair almost made it 2-0 soon after, but her redirect from in front went high. And Sinclair set up the 24-year-old Prince in the 72nd minute, only to have her header acrobatically steered away by goalkeeper Erin Nayler in a marvellous one-handed save.

Prince made it 2-0 in the 79th minute, poking a rebound home from close-range after Sinclair's header hit the goalpost for the second time in the game. It was Prince's 11th goal for Canada and first at a World Cup.

Canada is now unbeaten in 10 games in 2019 (7-0-3) in 2019, tied for its second-longest such streak. For New Zealand, in its fifth World Cup, the wait for a first tournament win continues.

The Canadians controlled the first half, essentially playing keepaway with the 19th-ranked New Zealand. But 73 per cent possession in the first 45 minutes created just one good scoring chance as Canada outshot the Football Ferns 8-1 (2-0 in shots on target).

Solid start

The Canadian women have never before opened the World Cup with two straight wins. And they had never beaten a confederation champion (New Zealand is the big fish among the Oceania minnows) at the tournament.

The Canadians now head 600 kilometres north to Reims, where they will face the eighth-ranked Netherlands on Thursday at Stade Auguste-Delaune to decide who tops Group E.

The European champion Dutch (2-0-0) beat winless Cameroon 3-1 earlier Saturday at Valenciennes to advance to the round of 16. England, France, Germany and Italy have also booked their ticket to the knockout stage.

Canada coach Kenneth Heiner-Moller made one change to the team that started against Cameroon in Montpellier on Monday. Jayde Riviere, an 18-year-old making just her second start and sixth appearance, came in at fullback for Allysha Chapman, who had seen limited training action in the part of the practice session open to the media.

New Zealand went with the same lineup that lost 1-0 to the Dutch on a stoppage-time goal.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by elly63

Rumor: Ajax in conversation with Ghent about Canadian teen sensation
voetbalprimeur.nl May 30, 2019

Ajax has a wide interest in Jonathan David from AA Gent. The nineteen-year-old attacker made an impression this season in Belgium, where he scored twelve times in 33 league games. David is also on the radar of Freiburg and Borussia Mönchengladbach, but it is Ajax that gets it. The Amsterdammers would already be in discussion with Ghent to discuss a switch. (Gazzetta)

Just scored two in Canada's 4-0 win over Martinique in their first Gold Cup game at the Rose Bowl. He's scored five goals in four games for Canada. Next up Mexico in Denver.

[JHikka]

Canada looked....ok against Martinique. Attack looks greats but the back line is awful. Doesn't help that we have to play two midfielders on defense (Hutchinson & Kaye). I fear Mexico's going to exploit us quite badly. On the upside, it looks like Canada should be able to safely beat Cuba. Davies is on another level and was easily the best player on the field.

As for the women: another really dominant performance. Netherlands game isn't as serious as it could have been. We'll see who Canada is forced to face off against in the QFs.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Canada looked....ok against Martinique. Attack looks greats but the back line is awful. Doesn't help that we have to play two midfielders on defense (Hutchinson & Kaye). I fear Mexico's going to exploit us quite badly. On the upside, it looks like Canada should be able to safely beat Cuba. Davies is on another level and was easily the best player on the field.

That's not quite right. Yup, the D had some shaky moments and Borjan had to come up with some big saves but the Herdman philosophy is to have flexibility with players positioning and be able to play multiple setups at will. You saw that with the women who changed after 10 minutes with New Zealand and they couldn't come up with a solution.

It wasn't a matter of us not having capable defenders it was about getting the best players on the field. How do you bench Atiba and MAK for a true defender? In this instance we were lucky but they also got a game under their belts with that positioning.

As for Davies being far above everyone else that's a bit much. Offensively we were very good and there was one guy who scored two who had not a bad game.

You'll likely see Cavallini starting against Mexico as he is familiar with many of them.

[elly63]

Next up: the CMNT plays Mexico Wednesday, June 19 in Denver, 10 pm Eastern on TSN.

How is it that these Mexicans always get to play at altitude and when they don't they look quite ordinary, inquiring minds want to know.

The CWNT plays the Netherlands Thursday, June 20 in Reims, 11 am Eastern on TSN.

[Acajack]

I am a big supporter and even fan of women's sports (having a personal vested interest in them), but over the weekend it was interesting to watch the men's FIFA U20 World Cup followed almost immediately by the top-level FIFA Women's World Cup.

Did anyone else do the same and notice the obvious difference in calibre and tempo?

[elly63]

Personally, I don't look at things that way, I look at the competition. That way you don't get roped into that this isn't the best BS that some people here moan about. I know that's not what you are trying to say, I'm just putting in my two cents on women's sports.

BTW great weekend for Canada all around in sports. I neglected to mention the women's rugby sevens got bronze in Biarritz.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by elly63

Personally, I don't look at things that way, I look at the competition. That way you don't get roped into that this isn't the best BS that some people here moan about. I know that's not what you are trying to say, I'm just putting in my two cents on women's sports.
.

Perhaps it was just the game I watched (WWC) that was a dud. I honestly had never noticed this before (male vs. female).

As I once mentioned some of the most thrilling sports matches I've witnessed in person have involved "amateurs"...

[elly63]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Perhaps it was just the game I watched (WWC) that was a dud. I honestly had never noticed this before (male vs. female).

As I once mentioned some of the most thrilling sports matches I've witnessed in person have involved "amateurs"...

Which game did you watch, both Canadian games were entertaining and we have a real nice fluid style of play. Should be an even more entertaining game Thursday vs Holland, the Euro champs. I think I find women's sports more fun to watch, I guess I am getting tired of big name, big money, entitled pros and the cult of personality, bandwagon jumping, mouthing off on social media, etc etc.