retired_esperanca

Mexico AND Costa Rica out? Not very realistic. Anyways, you should have an easy time getting to the World Cup.

retired_heathermarie

Like I'm going to complain about that double elimination.

I'm not sure if FM overrates Belize and Nicaragua, but we'll find out soon if they did, no?

retired_athony679

Colin, this isn't TNM, but whateve. Story is shaping up nicely, well written (as usual).

BTW, anything can happen. In a game of CM 99/00, Canada went on to win the world cup in 2010! I wasn't managing them, as you couldn't in those days. I think they were over rated because it was around the time of the Gold Cup win, but whatever. They beat Argentina 1-0 in the final. On the way they knocked off Brazil, Germany, Spain, and Portugal (if I remember correctly). It was entertaining to watch!

retired_athony679

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Attendance: 60,188 <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

:eek:

retired_shytown

good read this!

crazyvols@comca

In CM4, Canada often ended up HOSTING the World Cup in 2010, or 2014, which was kinda cool (if, as yet, quite unlikely).

Come one you Canucks!

retired_embartl

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by spurzgrrl:
In CM4, Canada often ended up HOSTING the World Cup in 2010, or 2014, which was kinda cool (if, as yet, quite unlikely).

Come one you Canucks! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Could I lay a sneaky bet that if the USA qualified their group games would be at Vacouver Island, Halifax and Labrador?

Good luck buddy

retired_esperanca

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Attendance: 60,188 <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I think there's an extra zero in there somewhere.

retired_heathermarie

(Andrew! Long time no see!

Best I've ever seen Canada do in CM... hm... one QF run, I think. And a Confed Cup win.)

June 21, 2004

Canada given fair draw in qualifying

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (CP) – Canada will play Cuba, Jamaica and Nicaragua in the semi-finals of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.

The draw took place in Geneva early today, and Canada will fancy their chances of finishing as one of the top two teams in Group 2, as that would qualify them for the final round.

Still, their group opponents cannot be taken lightly. Cuba defeated Canada 2-0 in their last meeting during the CONCACAF Gold Cup on July 14, 2003. Jamaica made it to the World Cup in 1998, and Nicaragua will be taken seriously after their stunning upset of Mexico in the previous qualifying round.

The results of the draw today are as follows:

Group 1: Grenada, Honduras, Panama, U.S.A.
Group 2: Canada, Cuba, Jamaica, Nicaragua
Group 3: Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Trinidad & Tobago

August 18: Canada at Cuba, 7:30 PM
September 4: Canada vs. Nicaragua, 3:00 PM
September 8: Canada at Jamaica, 7:30 PM
October 9: Canada vs. Cuba, 3:00 PM
October 13: Canada at Nicaragua, 7:30 PM
November 17: Canada vs. Jamaica, 7:30 PM

retired_heathermarie

Q: Well Colin, you must have been satisfied with the team's performance against St. Kitts & Nevis over the last week. Did the matches give you a good feel as to what the team's capable of?

A: Good, you're giving me a softball question before we talk about the draw. *laughter*

Q: Well, I'm just doing my job.

A: Don't worry about it. To get back on track... Yeah, I think the games were helpful, although they certainly weren't a true example of what the team's capable of. Don't forget that lots of players had just come off seasons in Europe and may not have been in perfect game shape. But we had relatively few problems with St. Kitts, who certainly did go out there with the intent of putting in a good performance. I think in the first game, we wanted to go out there and put the tie away, which we were successful at; in the second game, we were a little tentative and I think a few players might have been a little nervous in their attempt to try impress me or put on a good showing. But we played well generally speaking in both games, and I think the positives far outweighed the negatives.

Q: OK, now you'll get a question about the draw. What do you think about the group and how realistic are the prospects of Canada advancing from it?

A: I think they're very good. I think the problem in the past was that Canada was drawn into very tough groups, and the odds worked against us. This is a fair group. There's no easy games, but it's certainly not a group of death. I mean, imagine if we were in a group with, say... Costa Rica, Honduras and Guatemala. That would be absolutely unfair. But this will give us a good challenge... Jamaica have a strong squad, and I think they'll give us a hard fight for top spot in the group. Nicaragua can't be taken lightly... I'm sure you all saw what they did to Mexico. I was absolutely floored when I saw the result, but that shows that they have talent and they will be fighting hard to make an impact, although I don't know if they have enough depth to perform miracles all the time over a six-match schedule. Cuba is the weakest team in the group, but we've had problems with them in the past. I think that we have an excellent chance to advance, and if I had to make a prediction, I'd say that it'll be between us and Jamaica for the top spot. But a lot can happen between now and November. We just have to make sure that we put in our best effort and not stop until we've clinched qualification.

Q: Will the squad be the same to start the campaign, or will changes be made?

A: Well, I think that'll depend on whether or not the squad stays injury-free up until that point. I was generally impressed with the squad over the two games, and I don't think anyone played themselves out of a spot just yet. Having said that, there's plenty of players who are still in the mix, and when the time comes I may decide to take a look at another option or two. I think September might be a better time to really take a close look at the team, however, since everyone should be playing regularly in their respective leagues at that time. Then I can take a closer look and see who's in game shape and who might be deserving of a call-up. I certainly hope that we end up qualifying before our final game, because then I can use it to take a look at some young talent... But I think things are generally good right now. I'm confident that we can start the campaign on a winning note against Cuba in August.