Germany roster announced

[Sigma]

http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=1222

Ottawa, Ontario – Canadian Men’s World Cup Team Head Coach Holger Osieck today announced his roster for the upcoming international friendly against Germany on June 1 in Wolfsburg, Germany. The game will be televised on Rogers Sportsnet at 7:00 p.m. across the network.

Jason Jordan and Nikola (Niki) Budalic have earned their first call-up to the senior team for the game. Jordan has played for Canada at the Olympic and Youth team level. He was a member of the 1997 team which competed at the FIFA World Youth Championship. Jordan is in his sixth season with the Vancouver Whitecaps. Budalic plays with Orebro in the Swedish Premier league and is a former member of the Toronto Lynx.

Nick Dasovic returns to the World Cup team for the time since playing in the Bronze Medal game at the 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Dasovic is in his second season with the Whitecaps and his first as a player/assistant coach.

Halifax native Ante Jazic will make his first appearance since a friendly against Guatemala on May 29, 1999. Jazic is finishing his third season with Rapid Vienna following a two-year sting with Hajduk Split.

The Montreal Impact are also represented by two players in Martin Nash and Nevio Pizzolitto. Pizzolitto is making his first appearance with the World Cup team since a friendly against Bermuda on January 11, 2000.

Defender Tony Menezes has returned to Brazil following a few games in the Chinese Premier League. He will return to Brazil following the Germany game and will then decide whether to return to China or play in Europe.

The goalkeepers are the same as the friendly against Estonia. Pat Onstad, who has played in all of the league leading San Jose Earthquakes games, returns along with Kenny Stamatopoulos.

Canadian Roster For Friendly vs Germany
Name POS Club DOB Caps Goals/Shutouts
Pat Onstad GK San Jose Earthquakes, MLS 1/13/68 36 15
Carl Fletcher D Atlanta Silverbacks, A-League 12/26/71 39 2
Paul Fenwick D Hibernian, Scottish Premier 8/25/69 28 0
Richard Hastings D/M Graz AK, Austrian First Division 5/18/77 30 1
Daniel Imhof M St. Gallen, Swiss First Division 11/22/77 15 0
Paul Stalteri M Werder Bremen, German Bundesliga 10/18/77 41 4
Maycoll Canizalez M Werder Bremen, German Bundesliga 12/28/82 2 0
Kenny Stamatopoulos GK Kalamata, Greek Second Division 8/28/79 1 0
Martin Nash M Montreal Impact, A-League 12/27/75 24 2
Nevio Pizzolitto D Montreal Impact, A-League 8/26/76 5 0
Jason Jordan F Vancouver Whitecaps, A-League 5/30/78 0 0
Nick Dasovic D/M Vancouver Whitecaps, A-League 12/5/68 57 2
Ante Jazic D/M Rapid Vienna, Austrian 2/27/76 2 0
Nikola Budalic F Orebro, Swedish Premier 8/1/78 0 0
Julian de Guzman M Hanover 96, German Bundesliga 3/25/81 5 0
Tam Nsaliwa M Saarbrucken, German Second Division 1/28/82 9 0
Tony Menezes D Ganzu, Chinese Premier 11/24/74 27 0


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Sigma do toho!

[Dave]

Well let's start the speculation. WIth this lineup, I would field these 11 against Germany:

G: Onstadt

Sw: Menezes

Def: Nsaliwa Pizzolito Hastings

DM: Dasovic

M: Imhoff Stalteri Jazic

FM: DeGuzman

S: Canizales

[Dave]

Well let's start the speculation. WIth this lineup, I would field these 11 against Germany:

G: Onstadt

Sw: Menezes

Def: Nsaliwa Pizzolito Hastings

DM: Dasovic

M: Imhoff Stalteri Jazic

FM: DeGuzman

S: Canizales

[Sigma]

I think we might see Fletcher before Pizzolito, but I could be wrong...[:p]

-------------------------
Sigma do toho!

[Alberto7]

Hi all,

I think Nash will start up front with Jordan. Budalic might come on in the later stages of the game. There are enough quality midfielders (Imhoff, Nsaliwa, de Guzman) to allow Nash to start up front. Then again, who knows what Holger is thinking.[?]

I hope Pizzolitto plays a good chunk of the game.

Albert

[mattbin]

Not sure, but I would expect DeGu or Stalteri to start up front before Nash. although Nash obviously has the speed and touch to play up front in a tandem, he'd be much more useful on the wing, which is where Holger likes to put him anyhow.

DeGuzman is a playmaker more than a striker, but he's more likely to create something in the box, in my mind. Stalteri is another obvious choice, for similar reasons.


Allez les Rouges,
M@

[David C.]

My guess is that Stalteri will start up front (for his height) partnered with Canizalez. DeGuzman would play in the hole. Nash will probably be a sub (for Jazic, DeGuzman or Nsaliwa).

Onstad
Fenwick - Menezes - Fletcher
Nsaliwa - Imhof - Hastings - Jazic
DeGuzman
Stalteri - Canizalez

- David C.

[Gordon]

Do you think Holger will go 3-5-2 or 4-4-2 with this group[?]

ps forgive my childlike fascination with the colour font option:)

In a World full of caterpillars it takes balls to be a butterfly.

[David C.]

3-5-2- or 4-4-2, it doesn't really matter, the players would probably be the same. I think that Holger still prefers the former.

From my predicted line-up, you could move Hastings to left-back and DeGuzman to central midfield and - voila - a 4-4-2 formation.

- David C.

[Gordon]

quote:Originally posted by David C.

3-5-2- or 4-4-2, it doesn't really matter, the players would probably be the same. I think that Holger still prefers the former.

From my predicted line-up, you could move Hastings to left-back and DeGuzman to central midfield and - voila - a 4-4-2 formation.

- David C.


I think you are probably right but I would not be surprised to see Dasovic in the middle of a 4-4-2 backline with Fletcher on the right and Hastings on the left. Frankly, as far as I am concerned the Scotland game should have been Fenwick's international farewell.

It also wouldn't surprise me to see on of Jordan or Budalic start ahead of MC2 with the latter coming on in the second half

In a World full of caterpillars it takes balls to be a butterfly.

[Warren in the UK]

This teams is weak. Very Weak

Canada's soccer teams in underated

[matthew]

This lineup isn't nearly as bad as I thought. We have nothing up front, but I'm growing increasingly convinced we're going to play one, if not two of the 'midfielders' (Nash, Canizalez, Stalteri or DeGuzman) up front.

A backline of Pizzolitto-Menezes-Hastings is as good as we've seen lately. We've used Fletcher, Fenwick and Hastings in pretty much every game this year. They're all still available and we have Menezes and Pizzolito available, both of whom I consider better than Fletcher and Fenwick.

The midfield is close to first choice and with Nash, Jazic and Dasovic available it's better than it has been in awhile. Asside from Aguiar, the only mid we're really missing is Bent and I don't see any way for him to get into the team.

A lineup of:

Onstad
Pizzolito-Menezes-Hastings
Nsawliwa-Imhof-Dasovic-Jazic
DeGuzman
Stalteri-Canizalez

That's better than anything we've had out since Scotland or Switzerland obviously we'd like it to be better, but despite missing a handful of our best players, this isn't such a bad squad. There's no reason this squad shouldn't put in a competitive result and show what they're capable of. We know what DeVos, DeRo, Radz and Brennan can do, this is a decent test of out depth.

cheers,
matthew


The secret of life is to find moments of levity and grace in what is, ultimately, a tragedy. Watching Canadian soccer is good practice for this.

[Canuck Oranje]

If Nsaliwa is playing at the back for his club, I would be interested in seeing him tried there.. Would agree with those who feel the midfield seems solid.. I would be inclined to leave DeGuzman and Stalteri in the midfield possibly with Jazic and Imhoff...

[Reza]

This is great stuff for Canada. There are now quite a few players getting the chance to play before the world cup qualifyings start. With all these players, we should have about 25 recently capped players if not more for WCQ which is probably as good as it gets considering the infrastructures for Canada.

Hoepfully the result wouldn't be too lopsided and I am hoping that Menezes can shine and catch some eyes, as he really needs it.

Reza

[Gian-Luca]

quote:Originally posted by matthew



The midfield is close to first choice and with Nash, Jazic and Dasovic available it's better than it has been in awhile. Asside from Aguiar, the only mid we're really missing is Bent and I don't see any way for him to get into the team.





I think fans, friends & family of Jim Brennan & Mike Klukowski might disagree with you there. :)

"All them rock & roll writers are the worst kind of sleaze, selling punk like some new kind of English disease. Is that the wave of the future? Awww spare me please!" Frank Zappa, Joe's Garage (1979).

[Warren in the UK]

Where is Peschisolido?


Canada's soccer teams in underated

[Gian-Luca]

Starting strikers might come down to who looks the sharpest in the six days of practice leading up to the match. Given the number of players who will have never played with their new teammates before I am grateful for the 6 days of practice, as I think it reduces the risk of embarrassment.

Given the midfield we have I don't really see the need in playing Dasovic, unless the score threatens to get ugly & Holger brings him on the field to help stabilize things & prevent panic at the back. With Imhof available it doesn't make any sense to me to put him back out on the right side of midfield to play Dasovic in the defensive midfield position, since Imhof will be the one to be used there in the future, not Nick.

I think we have to start one of Budalic or Jordan up front, if not both. I think Stalteri needs to be in the midfield for this match, where he will be more able to shut down those German players he normally shuts down every week in the Bundesliga. Go with Jordan, Budalic & MC2 up front (two start, one comes off the bench). No point in calling the new players if they don't play & unlike some of the U20 kids called to the US match in January, these players are at least experienced pros, both in their mid-20's.

I think & hope Pizzolitto will surprise everyone and/or remind people of how good he was in 1999 for Canada. I'd start him ahead of Fletcher, but I don't think Holger will. However, all 17 players (except perhaps for Stamatopolous) should be looked at.

Let's start:
MC2 Jordan
Stalteri De Guzman
Jazic Imhof Nsaliwa
Pizzolitto Menezes Fenwick
Onstad

A 2-2-3-3, with Menezes playing sweeper behind the two centre-backs. A defensive formation but with the potential for offense & the ability to battle it out in midfield.

Bring on Nash as a super sub for goals, give Budalic a try in the 2nd half for one of the strikers, put Dasovic on if things get nasty, Fletcher for Fenwick if he starts playing like he did against Scotland. Hastings to replace Ante or Nevio if need be.


"All them rock & roll writers are the worst kind of sleaze, selling punk like some new kind of English disease. Is that the wave of the future? Awww spare me please!" Frank Zappa, Joe's Garage (1979).

[Gian-Luca]

quote:Originally posted by Warren in the UK

Where is Peschisolido?


Canada's soccer teams in underated


He, along with most UK-based players, were unavailable for this match. The head coach wanted him & the others, but circumstances conspired against Canada in this case.

"All them rock & roll writers are the worst kind of sleaze, selling punk like some new kind of English disease. Is that the wave of the future? Awww spare me please!" Frank Zappa, Joe's Garage (1979).

[BC supporter]

Canada is not a strong offensive side at the best of times. But this is as weak as it gets. We're going to play A-League strikers against the World Cup finalists? I hope Jordan and Budalic and Canizales have long and successful international careers, but jesus... our starting strike force?

I imagine we'll sit back, soak up pressure and try to counter-attack. But I think we'll be lucky to get a sniff. I support Canada through thick and thin, but for the first time in a long while I truly think we are going to get crushed.

A the saying goes, "Just a thought"...



There is hope -- but not for us. (Kafka)

[The Coach]

My stating eleven

Onstad
Pizzolitto, Menezes, Fletcher
Dasovic
Imhof, Stalteri, Jazic, Nsaliwa
Nash, Budalic

Please Holger, DONT'T START FENWICK !!!!!!![xx(]

The Coach

[matthew]

mea culpa on Brennan. I consider Klukowski to be a defender and he's only played once with the senior team, so I'm not sure he's a notable absentee. I'm high on the kid, but he's not exactly a fixture in the side.

I agree that Stalteri is probably more needed in the midfield than up front (or maybe more valuable is a better way to put it, we need everything we can get up front), but why call in Dasovic into an already over-crowded midfield if he isn't going to start?Unless he's playing in the back, but Holger has seen fir to start the likes of Fletcher-Fenwick-Menezes-Hastings in the past without feeling the need to call Nick in to play D. So why would he do it now?

I'm not against a Jordan/Budalic pairing, I'm just not expecting it.

I'm still feeling good about this game.

cheers,
matthew


The secret of life is to find moments of levity and grace in what is, ultimately, a tragedy. Watching Canadian soccer is good practice for this.

[littleD]

I thought Menezes wasn't with Ganzu anymore? And Nick Dasovic? I thought he retired long ago, at least from the national team.

[bettermirror]

hi, first post.

i think based on our line-up, the germans will be out just for a kick-around. don't be surprised to see two or three 19 year old germans on june 1st. most likely we'll see kuranyi get substantial time.

a 0-3 scoreline would not be terrible.

i expect an improvement over our scottish performance despite not having the same quality line-up we did that day. pray pray pray we get some of our attackers and defenders back for the gold cup. when canada's full line-up is available we do have some attacking flair now. thank goodness some of our players are now oversees in top leagues.

remember a few years ago when we were fielding teams with unaffiliated players!? holger has done wonders for the side. when was the last time canada was able to play friendlies against top competition, compete in fantastic form in an international competition (the intercontinental cup where we didn't score, but certainly weren't totally outplayed either! - gave a good account there) and finished 1st and 3rd beating quality sides in the last two gold cups.



there ain't gonna be any middle any more.

[Jeffery S.]

re Canizalez

I think most are on here about starters, and I prefer 4-4-2 in any case so I hope Holger would explore that a bit more.

But regarding Miguel Campos (by the way I understand all players on the U-20s call him Miguel) I don't think he should start. It is just a point of who we are playing against, if he is there from the beginning he will not be respected and may have a harder time. Too much pressure on him all around, don't think that is fair. Sure, he has national team experience and knows the Germans, but in this case I'd prefer to throw two unknowns at the Germans, folks that are physically bigger and perhaps with no fear (nothing expected from them). I like the idea of seeing Jordan and Budalic try to make something happen, we could get a surprise.

As for the rest, I think that we should let Stalteri be in a position where he can help out in defense, since he has actually played back line for Bremen this year he might be able to guide some of the guys at the back. Since we don't expect this from de Guzman I'd put him in the hole behind the strikers, and if we can settle in hope for someone like Nash or Jazic to get the odd run up the wings.

In the end I am not as despondent about this game as I was at first seeing all the top strikers out. Perhaps we can actually hold onto the ball a bit in the middle, and even if we don't get forward with a lot of danger we can match the Germans for periods of the game in the middle, and I'd be proud if that happened.

[Desigol]

My Starting XI: (Formation 4-4-2)

1 Onstad.
2 Nasaliwa.
3 Fletcher.
4 Imhoff.
5 Menezes.
6 Fenwick.
7 Stalteri.
8 DeGuzman.
9 Canizalez.
10 Jordan.
11. Jazic.

[MikeD]

My thoughts on the lineup:

GOALKEEPERS
All I can is thank goodness Onstad is back on form with San Jose!

DEFENDERS
I think there's a good chance that Nevio Pizzolitto will start. Here's why: it's been my observation that Holger always tries to have at least one big, tall central defender to anchor the defence. Usually it's DeVos. When DeVos isn't available, as he isn't for this match, we've seen either Mark Watson (retired from international football) or Kevin McKenna (injured) in this role. I realize that Tony Menezes and Paul Fenwick look like the safe bets to be the starting central defenders (much to the chagrin of the many Fenwick bashers out there), but neither really fits the mould of a DeVos, Watson or McKenna. Fenwick and Menezes are both pretty tall (6'2" and 6'1" respectively), but neither really "plays big" the way the other three I've mentioned do. On the other hand, from what I saw of Pizzolitto when he played for the nats back in '99, he reminded me a lot of a young Mark Watson. Thus, I wouldn't be terribly surprised to see Pizzolitto and Menezes in central defence with Hastings or Jazic at left back and Fletcher at right back.

To those who would like to see Nsaliwa at right back instead of Fletcher: I don't think there's a hope of this happening. To a certain extent, Holger is being forced to field an experimental lineup due to unavailable players, but I don't think he's going to start experimenting where he doesn't need to. Fletcher is a proven commodity (don't write him off because of the one bad game he had against the States in January - he was months out of season at that point and it was the only bad game I've ever seen him play in a Canadian jersey) and Holger is going to stick with him.

MIDFIELD/FORWARD
Too many possible combos to guess what Holger will do here. I agree that only one of Jordan or Budalic will start at striker, probably with an attacking midfielder like Stalteri, DeGuzman or Nash in support. I also agree that we're unlikely to see Dasovic, other than as a sub if Holger sees a need to calm down either the defence or the midfield.

Personally, I'd go with a very defensive 4-5-1 formation like the following:

GK Onstad
LB Hastings
RB Fletcher
CB Menezes
CB Pizzolitto
LM Jazic
RM Nash
CM Imhoff
CM Stalteri
AM DeGuzman
ST Budalic

The Germans are traditionally a team that is very patient and waits for you to make a mistake, which they then pounce on with ruthless efficiency. If I were Holger, I'd try to play very conservatively and defensively in the first half to avoid giving them any opportunities to take the lead. They're the home team and they'll be expected to win easily, so my plan would be to try to force them to take the initiative and try to break us down in the hope that this will make them commit an error that we can capitalize on in the counterattack. If we fall behind, we should continue to play defensively and try to stay within a goal until the last 20 minutes, when we should bring on some fresh attacking legs and pull out a draw. If we fall behind by two, then the goal will have to change from getting a result to avoiding a blowout.

Mike D

[Gian-Luca]

quote:Originally posted by bettermirror

hi, first post.


i expect an improvement over our scottish performance despite not having the same quality line-up we did that day. pray pray pray we get some of our attackers and defenders back for the gold cup. when canada's full line-up is available we do have some attacking flair now. thank goodness some of our players are now oversees in top leagues.



there ain't gonna be any middle any more.


Welcome!

I agree with much of what you said, though I felt we actually played pretty well for the most part against Scotland - in fact outside of Paul Fenwick's mistakes on the day, I thought we were pretty good. Mind you we had one day of practice before the Scotland match, here we will have 6 days, so I do think that will help us even though we are missing several of our best players (some of whom, namely McKenna, DeRo & Radzinski, were there against Scotland).

"All them rock & roll writers are the worst kind of sleaze, selling punk like some new kind of English disease. Is that the wave of the future? Awww spare me please!" Frank Zappa, Joe's Garage (1979).

[Cheeta]

What a bunch of cynics.

With Onstad back on form the only discouraging gap in this side, okay maybe gaping hole. Well breach really, is up front. And I'm less discouraged by this than I was after the initial shock faded.

Don't suppose as yet we know who the Germans are sending out either.

Should be a couple of lads full of p & v and their enthusiasm well be a wonderful addition and hopefully contagious. Hey, Nash is playing! Bull in a china shop if nothing else works at least. And Canada's Footballer of the Year Paul Stalteri with plenty to prove.

We'll see if all you Janzic supporters know what you're talking about. If you do, boy it could be a grand day in Wolfsburg.

Have given up trying to pull a lineup together but I'll just add a few opinions which seem to keep coming back to my head.
Play Kenny S. unless the Germans field an A squad of what players they've available.

Holger's wisely cautious at the back. But who plays center D with Fenwick I don't know. Is Menezes in form? Goodness knows I hope so. Otherwise expecting Pizzolitto to return (looked good the other night there).

Paul S. in center mid. It's his position lock, stock, and barrel. And whom ever plays along side with him better be ready for some energetic overlapping play and attacking support because odviously to me at least that's where Canada is going to have to win this game. Attacking midfield. Or strongly supporting one at least. More inclinded to sub the front men whoever they are as the game goes along than starting midfield unless day game tactical adjustments require it.

We're taking this one, boys!!!!

Minority of one