Gian-Luca

The CSA confirmed today that Canada will be playing another five friendlies in 2010.

http://www.canadasoccer.com/news/vie...?Press_ID=4054

First up, whether Maradona likes it or not, is a match against Argentina in Argentina on May 24th. Coming on the Victoria Day weekend, hopefully this gets hyped up in the Canadian media and some good tv ratings - assuming we can get it on tv at all. For many Canadian players, this match is as good as it is going to get without actually playing in a World Cup. It's similar to Canada playing Brazil's World Cup team just prior to the 1994 World Cup (a match that Canada famously tied 1-1 before Brazil much-more-famously won the World Cup - should Argentina be looking to play for the draw as an artificial way of obtaining a good omen?) Canada and Argentina have never played at the senior team level - the last match of any kind I can remember between the two nations on the men's side would be the U20 World Cup round of 16, when Argentina prevailed 2-1 against a Canadian team that featured the likes of Jason Bent, Paul Stalteri and Dwayne De Rosario (Bent scored for Canada on an indirect free kick).

Five days later Canda travels north (from Argentina that is) to take on the improving Venezualans. Canada previously played them to a 2-2 draw in Venezuala prior to the 2007 Gold Cup, and with Stephen Hart at the helm. Canada took the lead early on a goal by DeRo (set up by Friend) and then tied it late on a goal by Ali "Der Cucumber Bomber" Gerba.

After some trivial tourney called The World Cup takes place (whoever heard of that anyway?) Canada will play two matches at home - for the first time in two years, and the first home friendlies in three. It will be refreshing to hear the players not complain about the FieldTurf at BMO Field prior to the September 4th match in Toronto (which has been announced, but without any opponent as yet). After that Canada will take on Honduras in Montreal, the team they have suffered more defeats and disappointments against in recent years than any other (two should-have-been-wins in World Cup Qualifying in 2004 but relegated to draws thanks to excruciatingly poor officiating, two absolutely gutting losses in World Cup Qualifying in 2008 and a disappointing loss helped by another diabolical bit of officiating that eliminated Canada in the Quarter-Finals of the 2009 Gold Cup). After having Honduras' number throughout most of the 90's the tide turned in the noughties. Let's hope for better fortunes in the new decade, starting with more Canadian support in Montreal against Honduras than we got last time.

Finally Canada will be back in Europe in October against Ukraine, as we keep the co-hosts of the 2012 Euros company while everyone else in Europe plays important games. Isn't that sporting of us?