No excuses.
It’s all the rage these days for football fans to moan and whinge about the international break, unless of course you have a hardcore European loyalty that will carry you through the boredom of watching your team trounce San Marino, as Holland look poised to do tomorrow. And you can be sure your neighbourhood bar won’t be packed for Liechtenstein versus Lithuania.
But none of that matters, because you’re Canadian (well, at least some of you are, damned border-disrespecting Interweb). And this Friday, team Canada will face St. Lucia in the first match of CONCACAF Group D second round World Cup qualifying, at home at BMO Field. In Toronto. Ontario.
If you’re in the Big Smoke, tickets are still available via Ticketmaster, and Canadian Soccer News has details on a couple of the planned pre-game festivities. If you’re not in the Big Smoke and you refuse to travel there because you hate our freedoms and our way of life, it will be broadcast on a rival network that starts with an S and ends with a 1.
As far as precedents are concerned (and are they ever revealing in CONCACAF outside of Mexico and the US?), Canada have never faced St. Lucia in international competition. However, the Canadian government notes:
Canada’s good bilateral relations with Commonwealth Caribbean countries stem from a significant Caribbean diaspora in Canada, long-standing regional commercial links, and a long history of Canadian support for the region.
A ten goal rout would go a long way to changing all that, but the bit about the “diaspora” also means there still may be a large contingent of away supporters. Yes. For St. Lucia. Sigh. The best way to prevent that is to open your wallet, go downtown, and show your support.
Why? Well, there are a few good omens heading into tomorrow. As Duane Rollins noted this morning, Canada crushed St. Lucia in volleyball qualifying (Yes! Volleyball!). And despite an overall lack of game time for their clubs, Canada is fielding a strong team, with Julian De Guzman and Dwayne De Rosario starting, and Atiba Hutchinson back in the fold after recovering from a knee injury.
Still, the old doubts linger, but if Canada fails to convince against St. Lucia, supporters groups should be prepared to go into immediate crisis mode, march to CSA headquarters in Ottawa and chant “we will overcome” until we get a decent player development set-up and second tier domestic league. Either that or leave early to watch a PVR’d Iceland v. Norway game.
Got tickets through the Voyageurs and will be in the south end (home) supporters section.
Can even wear my TFC shirt to fit in :) (it says TORONTO, not BMO so s’all good)
Nice! Hopefully there’ll be a sea of red. If not, Toronto should just stop hosting Canada games.
Anyone know if there’s some sort of tie-in with the Ex?
I haven’t read that. There should have been. I do know there were a few one for one deals with local youth soccer clubs for tickets.
Your solution to boredom is frustration? I’d rather watch Huddlesfield Town play Doncaster than experience the ineptitude of CONCACAF officials.
I’ll be there tomorrow Richard! As well as the other 3 Canada matches! I know we can win tomorrow, Go Canada Go!!!
Adam V
Ps. Can’t wait for the start of the new Serie A season, please commentate as many AS Roma matches as you can!!! :D haha
I’d go to a game in a heartbeat if it was anywhere in Eastern Canada, but the powers that be insist on hosting games in the home-crowd-defeating BMO field.
I would love a chance to go to this game, but there wasn’t enough time for me to figure out travel plans, a place to stay overnight – and, frankly, I can’t afford it. Had it been in Montreal I could maybe have gone, but Toronto is too far for a poor non-driver in Ottawa.
Via rail dude, you can sleep on the train on the way home.
I take it from here to Montreal whenever I can and I know there is a spur train that heads into ottawa.
I really hope there will be large away support so we can shut them up with a 10-0 scoreline.
Got my tickets and I’m only working a half day so I can go to the EX before. Tickets to the game get you in free all day as well I think if you have a ticket for the EX you can buy ticket from the BMO box office for $9. Deep fried Oreos and football, no reason not to go.
In any case, the group will be good for some decisive wins. Will do a lot for the psychological health of Canadian soccer fans.
I won’t be at the game as i am a 3 hour plane trip away. However i will be watching with a black and red chevron on my chest and a heart full of pride! let”s go boys!!
What time does this game start tommorrow?? Anyone know?
starts at 8:00pm