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Canada's national soccer team faces internal dissension and looming elimination from the 2010 World Cup as it faces Honduras in a qualifying match tonight.
In an interview with The Globe and Mail, national team midfielder Dwayne De Rosario reinforced criticism of head coach Dale Mitchell made earlier this week by striker Jim Brennan.
"I don't know how someone who coached the under-20s to not score a goal in the World Cup was put in charge of the national team," said De Rosario, the Houston Dynamo playmaker.
Rumours are circulating that former Canadian men's national soccer team head coach Holger Osieck is being considered for his old job by the Canadian Soccer Association. Osieck, currently coaching in Japan, was in Toronto days after the national team returned from a 2-1 loss to Mexico in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, according to two sources.
Men's national team coach Dale Mitchell, shown here last year, is facing criticism from his own players leading up to Saturday's critical World Cup qualifier against Honduras. (Adrian Wyld/CP)
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"I have had all of the negativity since my appointment to the men's national team last year and quite frankly I'm just starting to get used to it," Mitchell said of the criticism. "It's just part of the game at this level. There is winning and the peace and quiet that goes along with it, and there is also criticism when you don't win."
Canada has earned one point from the first three games of the qualifying round. To advance, the team needs all six points achievable with wins tonight and in Edmonton against favoured Mexico on Wednesday.
The CSA would not comment on a report that vice-president Vic Montagliani canvassed players about Mitchell after a loss to Mexico.
"He is leading our team as we go through the qualifying stage and we support him 100 per cent," CSA general secretary Peter Montopoli said. "We have played just three of six games and this isn't over yet."
Compounding Canada's predicament tonight in a hostile environment, De Rosario and FC Dallas defender Adrian Serioux are suspended for the match while midfielder Julian De Guzman is out with a thigh injury.
Mitchell was named head coach in June 2007, getting the nod just prior to leading the U-20 team into the under-20 World Cup. The team went winless and failed to score a goal.
Brennan, the Toronto FC captain, blasted Mitchell after it was announced that he was being left off the roster for tonight's match. Brennan declared he will never again play for Canada as long as Mitchell is in charge.
De Rosario also said the team is poorly prepared due to budget restrictions.
"It's very frustrating," he said. "If you are playing at a club level in a professional environment and you come to the national team, it's supposed to be a step ahead but it really is like taking a step backwards."
Special to The Globe and Mail
