Skip navigation

 Login or Register | Member Centre

Canada eliminated from World Cup contention

Canadian Press

Latest comment posted at 3:17 PM EST 14/10/08

Canada's road to the 2010 World Cup ends with a 3-1 loss in Honduras ...Read the full article

This conversation is closed

  1. David C from Canada writes: So does this mean Mitchell gets a promotion now? That's how things seem to work over at the CSA.

    We started out with such promise. Thanks for nothing, Dale.
  2. Mikey Gault from yo' momma's house!, Canada writes: Pathetic! Those players should be ashamed of their efforts!

    We have too many fools running the Canadian program - all British and Scottish ex-pats. Those guys know nothing about squat. At least England wised up and hired an Italian to run their program.
  3. Neil FitzGerald from Toronto, writes: So terribly disappointing...we truly are receiving the results of a 3rd world soccer nation. I won't presume to have THE answer but it certainly seems that Mitchell needs to go! How he can justify his tactics in previous games with these talented players is beyond my comprehension.

    To create a world-class soccer team, we need to complement our increasingly depth of world class players with a world class staff - specifically at coach.
  4. A Banana from Canada writes: Well there it is, the final blow to our WCQ hopes for 2010. Displaying the same form Dale Mitchell is known for, elimated in the shortest amount of time possible.

    Blow this thing up from top to bottom, spare nobody, not the CSA, not the coaches, not even the players. We need better from everybody across the board.
  5. Canada Needs National Soccer League Senior and Junior from Canada writes: I don't care what Mitchell will go on doing...he can,for all I care,become the General Manager of the Universe....

    Just get him out of the Canadian national squad.

    Obviously,it is not just his fault ,however,this guy would make any team in the World lose any game they would play....

    He hasn't got the winning personality of a WC Coach.....
  6. Canada Needs National Soccer League Senior and Junior from Canada writes: It will be fun for the "mexicans" in Edmonton on Wednesday,in terms of the temperature...

    It is suppose to be below zero,had the Canadian team had a tie in their pocket,they could have done something with that,but now......
  7. Peter Smith from Canada writes: We need to have the Government of Canada properly regulate Sports Associations in Canada. Clearly, the Canadian Soccer Association has been incompetently run over last 20 years without any regulation or concern from Sports Canada. We need a system where any funding of a sports organization from the government will imply a workable democratic constitution for the membership, as well as having to be accountable to the public and members on their financial books. If they have power and control over the National teams then they must properly represent the National teams.

    I would think we now need to move in different direction with 1 organization to represent the National teams and another to represent recreational soccer in this country.

    What we need is a parliamentary investigation in the Canadian Soccer Association, are we going to get it? unlikely as it is soccer.
  8. Canada Needs National Soccer League Senior and Junior from Canada writes: Peter Smith...

    The problem is that FIFA and UEFA have "charters" against governmental involvent etc....

    That could get CSA disqualified form any international competitions....

    The answer is to have soccer professionals as the managment of Vancouver Whitecaps and TFC and Montreal Impact etc...along with the existing intelligent technical staff at CSA,to form the core of the Board of Directors...

    They are the problem....The current Board of Directors...

    They are the problem.
  9. Canada Needs National Soccer League Senior and Junior from Canada writes: Canada Needs National Soccer League Senior and Junior from Canada writes: Obviously,Mr. Mitchell has to resign....

    However,the CSA and the Board of Directors have to be also held responsible...

    The Board and the "provincial reps",amatures are actually to be blamed for all this....{they hired Mitchell}

    It is the same analogy as if the Canadian Hockey national team was ran by the "double minus BB" rec hockey teams officials....
    Posted 12/10/08 at 4:22 AM EDT | Alert an Editor | Link to Comment

    ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

    Canada Needs National Soccer League Senior and Junior from Canada writes: By the way these individuals are like a "chewing gum" as you can not get rid of them easy...
  10. Canada Needs National Soccer League Senior and Junior from Canada writes: Canada Needs National Soccer League Senior and Junior from Canada writes: Obviously,Mr. Mitchell has to resign....

    However,the CSA and the Board of Directors have to be also held responsible...

    The Board and the "provincial reps",amatures are actually to be blamed for all this....{they hired Mitchell}

    It is the same analogy as if the Canadian Hockey national team was ran by the "double minus BB" rec hockey teams officials....
    Posted 12/10/08 at 4:22 AM EDT | Alert an Editor | Link to Comment
    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

    Canada Needs National Soccer League Senior and Junior from Canada writes: By the way these individuals are like a "chewing gum" as you can not get rid of them easy...
  11. Rollo T from Belgium writes:

    No worries. As a small market, even when Canada does qualify for the World Cup, it won't get past the first round, regardless. Big market teams always beat small market teams at the World Cup.
  12. Rusty Waters from Canada writes: Hockey is dominated by the United States and Canadians can't play soccer so why don't we stick to playing our national game..lacrosse.
  13. Edward Carson from Canada writes: Mikey Gault - take your hate speech elsewhere. Last time I checked two guys with Italian sounding names were the VP's of the CSA. Also, Scotland's FA has the best coaching setup going. Don't believe me then go as Fabio Capello and Jose Mourinho since they both did their coaching badges with the SFA instead of their own home nations because of the set up that Scotland has developed.
  14. Wally Grisold from Toronto, Canada writes: He may not be too popular, but he produces, bring back Olger.
  15. Mariposa Belle from Leacockland, Canada writes: Can we default the next two games and apply the cash to buy out Mitchell and the Board and start again?
  16. dippsy doodle from Vankcouver, Canada writes: I never heard a thing about this World Cup soccer match? Is there another country in the world where a qualifying game to the WC draws such little coverage?? This only proves how little interest most Canadians have in soccer, despite all the bleatings from foreigners about how stupid we are for not loving soccer.
  17. Edward Carson from Canada writes: Many Canadians do have an interest and go to varying websites because the CSA and the media can't get its act together to bring the game to televisions.
  18. Double Money from Canada writes: A very disappointing qualification attempt by the Men's Soccer Team. We seemed to have the players to advance to the World Cup and I suspect we got the tactics all wrong and messed up by not winning all the points at home.

    www.doubleourmoney.ca
  19. Oswaldo I from Canada writes: This team did not play like they did in the Gold Cup. What changed? The obvious answer is Mitchell. Whether it's in set-up or attitude, the team underperformed under him. The U-20 team also underperformed under him. It doesn't take a genious to figure out that Mitchell is the problem.
  20. Peter Smith from Canada writes: It is been a national tragedy that the Canadian Soccer Association has been allowed to operate with mediocrity over the last 20 years and no reasonable ability to hold this organization accountable.

    What we need as a full governmental inquiry into this lack lustre organization that has done very little for the elite level of soccer in Canada over 20 years. Do what Australia did and have a full review of the association. Australia did this and ended up starting a new association with added resources. One can name a litany of issues and bad decisions the organization has made over the years. Primarily bad management of players, lack of resources for the national team. Stacking home games with opposition supporters and the list can go on.

    2ndly, we need to set up our own league. 1 or 2 teams in MLS is not enough for producing enough domestic elite soccer players. We need our own league even if initially this can be a Junior Development League.
  21. Spencer C from Canada writes: If the entire CSA executive doesn't resign by Christmas they should be ashamed of themselves.

    There is no reason why Canada can't be a World Cup qualifier when we are in arguable the weakest zone on the planet.

    The government should cut off funding to the CSA until they get their house in order, truly a shameful performance.
  22. Canada Needs National Soccer League Senior and Junior from Canada writes: If the CSA at least set up mandated regional leagues for youth,like the CIS University system etc...It would go a long way way.

    As a player,once you reach the age of 15 or 16 you are done as far as the local rec organizations are concerend and you can either join a terrible local adult league or quit soccer.

    So,the few talented players who accept their "fate",sort of speak and move to Europe and/or if they can't make it overthere,play in the MLS or USL1.

    Again,most major cities in Canada don't have either MLS or USL1 franchises.

    TO and / or Vancouver are a little bit ebtter off with the leagues,however,wast majority of Canada is in "stone age" of organizing quality soccer.

    ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

    FIFA will not CSA to be overtaken by Government,which I don't think is the answer anyway.

    Soccer has to run itself,but with the proper people in charge.
  23. mary walsh with the big gun rack from Canada writes: Suspend the national mens team for five years.
  24. Canada Needs National Soccer League Senior and Junior from Canada writes: The new CSA will have to sit down and Identify the players they have really got available for the next run of the WC qualifiers in 4 years. Many players will be too old by then,some won't play soccer or what not etc. CSA should have a pool of a minimum 300 players in various age groups in their NTC programs that are supported to stay with the game. In provinces such as MB or SK,as far as the boys programs are concerend,coaches identify young players as talented,but give them no opportunities on the National Level.... So,these talented players are playing soccer with recreational beginners at the local house league level and of course don't get anywhere and eventually fade away to quit or just play in a beer league. The selection and development is done on primitive criterias,with biases of incompetent people ,however,these incompetent people are entranched in the CSA politically,have relatives working there and/or have worked there,have no targets,no objectives to fullfill,so they just go on their marry useless way and waste tax payers and CSA's money,instead of really developing players,that Canada desperetely needs. Most of these individuals have dubious backgrounds in soccer and mostly come from recreational volunteer backgrounds,just to pretend they are professionals... Yes,they are professional volunteers,but not professional soccer trainers/developers. I think that CSA should take a close look at the Vancouver WhiteCaps structure as the Model Club structure for youth in this country.... I think that it is as close as you can get to be living over in Europe. Those types of entities have to be encouraged to spring up and be supported across the country and let's take the focus away from all these recreational soccer associations... They and most current CSA representatives have no capabilities to make things better. If nothing is done,then 30 years from now we will still be where we are today... Really sad.
  25. Canada Needs National Soccer League Senior and Junior from Canada writes: For example: CSA doesn't mandate the Provicnial Association what level of soccer they have to provide to the youngsters. CSA has to mandate that each provicne supplies teams into the Super-Y league on regional bases,has to mandate that NTC players play in regular inter-provincial competitions{not just 3 games a year at what they call the "all-stars"}. CSA should have Regional National teams,as hockey has... At the U-17 level Canada has 5 or 6 National teams and they all play international competitions and even U-17 World Cup etc... They have Canada /BC/AB,Canada/MB and SK/,Canada/ON,Canada/QC,Canada Eastern and etc and etc CSA has to estabilish U-18 and U-19 and U-21 National teams which we don't have? Explain to any soccer person from anywhere that Canada only has youth national team at U-17 and U-20 levels? They basically have 20 boys from age U-17 in their entire spectrum of action and operations.It's insane. How few of these 20 kids will really become soccer players even in a best program in teh World,not to mention Canada,so no wonder that Canada can not find players to compete when they really need them... CSA doesn't deserve them,the way they mismanage them when the youngsters need them.
  26. echo demir from somewhere, Canada writes: Bring fatih terim here, he will take you finals next time. OR bring a experinced soccer coach from Europe who can organize all national soccer teams in Canada. in the summer , i see most of kids play soccer, but unfortunately canadas national soccer team is not doing well at soccer. Canada needs a soccer plan to succeed in long time period. i know some soccer coaches who does not know even where 2010 world cup will take place ((:: . even if small countries Norway, Costa rica, Trinad can go to world cups, canada can do that but as i said that you need to review everything from beginning. but still it is suprising for me how Canada can not go to world cup from this North American group. anyways good luck Canada, change your soccer mentality and lets go to 2014 world cup
  27. Henry Allen from East Bank, Don River, Canada writes:
    Peter Smith wrote: "It is been a national tragedy that the Canadian Soccer Association has been allowed to operate with mediocrity over the last 20 years and no reasonable ability to hold this organization accountable."

    A tragedy? How can it be a national tragedy if something happens but the great majority of Canadians don't care? Applying principles of force field analysis, that means, since the heaviest weight of Canadian opinion is apathetic, there will be insufficient demand by public pressure to change things.
  28. Canada Needs National Soccer League Senior and Junior from Canada writes: There are enough people that do care,although,if this mess was going on in hockey,it would be dealt with right away.
  29. oscar guillen from TORONTO, writes: Pathetic!!
    Not the player's fault. I thought this team is the most talented I've ever seen with national program..Horrible coaching and environment. Professional teams in Canada (TFC, Impact and Whitecaps) should get together and run the CSA, yes to their benefit and the sport. The SCA are nothing but a bunch of accountants and lawyers with a day job real 'football' players should have when they retired.
    The only way the government could get involve is if they inject money to the program with out taking sole power (FIFA rules).
    But who's is going to say anything!... not even the newspapers pointed this out!! The SCA is a failure, embarrassment and national tragedy.
    I know most people would think I least we have hockey....well, just 6 countries in the world really care about hockey. Football, the entire world cares.
  30. Edward Carson from Canada writes: Henry Allen - I can produce at least 45-50% of the Canadian populace who wouldn't give a rat's a$$ over hockey yet it still dominates the headlines. Most women couldn't care about hockey, and they make over 50% of the population, most immigrants don't care either.
    So hockey might have a grasp of 30-40% of the population and soccer, I guarantee, would be around 20%. However, if you don't try to produce a good product then you are going to get people hanging on to their home nation to support...and then idiots like you will complain of the Europeans and South Americans flag waving during the World Cup and European Championship instead of waving the great Maple Leaf (which I don't like...the Ensign was a better flag)
  31. Henry Allen from East Bank, Don River, Canada writes:
    Edward Carson wrote: "...then idiots like you will complain of the Europeans and South Americans flag waving during the World Cup and European Championship instead of waving the great Maple Leaf..."

    Idiot I can handle. But, I said nothing about complaining, Europeans, South Americans, flags, World Cup, European Championship or the Maple Leaf. Have trouble listening, too, do you, Edward?
  32. Phil Munoz from San Pedro Sula, Canada writes: I am fortunate to be in Honduras where we actually get to see the games on TV. I both Honduras / Canada games, I saw the Canadian players ragging on each other after failed plays. That's not something I saw in any of the other teams in our qualifying pool. ATTITUDE. Lots of comments about needing our own MLS. I don't agree. The stars on Honduras team all play in Europe or the MLS -- in fact the captain plays for Toronto. I believe where we're soft is in the development levels of 15 - 18 year olds. Having lived in Central America for over 6 years, I can tell you that their passion for soccer exceeds Canada's passion for hockey, but I did have to laugh at one comment putting hockey at 30-40% national support and soccer at 20%. Advertisers don't care about sport -- they care about viewership, so we'll start seeing soccer on TV when the advertisers believe it will pay better than the sport it bumps out.
  33. Canada Needs National Soccer League Senior and Junior from Canada writes: Both games were televized,by Sportsnet in Canada....
  34. Canada Needs National Soccer League Senior and Junior from Canada writes: There is an article just out discussing Mitchell's no plans to leave the National Team's coaching....

    He says that he has a contract and intends to stay.

    Also,he said that he might let DeRosario back to the Team...

    I little ironic,when these players of 28/29/30 years old will be too old in 6 years for the nxt chance for another WC in 2014....
  35. P McLean from Canada writes: If everyone cites FIFA rules for not being able to step in, we are in trouble. FIFA is the most corrupt organization this side of the IOC(read Foul! by Andrew Jennings). The CSA's behavior will come as no surprise seeing how FIFA operates. It is going to take a lot to change things at the CSA. I don't know the answer, but it will definitely be a tough uphill climb.
  36. Canada Needs National Soccer League Senior and Junior from Canada writes: FIFA can only assist and supervise a new election of the Board.

    They don't want a type like "Saddam Hussein",in the past,to manage a national soccer federation...

    That's the reasoning behind why Government shouldn't interferre in running of a soccer federation etc...

Comments are closed

Thanks for your interest in commenting on this article, however we are no longer accepting submissions. If you would like, you may send a letter to the editor.

Report an abusive comment to our editorial staff

close

Alert us about this comment

Please let us know if this reader’s comment breaks the editor's rules and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.

Do not use this to complain about comments that don’t break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.

Back to top