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Posted by
Steve Bottjer,
October 4, 2012 |
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Email Steve Bottjer
Twitter @BottjerRNO |
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Canadian National Team Head Coach Stephen Hart announced his roster today for Canada’s two crucial October World Cup qualifying matches against Cuba and Honduras. Overall, Hart elected to make only two changes to the squad that split home and away fixtures against Panama in September, with Iain Hume taking the place of injured forward Dwayne De Rosario and with veteran defender Mike Klukowski coming on board in place of Toronto FC fullback Ashtone Morgan.
“The squad was picked based on availability and what I thought was necessary going into these games. Of course the most important thing is the first game against Cuba, which as I have said before, they are a much different team away from home,” said Hart via a conference call with national media on Thursday.
The Canadian national team skipper admitted that he wanted to go with as much experience as possible for the pressure-filled fixtures against Cuba and Honduras that will determine whether or not Canada qualifies for the final round of World Cup qualifying for the CONCACAF region. Speculation ahead of the conference call had centered on whether or not Hart might elect to select young players such as Russell Teibert and Lucas Cavallini towards rejuvenating the Canadian attack and the national team coach admitted his decision to bring Klukowski back into the fold came down to the player’s experience.
"Mike has had games with his club and hopefully he'll be playing on the weekend. I just thought that experience, going into these two games, would serve us well," said Hart. "Lucas is a much different player than Dwayne. He was considered and is still very much is part of the consideration. We still have a weekend of games to go."
The reference to a possible call-up of Cavallini and to the scheduled club games on the weekend was later placed in context by the ongoing fitness concerns surrounding centre forward Olivier Occean.
Hart was asked about the probability of Occean suiting up for Canada against Cuba and Honduras and he could not give a definitive answer.
“I just literally got off the phone with Olivier. He is training and resting and whether or not he plays on the weekend will be up to his club. And he’s going to have to tell his club and me how he feels and we’ll make decision after that I guess,” said Hart.
Hart admitted that Canada needs four points from these next two matches to move on to the next round. The Canadian team currently sits in third place in Group C with seven points, with only the top two teams moving on to the final " Hex" round of World Cup qualifying.
"It's never easy, but it's not an impossible task. The players know the reality of the present situation we're in and they're going to do everything to galvanize the squad and do what is necessary," stated Hart.
"We have not been prolific in scoring goals in the last two or three years, so that was not a big secret coming in - even though I did think we would have done better in front of goal. After looking at all the games over and over, it's not for a lack of creating chances."
Outside of dealing with the now usual questions about the fitness of players and Canada’s struggles to score against the opposition, the main theme of the conference call centered on Hart’s contention that the Canadian team would not underestimate or look past Cuba.
"They're a proud people, a proud team, and they're not going to lie down for anybody. Cuba plays much different away from home than they do at home,” Hart said of the Cuban team. "Before the campaign even started I mentioned that Cuba plays much different away from home than they do at home. They played two exceptional games away from home and should have got a result in both games. They were very impressive, organized and very quick on the counterattack. I don’t know why they play the way they do away from home. Maybe it is because they think they are abroad and that gives them more exposure or whatever. They're not going to lie down for anybody."
Hart was also asked about whether or not he would rest any of his key players who are sitting on yellow cards and facing possible suspensions for the Honduras fixture, but he was quick to state he would most likely field his best team against Cuba.
“It’s a good question, but, you know what, you have to play the Cuba game. We have to go for the result and we are going to have to take risks.”
Overall, Hart expressed confidence that his side would be fully focused on the Cuban team and would not look past the currently winless squad even with a monumentally tough fixture against Honduras looming.
"To be fair it's you guys (in the media) who are focusing on Honduras. My discussions with the squad right after the Panama game was about Cuba and it will continue to be that. It's a very dangerous thing to play a game before it arrives," said Hart.
Canada’s Roster
1- GK- Lars Hirschfeld | NOR / Vålerenga Fotball
2- M- Nik Ledgerwood | SWE / Hammarby Fotboll
3- FB- Mike Klukowski | CYP / APOEL
4- CB- Kevin McKenna | GER / FC Köln
5- CB- André Hainault | USA / Houston Dynamo
6- M - Julian de Guzman | USA / FC Dallas
7- F- Iain Hume | ENG / Doncaster Rovers
8- M- Will Johnson | USA / Real Salt Lake
9- F- Tosaint Ricketts | NOR / Vålerenga Fotball
10- F- Simeon Jackson | ENG / Norwich City FC
11- FB- Marcel de Jong | GER / FC Augsburg
12- CB- Dejan Jaković | USA / D.C. United
13- M- Atiba Hutchinson | NED / PSV Eindhoven
14- M - Terry Dunfield | CAN / Toronto FC
15- CB- David Edgar | ENG / Burnley FC
16- M- Pedro Pacheco | POR / CD Santa Clara
17- F- Olivier Occean | GER / Eintracht Frankfurt
18- GK- Milan Borjan | TUR / Sivasspor
19- FB- Ante Jazić | USA / Chivas USA
20- M - Patrice Bernier | CAN / Impact Montréal
22- GK- Kenny Stamatopoulos | SWE / AIK Fotbol
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