Canada announces roster for November World Cup qualifiers

Canadian Men's National Team - Article

Canada announces roster for November World Cup qualifiers



Posted by Gavin Day, November 3, 2011

Email Gavin Day On Twitter: @gavinlday

Canadian head coach Stephen Hart is only making a token few changes over last month’s squad as Canada prepares for their final two games of the second round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

After a record 7-0 win over St. Lucia that was followed up by a lacklustre 0-0 draw with Puerto Rico, Canada only needs a single point over its last two games against St. Kitts and Nevis to win the group and move on.

“It was based mainly on what’s going on with our players and also we want to keep some of the consistency of the last camp,” assistant coach Tony Fonseca said of how his team was selected.

Though Iain Hume had to be taken off at last month’s game against Puerto Rico in Toronto, he has been deemed fit to play for his club team at Preston North End since but was left off the roster this time.

While Fonseca made no real reference to Hume’s status with the national team—whether he’s injured or not, he did say they chose the squad they felt was strongest.

“I think we just went with what’s available right now. We thought this was the best roster possible for this series,” he said.

Toronto FC’s Ashtone Morgan is back for his second consecutive camp and he’ll be joined by fellow TFC Academy graduate Matt Stinson who will be making his first appearance in a Canadian senior camp.

“They have proven themselves. They have shown the desire and the passion to play for the Canadian National Team every time they step on the field and it’s what we see,” Fonseca said of the young recruits who could be getting some experience in advance of Olympic qualifying which takes place next March.

Patrice Bernier is also back in the fold, as are Mike Klukowski on defence and Kenny Stamatopoulos in goal. The omitted include Milan Borjan for the second consecutive camp and Terry Dunfield is left off, as is newcomer Joseph Di Chiara, who was in his first camp last month but failed to see any playing time.

Kevin McKenna remains injured and Andre Hainault was not invited into the camp, so it looks as though a centre back pairing composed of David Edgar and Adam Straith could feature for the second month in a row.

The two games take place on Remembrance Day at Warner Park in Basseterre, St. Kitts and then Tuesday, November 15th at BMO Field.

Should Canada get that point, as they’re expected to, they’ll be in a group with Panama, Cuba and Honduras with that round looking like it will get underway in June.

CANADA

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