Sitting in the Armenian Community Centre (yes, the one off the 401 near Victoria Park), amongst friends, I am often asked the age-old footballing question – “Who would you rather see win?”
It’s a question that plays on a supporter’s allegiances. It was a question that came up when my two club teams, Valencia CF and Chelsea FC, were pitted against each other in the Champions League – “Who would you rather…?”
“I’ll pick my favourite when that game happens, if it ever does,” I tell them. “Also when pigs fly.”
Looks like our roasted ham has sprouted wings. Armenia takes on Canada on February 29.
Armenia versus Canada, background versus hometown, a personal dilemma, no doubt. Choosing one means neglecting the other, and that’s just something that you can’t ask a football fan. It’s a game I simply cannot wait to watch, and at the same time, simply cannot bear to view.
Steve Bottjer gave us the Canadian roster in typical fashion on this website of ours, and, against any other opponent, a summary of our home and native land would be sufficient. Fortunately, I stand in a pretty unique position for this friendly, coming from an Armenian family that loves soccer dearly and cannot stand Hockey.
This is a scouting report of the opposition, and before you ask, no, I am not an enemy spy!
Armenia head coach Vardan Minasyan announced his 31- man roster for the game against Canada. Amongst this selection lie five key players that Canada needs to address if they are to come out of Cyprus victorious.
Roman Berezovsky – Goalkeeper
Armenia’s goalkeeper is a bit of a curious case. A solid shot stopper, Berezovsky has been Armenia’s man between the posts for several years now. Berezovsky concedes very few goals –Armenia’s losses are typically low scoring ones, due in part to Berezovsky’s commanding presence in the box.
During the World Cup Qualifying rounds, Canada demonstrated a lack of accuracy around the goal area – beating Berezovsky requires pinpoint accuracy and not just numerous shots on net. Smart offense will prevail for Canada.
Robert Arzumanyan – Centerback
A traditional, six foot centerback in the mold of John Terry or Neven Subotic, Arzumanyan has been a mainstay in the Armenian defense, earning 50 caps and playing through the majority of Armenia’s Euro Cup Qualifying round. A no-nonsense defender, Arzumanyan line-leading leadership and strong standing tackle ability makes him a tough opponent for Canada’s center forwards. He is, however, not exceptionally fast, and if the likes of Tosaint Ricketts can play the offside trap well, Arzumanyan may not be able to keep up.
He is also a goalscoring threat in the area, notching four goals from corner kicks.
Marcos Pizzelli – Central Midfielder
Marcos Pizzelli comes from the warm climate of Brazil, but the Armenian young Armenian international is quickly making a name for himself for a couple clutch performances during the Euro Cup Qualifiers. He has notched five goals in 18 games for Armenia, most of which have come against the run of play, to open the scoring and see the game shift in favour of his side.
Pizzelli is a tricky midfielder, who can get lost for certain stretches, but comes out of nowhere with a killer pass or a decisive tackle. He’ll be the man Julian de Guzman would be marking, which may prove problematic as Pizzelli’s tendency to drift to the left may expose the middle for Canada – definitely one to watch for Les Rouges.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan – Attacking Midfielder/Second Striker
Arguably Armenia’s greatest talent, Henrikh Mkhitaryan is the spark that keeps Armenia going. Plying his trade in Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk, Mkhitaryan, 23, is a long-range goalscorer, free kick specialist and creative talent capable of turning a game on its head.
Mkhitaryan has eight international goals in 27 appearances for Armenia, to go alongside his nine goals in 34 appearances for Shakhtar. He is akin to Canada’s Dwayne De Rosario: a bit selfish at times, but displaying an obvious talent and natural ability along with strong leadership qualities. It’s no surprise that Mkhitaryan is being sniffed at by CSKA Moscow.
Yura Movsisyan – Winger/Forward
A familiar name? You know it! Former Real Salt Lake winger Yura Movsisyan has become Armenia’s newest offensive talent, and with four goals in 11 games, Movsisyan has continually improved since his transfer to FC Krasnodar in Russia. Movsisyan plays on the right or left wing, supplying crosses and cutting in just like he did during his time at RSL.
Movsisyan’s injury issues are now behind him, and, fully fit, he has also become a physical battler against opposition fullbacks, an area of his game that was not quite as sharp during his MLS days. If anyone is going to give Canada’s defenders a headache, it’ll be Yura Movsisyan.
Armenia’s full roster is below:
GK- Roman Berezovsky - Dinamo Moscow
GK- Stepan Ghazaryan - FC Banants
GK- Arsen Petrosyan - FC Pyunik
GK- Grigor Meliksetyan - Paykan FC
D - Sargis Hovsepyan - FC Pyunik
D - Hrayr Mkoyan - PFC Spartak Nalchik
D - Valeri Aleksanyan - Sanat Naft Abadan FC
D - Levon Hayrapetyan - Lechia Gdańsk
D - Robert Arzumanyan - Jagiellonia Białystok
D - Artak Edigaryan - FC Pyunik
D - Arthur Yuspashyan - FC Pyunik
D - Varazdat Haroyan - FC Pyunik
M - Hovhannes Hambardzumyan - FC Banants
M - Andranik Voskanyan - FC Mika
M - Gagik Daghbashyan - FC Banants
M - Arthur Yedigaryan - FC Banants
M - Karlen Mkrtchyan - FC Metalurh Donetsk
M - Gevorg Ghazaryan - FC Metalurh Donetsk
M - Marcos Pizzelli - FC Kuban
M - Henrikh Mkhitaryan - FC Shakhtar Donetsk
M - Zaven Badoyan - FC BATE Borisov
M - Edgar Malakyan - FC Pyunik
M - David Manoyan - FC Pyunik
M - Kamo Hovhannisyan - FC Pyunik
M - Valter Poghosyan - FC Banants
M - Masis Voskanyan - KSV Roeselare
F - Aras Özbiliz - Ajax
F - Yura Movsisyan - FC Krasnodar
F - Artur Sarkisov - FC Shinnik Yaroslavl
F - Norair Mamedov - FC Zwolle
F - Hovhannes Hovhannisyan - FC Pyunik
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