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Among the talented roster that makes up Canada's squad for the 2011 Gold Cup, Terry Dunfield has stood out as one of the most impressive new additions to team over the last year and a half under Head Coach Stephen Hart. The Vancouver Whitecaps Vice-Captain has not only brought an inspiring two way style of play to the Canadian team, but also an infectious love for the game and a genuine sense of appreciation for the opportunity to wear the Canada jersey while representing his country.
RedNation Online recently had the chance to catch up with Dunfield during Canada's final preparations for the Gold Cup and the Vancouver native offered his candid thoughts on a wide range of topics including the joy of scoring international goals, representing one's country via the national team, playing a physical style against CONCACAF opponents and the state of the Canadian team heading into their opening Gold Cup fixture against the United States.
RedNation Online: After your first goal for Canada on Wednesday against Ecuador, you said after the match that you had been dreaming and waiting for that moment for 29 years and your goal celebration was joyous for yourself, the other players and the Canadian supporters. Are national team goals more special than club goals?
Terry Dunfield: I think any goal is special. As you could see, I was a little bit caught up in the moment and it was just brilliant.
RedNation Online: There has been a lot of discussion over the last few years about national team duty and players that look at it first and foremost as a way to advance their career. Why is wearing the Canada kit important to you?
Terry Dunfield: For me I look at it as playing for your country is the pinnacle of your career. For me representing Canada is an opportunity I would never turn down. I play with a sense of national pride when I'm out there. It's hearing the national anthem and playing with the Maple Leaf on your shirt. Fortunately, every time I have had the chance we have been able to get positive results as well.
RedNation Online: You got a yellow card against Ecuador for a hard challenge and most of your football development was in England, where the style is typically very physical. Against CONCACAF teams is it important to bring that physical component and to make sure that the opposition knows you are there?
Terry Dunfield: Yeah, in a balanced way. Stephen (Hart) and I have spoken that you need to be careful in these CONCACAF competitions. But I definitely play with an edge to my game and, if the ball is there to be won, I'm definitely going for it 100%.
RedNation Online: You are a Vancouver native who has spent the majority of your career playing in England. At the same time, you really come across as the type of Canadian athlete that Canadians generally love in that you are skilled, play both offense and defence, have a real fighting spirit, play with a physical edge and genuinely love playing your sport. Does being Canadian inform who you are as a soccer player?
Terry Dunfield: Yeah, a little bit. I think the way you have phrased the questions maybe sums me up a little bit. I like to defend and, if the opportunity to get forward is there, I will take it. Every time I got out on the pitch I am 100% committed to playing for Canada and hopefully we can have some success through this cycle.
RedNation Online: In watching the training sessions this week there really seems to be a good sense of camaraderie and team spirit. How do you like the character and sense of brotherhood on the team?
Terry Dunfield: That's important on any team - that changing room. At the moment, I think we have the right mix of young players and experienced players. And most importantly we have a lot of talented individuals who can change games on their own, which is so important. A lot of credit has to go to Stephen (Hart) and Tony (Fonseca) and the Canadian coaching staff for building such a deep roster. A squad developing like this doesn't happen overnight. It's years of hard work and hopefully it will come to fruition at the right time.
RedNation Online: The players on the Canadian national team come from across the very large country that is Canada and play club football in leagues all over the world. Is there a distinct Canadian character to this team?
Terry Dunfield: I think in my time the team that you look up to is the 1986 team that qualified for the World Cup. I think at the moment if you look at our results over the past year, this is probably as close as we have been to getting back to that standard. Do we have an image or a particular style yet? I'm not sure, but we are still developing and working on that. And hopefully over the next six months we will be able to see that.
RedNation Online: You have built a career based on your skill and hard work while, at the same time, like all players you are lucky to have the chance to play the beautiful game for a living. And I get the impression that you'd still be playing for free as much as you could even if you hadn't been born with the talent to make it to the professional level. Do you still love the game and competition as much as you did when you were a kid?
Terry Dunfield: I love every minute of it. I had a bad injury and it was taken away from me for a couple of years. During that time you really realize how lucky you are to be a professional soccer player - to go out there and train every day, little things like the togetherness on the bus going to games. It's something that unfortunately won't last forever, but if I can I will probably play until I'm sixty.
RedNation Online: Has playing with the Whitecaps been good preparation for playing with Canada in the CONCACAF region?
Terry Dunfield: I think so. There are a lot of CONCACAFplayers in the MLS, so you get some experience towards that. It's also given the Canadian staff more of an opportunity to watch me than where I was in England. It's been brilliant playing there and it's extra special playing for your hometown club as well.
RedNation Online: What are your thoughts on going up against the United States in the first match of the Gold Cup?
Terry Dunfield: It's going to be a good one for sure. Speaking with Jay DeMerit, who plays with Vancouver as well - we've been back and forth at each other a little bit, so hopefully he will be the one buying me dinner after we win.
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