Don't blame Dale Mitchell for Canada's woes

The CSA needs to hire a Technical Director who will improve basic ball handling skills early on for all Canadian Club players, our 'first touch' is terrible compared to the level of other teams!

The coach is responsible for team tactics but not covering both posts on corners etc is up to the players once they are on the field!

I am afraid for the mens national team now that Dale is due to take over.

I hadn't seen Canada play any matches in the lead-up to the U-20. Before the tournament started the analysts were calling for Canada to at least get out of the round-robin. From the two games so far I have been blown away by how poorly Canada is playing. Our inability to pass the ball is astounding to me. I can only hope that Canada's enthusiasm does not wane for the beautiful game based on our play in this tournament. It should drive us harder and make us realise that as far as we've come, there is still a very long way to go.

Craig, this is an absolute piece of garbage. I can't believe they let you print this rag of an article.

Yes our player quality was terrible but our tactics were equally brutal. What other country in the world would allow a coach to bomb the U-20 WC and then take over as national coach?

Mitchell has had two years to prep this team in a program he is highly familiar with. For you to put all the blame on our players and none on the coach is shameful and dishonest.

If you can't blame the coach, who do you blame? In a related article, reference was made to the Canadians' inability to pass from A to B. Is that not a coach's business?
There seems to be no heart in this team, no skill, no technical ability with the ball. And the desperate attempts at long passes to the front instead of building up patiently is the most frustrating part of all. If this isn't about coaching, I don't know what is.

Canadian soccer is just fine.
There are a million people playing soccer for fun in Canada. Putting children into training gulags so we can puff out our chests with national pride is asinine.

The problem is our players. We need to replace the whole midfield and all of our forwards. Two shots on goal after 189 minutes playing time is just embarrising. The lads up front are basically useless. Is there intent to try and run the ball over the line? Seriously can no one take a shot? I was so upset watching their second performance against Austria! The Austrian team were rubbish and we still lost! We were out gunned by Chile and I thought the score line was to be expected apart from our once again lack of shots! At least Chile was shooting from the first whistle! Even from close to the half way line. It did not really matter how accurate they were to begin, their team had heard correctly somewhere that in order to score you have to shoot the ball! This is pee wee league stuff and our pirde and joy under twenty team some how have ignored this basic rule of soccer!

After watching Canada at the U-20 I say lets just stick to hockey.

Quote: "Canadian soccer is just fine.
There are a million people playing soccer for fun in Canada. Putting children into training gulags so we can puff out our chests with national pride is asinine. :"

By no means is training soccer players lead to some kind of a gulag as you are suggesting. There is a place for people who want a light, fun, experience mainly for the exercise. It's called recreational non-competitive soccer.

For people who are interested in being competitive we need good training. Players are putting in the effort right now but we are being failed by the CSA.

Craig, come on, what pressure r u talking about no one was there in Edmonton it was empty...and don't talk about a pressure against Austria the worst team in Europe and the qualified here juste because the real european team put more focus on youth under 21. Craig don't try to be nice...and about Mitchel u r right he is not to blame...in my opinion those guys even the seniors ones should participate in the world cup for women in 2011 and for sure it's not guaranteed they would win.

The CSA is totaly accountable for our loses and everything that is bad about the level of our canadian natonal team, they are 100% money driven or just dont know anything about soccer, its so embarrasing when I go to local terrains and see the amount of talent we have in this country, but the CSA realy makes no effort whatsoever to improve the situation.
Its really embarrasing because we have the potential to be a great nation at the world greatest sport.

I listen to Craig on the soccer game; your comments are so simple they don't add any value to the game - you made a comment like referees no make call if player shows sympathy to the player he tackled, that is silly - many years in European soccer and this is not true; don't be so sympathy to Canada team, they have no pressue, big teams like Brazil do; please no more commentary from you.

A) It wasn't empty in Edmonton, but it sure looked that way. Horrible venue for the game, and the real reason why, despite the amazing success of the U20 here, we'd never even get a thought as far as hosting a World Cup. Our venues just aren't up to snuff.

B) Hard to fault a NATIONAL coach for players not linking up, passing, etc. He maybe could have moved to substitute earlier, but how much time do you really think he spends with these guys? Look in a program and you'll notice they play all over the place.

Which brings us to...

C) The fault really lies in coaching at the youth level. There is a complete misperception about how to play the game here and too many practices which begin and end in a shooting line. Coaches here still fight to keep players back on their team rather than promote them forward onto better teams. Could you even imagine this happening in another successful soccer country? It would be like a minnow from the English Championship telling one of their players that they will, in fact, not be allowed to move to Man Utd or Arsenal, etc, to further their playing career. And yet, you see it all the time here in Canada. Until any of that starts to change, and until a bit of money is actually put into our national program and our youth programs, don't expect much.

And while I'm at it...

D) The commentary throughout has been horrible. In the first Canadian game, one that I listened to on CBC Radio, the gripe of the people calling the match was that "Canada's strikers have got to put the ball in the net". Of course, what they didn't say, most likely because they have no clue about the game, is that the service that was being provided them was some of the worst I'd ever seen. What do you want them to do when through balls are ten yards closer to the defenders than to them? And for the TV crew, please, stop babying the U20 squad and call terrible play terrible play. At the very least so that kids at home understand how to play the game the right way.

It is still the same thing in picking players,its not what you can do,its who you know.

"Canadian soccer is just fine.
There are a million people playing soccer for fun in Canada" is no doubt a common attitude. There may also be a million people playing music (or hockey)for fun; but any child with exceptional talent must have this developed between ages of 6 - 12; to expect boys playing "soccer" for fun in a non-football culture to turn into adult footballers ( as in Federation of International FOOTBALL Associations)is as unrealistic as expecting that little Johnny doodling a few pop chords on his guitar will develop into a music virtuoso.

I love soccer or football and I watched the game Canada vs Chile; it is my opinion that the way Canada played in that game is the entire responsibility of the coach. I am certain the players can be positioned differently and no else can be blamed when Canada would only send the ball in the air, that is not soccer at the U-20 level. I hope we are to get a coach that would manage better.

Canada's performance in the world's U-20 soccer tournament held in homeland Canada has proven this country's deteriorating stance vis � vis professional soccer. Well, in my honest opinion I'll not blame coach Mitchell for the two consecutive losses that Canada's U-20 team has faced in this tournament. One thing is clear in every sport game, there must be a winner and a looser. It is somehow inimpressive for Canada as a host nation to not have a single goal since the debut of the tournament. And the most frustrating thing here is that Canada has only had two shots on goal in the two previous matches held in Toronto and Edmonton.

Meanwhile, for Canada to join the bandwagon of teams heading to the second rounds of this tournament may seem almost impossible. Beating an African team (Congo) with no less than two goals would definitely reserve a place for Canada in FIFA's history.

A few comments on the team and also on some of the comments that have been made.
First of all....this is competitive soccer....this means we need to give it our all to win....do what we have to do to pull out a victory...to say that since lots of people are playing in Canada that soccer is fine is ridiculous and goes back to the reason we never get anywhere...because most in this country are fine with "participaction"....garbage....we need to develop players with a competitive edge...participation is not EVERYTHING!! Have some pride in winning, it's not wrong to want to win everytime you step on the field.

I agree with many of the posts....Canada's first touch, ball handling skill...and especially one touch passing is simply brutal. I expected better. Mainly because many of the players on the team are playing over in Europe and in the MLS....this would seem to indicate most of these players would be comfortable with the ball and taking someone on one Vs. one, but it seems as though that is not the case.

I completely disagree with Craig Forest that we should go for the long ball to try and salvage something out of this tournament. This is what we always do...and why we never get anywhere...no other good team does this. How do you build a team and players...you emulate teams that are better than you, you DON"T stick to what you know and know doesnt work!

I also disagree that it is not Dale Mitchells fault. When players have the ball and there is no one making a run to help him or give him an option, except taking two or three guys on, that is the coaches fault. Everytime any of the wingers get the ball..there is no one within 20 meters of him, and no way of giving any quick give and go passes, which is how all the good teams play. Players seem to run away from the guy with the ball on Canada.

General technical ability. It is simply bad. Guys like Johnson, lombardo, ricketts seem to be unable to come up with a good first touch or win 50/50 balls....they do not know how to shield the ball...and never ever are able to turn and go at a player. All our players lose the ball when they don't get rid of it right off. Basically at that level, if you have the ball...the defender should not be able to take that ball off you. You should be able to shield the ball from the defender. How come the Canadians cannot do this? They play over in Europe with all these other players....who know how...why haven't they learned??

Atleast try and take players on. Dis-regarding the general bad first touch of basically everyone, some of the players do have decent one Vs. one moves...they just won't use them. It's like they are afraid of taking a player on....watch the other teams...when there is only one defender guys are always taking defenders on. We need to get some confidence and take some players on...atleast try and create some chances. I wanna see us have some scoring opportunities...even if at this point that means pushign a guy or two more up and giving the other team more opportunities also!! Makes a much more interesting game for everyone.

There is no excuse for how our Canadian team has played, it is embarrasing to watch, sure, Dale Mitchell should take some of the blame, but aside from the lack of technical ability in our players, where is the passion? where is the heart? These players should be playing the game of their lives, but watching them on the game against Austria, if one thing was missing was urgency and heart.
Shame of them, they should learn from the two korean teams, who play with more heart than any other team.

Canada's U20 team technical skills are way behind compare to others team. They can't handle the ball probably, they can't pass accurately, and they are not strong with the ball. Is also embarrassing to see them commit so much stupid fouls when chasing the ball around. Hopefully thie embarrasment through this tournament will motivate Canada and the CSA to put more funding and training for our team.

Mitchell doesn't motivate his players. Did he ever yell, "Push up, push forward," when they were behind? Nope. Does he change tactics, like three strikers or 5 across midfield?? Uhhh, nope, no.

The plaers have been very timid and look at all the groups the teams playing timid are winless, those that push forward and attack with gusto are playing for positions in round 2.

Mitchell is too laid back. The team needs a real butt-kicker on the field to overcome that major deficiency but either we don't have one or Mitchell doesn't like those type of players or, most likely, he does his best to get that kind of attitude out of his team. The team can rise to the challlenge but Mitchell could do so much more.

I think we should not be too critical of the coach, Mr Mitchell, nor the players. As a 30 yr old Canadian of European decent, I can pinpoint the root of our problems: inexistent scouting and missing talent development infrastructure.

Having had the privilege of sharing a striker�s spot with players better then those fielded by this Team Canada, players faster and technically more able on such a field and whom, some, made it to Europe, I only have a question: how come they never made it here? How come even the US sets millions aside for scouting, scouting and scouting, then books selection camps with two way tickets paid? Simple answer: money and ambition.

Even a poor European club's team can assert that its nation's players must be the result of picking amongst thousands... Brazil... what... 10000 scouted players for every major selection?

So what we need is a management with vision, money well spent, and the clairvoyance to understand that we do have talent, better then what we fielded, let's create a soccer team. I can name a dozen Countries, well above Canada in rankings, with only a fraction of Canada�s registered players... But with a disproportionate amount of its smaller numbers in junior soccer schools and camps...

I want to be able to go pick that 16 yrs old I saw a few days ago in Montreal, that has healthy knees, that can dribble and sprint a field in less then 10 seconds in late second half, give him travel money and tickets, maybe a scholarship, and send him to Edmonton and Toronto. Gentlemen, it�s not the players, nor the coach, it's all the rest of us and how we translate talent into success... Give us the resources, and we shall give you a soccer legacy�

regards

cr

Mitchell picked the best young players available to him and you can't beat skillful teams with unskilled players, regardless of a coach's strategy. The players here are simply not good enough at the basic skills of the game. Fitness is simply not enough to close the gap, as all football players at this level are fit.

Canada's players against Chile and Austria simply could not trap, pass or shoot the ball well enough to compete with the opposition and will never be able to do so until kids play soccer in the street as often and with the same interest as they play street or shinny hockey.
Neither Pele not Cryuff became world class players because they got to play with good professional clubs; they got to play with good professionals because they were already good and they learned their skills at an early age in the streets of their home town.
Street football is simply not as big a part of our culture, as it is in the culture of Brazil or most of Europe.

Good point Craig. Canadian players are not quite there yet. But they are not embrassed by the teams they have played. Canadian males have not taken to soccer the way Canadian women have. I like the Dutch system and think our developmental program could benefit from that quarter rather than the predominate English influence that is part of Canadian soccer. The kick and chase only goes so far.

'Don't blame Dale Mitchell for Canada's woes ' WHY NOT CRAIG BABY !?
1- He chose the players;
2- He chose the strategy to be adopted by the players;
3- He chose the words to motivate his players to compete.
He failed ... thats all !
Congo will complete the soccer lessons - so our boys will be able to further their learning by watching it on the CBC like good Canadians we are ...
We Canadians are starving for a competitive soccer team on the world scene !

By the way, KUDOS do the CBC for a wonderfull work on the FIFA U20.
Gerard (ALLEZ LES BLEUS !)

The performances have been scandalous from the canadians. There has been no creativity whatsoever and successful teams need creativity and not only fitness. We train our soccer players as if they were competing in track and fields. it's not all about the ability to run 90 minutes but the combination with technical ability that makes a football team good. I gotta say i've been disappointed with Jamie peters in particular as i thought he'd have run riot over the very average austrians. The Chileans were simply too good so no complains there.

Football should be competitive and as long as people see it as only "fun" and not competition we aren't going anywhere. Congo is not gonna be easy and i think not qualifying to the round of 16 would be a good thing for canadians because it might be the motivation for Canada's football authorities to become serious about things. Long ball football doesn't yield results.

There is no buildup to the Canadian offence. The better teams show patience in moving the ball forward. The defence and midfielders move the ball from side to side as they gradually move over the centre line, while looking for a forward to break into the clear to receive a pass for a shot on goal. The Canadian defence and midfielders usually try long forward passes in the hope of conecting with a breaking forward and then a shot on goal. These are easy plays to break up.

Contrast Canada's play in the tournament with the USA's. The US team seem to play a more inspired, creative, and controlled game than we do. Is it just that they have one or two attacking forwards more than us or is it something else? Player development, I would guess. They must have started from a similar point as us in that soccer is not the number one game down there either but when you look at the results, they clearly are doing something better than we are. I wish things could be different. Perhaps it is time for a new direction.

BIGGEST problem with Canadian soccer, is the fact that a player can choose to play for either his father's or mother's homeland. With that type of choice, who in the right mind would want to play for Canada !! Let's see, would I rather play for Italy, England, Mexico, Brazil, France, Portugal, Spain, Ghana, Germany, Greece ..... (or any other higher ranked FIFA team) or Canada? Let's see, would I prefer to (regularly) play in the World Cup or the Gold Cup? I am not saying there are not other issues at play but as long as players have this option, Canada soccer is doomed to FAIL : (

I think soccer is such a great game around the world but it doesn't get the right attention in Canada and the US, just look at how empty the stands are even when Canada is playing. The world is watching all of this. Canada could do a lot better, they got the talent

The problem is the Canadian players are not good enough to play at this level and are only doing so because, FIFA gave Canada the competition. So when they are matched with what are in effect some mediocre teams (Austria!!) there is a moment of truth. And the truth is that they are not good enough.

I am a big soccer fan and so am enjoying the games that are being aired. I think it is wonderful that such an important competition is being played here in Canada. My biggest disappointment is that the score is not shown in the top corner, as it is in most other games throughout the world - Europe, South America etc., as well the commentators don't make mention of what the scores are so you have to sit there and wait for the one time per half when the score is flashed on the bottom for a few seconds. I think I am like most people and like to be able to glance up in the corner and check the score if I have had to leave the room for any length of time (such as walking the dog). Other than that CBC is doing a simply wonderful job and I hope that there will be more games on in the future. Keep up the good work. Mary

The Canadian team is really really bad, the Austrians were bad but Canada really sucked, no technique, slow, mistakes, no clear idea, terrible. Half empty stadium and a boring game. Instead my beloved Mexican team, taught Portugal how to play at the same time. I was stucck in the bar watching the sad reality of Canada. Import some players.

Canada no longer there? Not even the Netherlands who just won the U21 in Holland. Canada presented the most rediculous team ever without any cohesion, strategy or like it seemed ever practised together.

Canadian soccer is not only a Canadian embassassment, but a global one. Why do Canadian people tolerate so many years of loosing from loosers? It's such a scam. Canadians need to throw out and fire each any every person getting a paycheck at the CSA, right down to the last administrative assistant. You all should be fired! You people are a disgrace--and as for you Craig F. , for all I'm concerned you can take a hike too!

Team Canada has relied too much on key players, such as Peters, honestly, he squandered much too many good chances in the past 2 games. Passing had been poor, too much individual efforts, failed to one-time the ball, if they could play more like a team-work, pass the ball to the player who has a better chance than himself, may be Canada could score a goal or two in the last group match today.

You cannot take the responsibility off the coach by slashing the players. Many people are mentioning the lack of technical ability, but countries like Germany have been winning forever with persistent hard work and proper mentality, without much technical ability. The coach is responsible for motivating the players and making the best with what he has, and frankly I don't think he has the best. It is not that much that the kids don't have the skills, it's more like they don't have the confidence to display them, which again is for the coach to work on.

I really believe that after this exciting world cup, the Canadian soccer association will have to realize that to play a competitive game, it isnt just picking young players ( WITH " OK " GAME !!!!! ) and put them on the field..........and hope for miracles!!!!!!!! Well, honestly, there is no miracle when you are not trained properly for this type of tournament..........All these teams, even if some do not show a great play, are ready to COMPETE !!!!!!! or at least trying............and the big soccer nations came with a WINNING attitude.....In any sports, even if you have fun..., YOU MUST show your WINNING SPIRIT...!!!!!! It does all come back to train and help all the soccer clubs in Canada, and to be able to discover some young players with something special......Which I am sure there is lots of talent in these clubs.......but nobody take the time to discover these kids...........
Coming from France, I remember when I was 7/8 years old, there was always some recruiters watching games on the week end to see if they could find some kids with EXTRA touch to bring them to some soccer scouting...............THAT WOULD BE A GREAT START IN CANADA..!!!!!!!!

Don t blame anybody else than the ASSOCIATION....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You want a soccer nation, well put the ressources to create one..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and just accept the reality of a WORLD CUP.

I would like to say thank you to all these young Canadians players and PLEASE, show at least some passion for the game.........................and hopefuly, you will remember the experience!!!!!!

Daniel............

Dear Craig: you have deservedly established yourself as the leading soccer commentator in Canada; however, you now have to maintain journalistic cedibility. It is morally creditable to support your pal Dale Mitchell with a puff piece, but it untenable journalism. Mr. Mitchell is, I am sure, a fine human being: he is, however, a very un-fine soccer coach, and your column merely puts lipstick on the pig.
Leave aside Mr. Michell's weak playing career in world terms (leagues below your own admirable one, for instance.) Leave aside his lack of international coaching credential. I have overheard chldren mocking his coaching, and well-intentioned adult observers are not critical so much as flabergasted my the utter lack of coaching nous painfully evident in the two matches so far. You know as well as anyone, and better than most, that his team is incoherent. If,a s you say, his players are inept relative to the world, then Mr. Mitchell needs must deploy them in an aggressive straightforward system. Not done. For my part, I give Canadian players more credit than you. Numez, Ayre and the overlooked Jakob Lensky are midfield players who could play, if not to quite the same level, at least to the same type of soccer as the world is now playing.
Clearly, Mr. Mitchell sees finesse, delicacy, and sophistication with the ball as an English coach from the 1970s would -- 'foreign' and therefore the enemy of 'true' football. Everyone can see how the naif Mr. Mitchell is in over his head. You as a journalist must have the courage to state the obvious, personal interests aside.

Well you are right there's not much Mitchell can do now.

However, I don't think an aerial game will make a difference, because when Canada does it, they lose possession almost every time. In the Chilean game they did it all first half (against the wind!) and it was a disaster. It's troubling that the coaching staff stuck with it all first half, against the wind, the ball barely reaching the halfway line, when after about the fourth time it was obvious all it did was pat Chile on the back and hand them ball. In the Austria game they did it less, thankfully, because it didn't work any better.

Why? They don't get to the ball ... and even when they do, they don't seem to have the aerial ability to control it.

What I would like to see is a player receive a pass in the midfield and make some moves. Run with the ball. Just once! That's exciting ... Sadly, Canada has no one who will even try it? Can do it?? Who knows why ....

Well having just read most of this blog to date and just watched the USA v's Brazil game at Frank Clair Stadium I have a few comments to make. Firstly Canada's lack lustre efforts thus far, come as no real suprise watching the Canadians against Austria they lack direction. I think individually they are good soccer players but have no cohesion as a team during the last ten minutes against Austria the Austrians had shut up shop and had decided to defend for the remainder of the game I noticed Canada had four defenders in their own half marking 1 Austrian forward..... there is one of the problems which has to be the sole responsibility of the coaches lack of vision and direction, so simple what is there to lose at this point push everyone forward, mind boggling... so coach it's down to you....

Secondly, the issue of half empty stadia is down to the organisers and fifa, fifa should never of allowed games to be played in these antiquated stadiums they are a disaster waiting to happen. I was at Frank Clair stadium last night 26,500, fans amazing... problem was rowdy fans throwing bottles and beer and not a steward in sight, these things should not be happening with so many children at the game, security should be much better and needs to be. In additon the 26,000 people leaving the stadium where faced with a blockade 20+ buses parked end to end giving fans no way out and forcing us into a bottle neck, mind boggling, very frustrating and scary, I will not take my wife and kid there again.

All in all, I'm enjoying the tournament from a TV viewing point, but I can't see Canada getting this tournament again unless they improve on stadia.

soccer still isn't here yet. I see kids fundraising at my local grocery store and when i ask them if they are watching Canada play most of them don't even know the game is on. Most of the parents of kids I coached only want the kids to have "fun" and because the game is played during the best weather it ruins their trips to the cottage, beach and upsets their barbeque time. Rep teams in Nova Scotia are set in stone June 30th and if a kid doesn't perform the coach is stuck with him. Meanwhile kids in house league soccer are rarely even looked at for development. I had several kids who could easily have moved on to these rep teams but I was never consulted once in over twenty-five years of coaching on the abilities of these kids. Don't blame Dale don't blame his players blame a system throughout the country that isn't developing enough high quality talent.

Oops, I saw a comment that no one attended the Canada-Austria game in Edmonton. There were actually 31,000 tickets sold for that one - my group had six of them. Unfortunately, the poor organization at the stadium meant the place was mostly empty for the start of the game while thousands were lined up trying to get in. I was not late - I would have been in my seats at the opening whistle had it been organized like an Eskimos game. Instead I stood in line until the first half was already over, and then only got in because they relaxed the rules at the gates and let people in with a purchase confirmation number. Who knows, maybe if all 31,000 who paid were actually allowed to enter on time maybe the support of the crowd could have got the team off to a better start. And if the place looked half empty even at the end of the night, that's because it probably was - the place holds almost 60,000 people, and I'm sure half of the 31,000 who had tickets eventually gave up trying to get in and went home. In any event, its not right to cast Edmontonians in a poor light - we were there to support our team (and others), they just wouldn't let us in.

For all the people dissin' the Canadian coaching, organization, and players...what did you really expect? Just because we are fortunate enough to host such a great event, does not make us instant contenders. Do you think the Italian Olympic Committee fired all of their hockey management just because they didn't do very well at the Torino Olympics? It's not their game, and football is not yet ours.

For myself, I attend the games to watch great football. As far as the home side is concerned, I'll cheer them on and appreciate a good effort put forward. I'll happily watch games like Canada-Austria because I know I also get to watch Mexico-Portugal. They won't all be classics, but they are all here on our home soil for us to enjoy. Quit complaining and get out and have fun while you can!

First of all, there is a giant problem in who is selected at the higher levels, I have seen this in person over and over, the really technical kids somehow do not get selected over and over and over. So their parents send them to Chile, Europe ect. Dale Mitchell is to blame, there needs to be some tactical accountability, becuse they did play well in some warm up games. I feel the players are just holding the balll too long not because they don't have passion or skill but because they are freaking out, and not trusting teamates, and perhaps that is because a culture has not been worked upon enough by the coaching staff, one that gells the boys together. Also fitness seems to be a slight issue, who is to be accountable for that??? Now other teams are in as much of a shambles. Please, Brazil, whtat a disaster of complacency and ego. Scotland, mental breakdowns all over the park. I will say this, the senior side looks really, really modern. Compact, great ball movement, attacking flare. Maybe the U-20's can learn from the Gold Cup performance of the senior squad. I want them to play a great game tomorrow...miracles can happen! But also Mitchell needs to for the 90 minutes!

Ah .. So its not the coach's fault ?

He has choosen a group of players with no heart...and what did he do after the loss in Edmonton with then to put some heart into the team .. Craig... go ahead bring him on the tv tomorrow ask...Dale did he take his charges to Trenton to watch the cassions coming home ?

Did he put his charges through a brutal practice ?

Go ahead ...ask... geez Craig the only time you said anything to comment on the performance was when the brit annoucer could not hold back his disgust...at the lack of anything from the team.

Dale Mitchell has failed ..he needs to be fired.

Players, Coach, Society.

It's all of the above. Canada is so obsesed with Hockey that most other sports are virtually ignored. Lack of money. Lack of Talent, Lack of competition, Lack of vision. We are lacking!

As far as this tournamnet, It's been an embarrassing performance by Canada to say the least. Players, Coaches, Management. Brutal! I play drop in soccer twice a week, and I swear that we are making better and smarter plays than this team has. Many of us haven't played organized soccer in many years, and seem to have skills not that far off many on this national team. I personally haven't played in a league for about 25 years, and I swear I can take a better corner, make a better pass, or send in a better cross than most on this Canadian team have done. Not that I'm all that good. Yeah, let's send in another few dozen long balls and hope for the best. Good idea!

I have to say that I never saw this group playing, and like many, I 've heard analysts (well Craig) say that they had a good chance of getting out of the group, but after the two games I saw, I was so embarrassed. Like GUY in Mtl said I think Canadians should just stick to hockey and be a one-sport country. The only thing is no one cares about hockey outside of Canada and northern USA. Not even in Europe (If you have to sell your salad, you have to do it on the biggest stage). As a football player myself, I saw two major weaknesses in that team. The mid-field, specially the two centre mid-field. Johnson and Bourgeault were brutal, they did not create anything. People who know football know that you win and lose in the mid-field. Only Nunez showed me something, but way too little. And the second weakness is the movement without the ball. That's why when the Canadians had the ball you feel like the other team had more than 11 players on the field. I lay all this on the coach's lap because a coach should be able to identify his team's weaknesses. we know they are not technically as good as others, but teams like Poland was able to beat Brazil despite being technically inferior.

Our Canadian team seems to suffer from a number of problems. They don't change strategy or tactics. For example, if a short passing game is not working they won't switch to playing long ball. They also don't have that killer instinct inside the 18 yard box. And they don't seem passionate or motivated. Why does there always seem to be such a disparity between what the men's senior or U20 teams do in exhibition and run-up games to those they play in actual completion?

It has been already said throughout these posts the fault strictly lies with the CSA all the way down to the development of the youth level in Canada. There is no emphasis to develop players in this country, we have coaches in the system that are not trained as soccer coaches, they are given a clipboard and asked to coach a bunch of kids. How do they expect kids to learn?

If a youth player does emerge and has some decent skill and talent, that player usually has really no option as they get older but to either suck it up and play with players inferior to their ability or to quit (it is very rare that player will become great unless they leave Canada).

Canada when they play, lack the simple fundamentals of the game, passing and ball control. If you watch all other countries play it is a natural part of there game (sadly to say USA included). These two fundamentals is what needs to be taught on a weekly basis at the youth level and just not shooting drills.

Until CSA can instill proper development techniques for the youth game, Canadian soccer will suffer forever, which is a shame because with a population of 30 Million you think we could field a top caliber team of 11 highly skilled players to play for this country.

Edmonton had a very good turn out for the game against Austria - more than 31,000. There was just a problem with enough staff to distribute the tickets that were picked up at the door (I missed most the first half!). Edmonton is a great sports city, so comments to the contrary cited above are clearly based on ignorance.

Regarding the game, yes the Canadians did seem to struggle at times with basic skills, BUT in general they did outwork and outchance Austria... a fair outcome would have been a 1-1 tie. It is too easy to sit back and criticize our Canadian boys; at least give them CREDIT and RESPECT for a very good effort (esp, compared to the Chile game) and for beginning the process of attaining world-class experience.

We can discuss a longer-term plan for improving our training programs later.

okay, enough slagging off on the CSA, the players and the coaches... the irony of these postings and the results so far in this tournament is the lack of acknowledgment that our senior men's team played the best I have ever seen them play in the recent Gold Cup. All the qualities that the U20 team so clearly lack were on fine display by the senior players. So the question becomes how could we have played so well at the senior level and so poorly at the U20 level??? Not sure if there is a easy answer to that point but the fact remains that our senior men's team looks very competitive in CONCACAF at this point and we can all take pride in that.

Canada needs to figure out if it is going to pla "kick and run" English style or "control and build up" South American style. Pick one and do it really really well. I have watched Canada play soccer at the international level off and on for ten years and this seems to be the problem. Therefore it is the coach and CSA problem. The players are talented but no one can play two systems at the same time. Way too many giveaways, way too many short passes that get them no where, way too much confusion due to a confused system trying to be everything at once. Successful national teams in soccer, basketball, and hockey pick one system and totally develop and enhance it. Ask Gretzky with Team Canada hockey or the US Olympic Basketball team or ... here's a thought... look at the success of the FIFA U-20 teams like Japan. New to soccer but man they have a system of their own and they produce.

It is very simple. Do you ever wonder why most World Cup champions have been Latin teams (i.e. France, Brazil, Italy, Argentina and Uruguay?)? The same can be said about the youth championships. Well, the reason is plain and simple: PASSION. If you have highly skilled, talented, strong players but you they don't have passion for the game, you won't see them winning the football match. I am afraid that these Canadian players do NOT have enough passion within them to go for the win, to improvise an create chances, to -using the cliche- play the beautiful game beautifully. The coach knew them all, but he chose this lot.
Then again, it just may be that Canadians are not passionate enough and then this may be a waste of time.

My 19 year old son has played with Kent O'Conner over the years and wonders how he got onto the metro team then. Fortunately, he has had 2 yellow cards and will not be able to join the team during what will no doubt be another fiasco. As with most things it is who you know that helps more than your work effort or skills!

Gee, sounds like Craig Forrest thinks a coach can't have an effect on the outcome of a game once the team takes the field...that there's no way for a coach to inspire his players through words or to change a team's attitude through the players he puts on the pitch to start (and in substitutions).

So would a monkey or pylon do just as well as head coach right now?

Craig you are totally wrong. In a country full of immigrants from soccer playing countries we continue to hire coaches from good old north america. Dale clearly does not have the credentials to coach internationally. When will we wake up and hire an italian, dutch, brazilian, german ....Canadian citizen who played and coached in the big time soccer world.

I have supported CDN soccer since I was a youngster, growing up in Canada it was always a concern of mine that many of our home games were similar to away games. Our "Canadian" spectators rarely had a CDN flag in their hand. If you want CDN to move forward in soccer support them, leave your Scottish, Jamaican, Portugal, Italy, etc flag at home when Canada plays. In the ice arena you only see CDN flags, that is the way it should be at the stadium. Show the kids you are behind them......as well, who's idea was it to play a game at 5:30 in Edmonton against Austria. The stadium was dead.....where is the passion, I felt sorry for the CDN kids...my goodness, it was weak.
Let's also support the Women.....ranked in the top 10 in the world!!!...shame on the CSA not to give them more money

Gentlemen,

I am not entirely sure that criticism of any particular playing style, or coach, or players, is conducive to any solution for any team Canada. I can guarantee you one thing: if you draft players spending 30 to 40 % of their soccer time indoors, we could only have �one touch� ball passers incompatible with the possession and tempo requirements for a large field. Questionable skills are acquired, and very hard to undo.

The path to any solution is the opposite to what has been suggested: we select a coach with soccer experience (e.g. Mr. Mitchell has) and we provide him support: nationwide scouting, recruiting and selection of players that fill in his vision and strategy. We can't teach soccer situational awareness (the ability to know where your team mates / opponents / ball will be next without necessarily seeing them) to a player who does not have it by 20. We cannot teach a midfield how to be offensive, or defensive, if he does not know it by 20. Americans pulled it in 94 but that was then. Presently, fresh young teams as that one would almost never make it to the WC. In fact, none of the teaching solutions advocated on this forum can be transplanted to our current players. These are lifelong learned skills, not boot-camping them into soldiers.

So the obvious answer is to go out, create regional selection centers, one per province, invest in children�s soccer schools, invest in medical insurance for soccer players, minimize the horrible effects of indoor soccer injuries by building large capacity indoor fields, and so on and so forth. But before we even get to the money issue, I can say one thing: we do not even start with scouting. Brazil is a typical country that was very poor and had almost no infrastructure. But what it has had since the 50s was an amazing scouting system. As Brazil is improving its economy, and as there is less and less street soccer, watch out, Brazil will begin loosing world-ranking spots when transferring to institutional soccer (e.g. Italy, Germany, Netherlands). Question gentlemen, our version of Freddy Adu in a local league, how will you convince him to give up his $ 30 000/year job and play for next to nothing, no prospects, and be on the road with few prospects and almost no sports injury medical coverage? These �what if?� young Canadians, irrespective of origin, do not have the money, means, or path to make their faces shown to any Canadian coach, and so forth�.

We, as Canadians, have no excuse, as presently, we know how to scout and recruit for football, hockey and baseball, but do not apply the same effort and resources to our soccer� So softening the criticism against coach and players, and, focusing instead, on the root problems might result in tangible solutions and recommendation to the Canadian Soccer Federation. The path to a soccer tradition in Canada is long, and it has not yet begun.

cr

Well this is my second post and I wish to address a couple of things. First off Im tired of people refering to the old 'kick and run' style soccer as the English style! An acccurate description of the first division football back in the 70's in Britain but man welcome the the new millenium! The EPL is the most exciting talanted league in the world right now! Whoever refers to 'boot it up the field and chase it' as English style soccer must older than Dick Howard, and to use Dick's own favourite phrase, does not have the 'intestinal fortitude' to move on with the times!

Our U20 team are just not there! helping Austrian players with their cramp and wasting time on field, a goal down with 15 mins to go says it all! There is no competetive spirit in the lads. Yes we may be sub standard to the rest of the world in technical skill! Indeed we are, but no one can stop us from playing with heart! That is something that our lads could have given us freely and so far have just not bothered!
I am a Canadian from N. Ireland and the N. Irish team in the last year or so with our sorry individual skills defeated England 1:0, they defeated Spain 3:2 and they defeated Sweden 2:1. Al three teams were defeated by an inferior team with much less technical ability and who operate with a shoe string budget! How did the Irish defeat these 3 giants? They played with all their heart! At present they sit top of their group and in a good position for the Euros! They also had a great coach! There is much room for improvement and today we can at least play with a bit of Canadian pride if nothing else! I hope some of our young lads read this scathing blog site and go into the game with heart!

As much as we are being critical of our U20 team we love our nation and want them to be the best that they can be! I know our boys have not given their best and thats why we as bloggers are so disappointed! Also fire the coach and get a new one! The guy seems to be unable to even motivate his lads to try, all other skills aside.

I honestly believe these young men on Canada's U 20 did their best.
The unfortunate part is as a nation we cannot compete efficiently at this level, at least in men's soccer.
Lack of good coaching, technical direction and learning at an early age along with poor individual technical skills displayed on the field contributed to this.
The players and coach are all products of what we ( and the CSA) produce in our soccer program. We need to revise and restructure from the grassroots if we want to learn anything from this exercise. Listen to Lenarduzzi and Howard they know where the problem lies.
As for the players with dual nationality opting out to play for that country, you need to look at the CSA selection process and why so many of these young men are being passed over. If they are talented enough to play for that country and can be spotted then we clearly need to start asking tough ? on why they were not good enough to play for Canada.

You'r absolutely right Craig. The team lacks leadership and technical ability. Don't both fall on the coaches shoulder?
Dale was a fair player in his day but I'm affraid he's over his head @ this level, never mind as head coach of the MNT.

Whatever the failueres and disapointments with the boys in the national u20 team, it is a good sign that there is passion out there with the reams and reams of comments on this simple story. If the passion is there, and the support is therer, the results will come. We only this year got a proper national stadium, and from the example of TFC we should no longer be the away team while playing at home. Once the fans and support are there, and based on the fine showing of the senior team at gold cup (beating some perennial WC qaulifying headaches in the process) a berth for south africa in 2010 should be expected. Once that happens, if we can get the sponsors on board, the infatructure can grow. It took the USA hosting the 1994 world cup to get it's structure where it is today, a respectable team that can get invited to the South american championship (to get their buts handed to them).
Go boysd, score us a few against congo and got out with your heads held high!

Abroad they laugh when they hear that Canada has a soccer team, and the only reason Canada is participating in this tournament is because it's the nation host. And please please don't talk about women soccer( it's rarely watched).Someone posted that Canada senior team is great, I don't know what's talikng about...may bey great at loosing and being viewed as a peacesfull team.

From my observations a coach is responsible for choosing, training, teaching, motivating, as well as preparing for opponents and their styles of play. Not wanting to come down to hard on Mr. Mitchell as he enters a high pressure event, but I don't think he has done this effectively.

Mr. Mitchell has had these players from the beginning, and for months he''s had the chance to mould them into a solid unit, but I'm afraid he's come short. In all honesty, I don't think anyone chose Canada to win the U20, but our hope was for a team to be competitive. Has this team undercheived, or have they simply been out coached?

Greg, you can't fault the players as they are trying, you can see that without a doubt...therefore, the coaching team must shoulder the blame. The talent level is without a question is impressive.

I hope the team develops some chohesion for today's Congo match. I hope to see a win for the players sake.

I was there for the Canada vs Chile game. Chileans had skills. Canada appeared to have none. So at half-time I expected the coach to take the players by the scruff of the neck, reorganize them and play more than one person up front. Instead, the second half was more of the the same as the first half.
Blame the coach? Gets my vote. Craig, I know you played in the English league and for Canada. But the coach picks the players and the tactics. That leadership makes or breaks a team. This team is broken.

PS: Lost my voice shouting at the Canadians to tackle someone. Anyone. Now maybe the referee gave strange decisions to the Chileans. Maybe the Chileans were prone to diving and looking for that free kick or penalty. But for the love of the game, you HAVE to tackle the opposition if they have the ball.

what about if we have national playdowns,and the winning team becomes our canadian rep.this is wat we did in the early days of hockey.

In fairness, I think Dale Mitchell must share part of the responsibility for Canada's weak showing to date in the U20 World Cup. I'm sure he would be the first to admit this. However, saying that he should be fired, or that soccer in Canada is rubbish, isn't helpful, and is far off the mark.

Dale Mitchell led a striker clinic at the Soccer Centre in Vaughan, ON in November 06 with a selection of his U20 squad. It was your typical "play the ball wide-cross-finish" drill. To be honest, the finishing was very poor, even with minimal defensive pressure on the forwards. So I'm sure Mitchell has known that finishing would be a problem on this U20 Canadian team for some time.

His response to this was to play a defensive 4-1-4-1 formation, with Lombardo playing isolated in the lone striker role, and Peters and Jackson providing width and supplying crosses into the box. The recent 2-1 exhibition game loss against the U20 Argentina team, where Canada scored from the penalty spot, highlighted the lack of imaginitive attacking play in this Canadian squad. On the night, I thought Jackson was the best player on the Canadian team, causing all sorts of problems down the left flank. This obviously did not go unnoticed by Canada's U20 oppnonents.

The lack of support for Lombardo, Jackson and Peters is painful to watch. This, coupled with the predictability of the Canadian attacking game plan, means that Lombardo, Jackson and Peters are facing a 1 v 2 situation as soon as they receive the ball. Against Chile, Jackson cut a frustrated figure on the left (until he was substituted) because the Chilean defenders double-teamed him so effectively, choking off the supply line. Johnson had a poor game against Chile, and failed to provide effective support for Lombardo. Even after going 2-0 down, Dale Mitchell did not change the formation, which was a mistake. Clearly there was no Plan B on the attacking front.

I didn't see the whole of the Austria game because I was coaching my U15 boys team. For the last 10 minutes that I did watch, Canada were playing with 2 forwards. This is obviously the way Mitchell will go against Congo. With an attacking partner for Lombardo, and Jackson and Peters on the outside midfield, Canada has a chance. I think the defense and goalkeeping is fine - you'd expect that from the Canadian teams. Having the second forward would have the added benefit of helping to relieve the pressure on the Canadian defense. So Dale, you need to show some courage and play with two up front, and push one of the centerbacks (Edgar) up as a holding midfielder when Canada has the ball and is attacking.

I took my U15 boys team to the Canada vs. Chile game. While it was disappointing that Canada were so overwhelmingly beaten, it was a pleasure to watch the Chilean team play. The DVD of this game would serve as a fine example of how to play possession soccer, score goals and win the game. I believe the most positive thing that will come out of this tournament for Canada is that the emphasis will continue to shift to small sided games at the younger age groups. We have already seen this in Ontario with U10 now going 7 v 7 rather than 11 v 11. In my opinion, this should continue through U11. Unfortunately the field sizes are too small, and we need a 1/2 to 2/3 sized field for these boys to play on, not a 1/3 sized mini-field that is really only suited to U7-U8 players.

Unfortunately, for want of a better term, the hockey mentality in Canada prevails at the youth level. The rep A teams are populated with the taller, stronger players who have developed early. These boys peak early but generally do not become the skillful playmakers that Canada is desperately short of. How many Julian De Guzman's are we missing out on because youth coaches choose size over skill in search of trophies and hardware. This is where the rep B and C teams serve a useful purpose - providing these smaller, skillful players with an opportunity until they catch up physically. To a large extent, the tall, stronger youth players are at a disadvantage because they often rely on their size to dominate rather than learning the skills that will help them to progress in the sport. This eventually filters through to the national team, leaving coaches like Dale Mitchell with limited attacking and midfield options.

As we celebrate Soccer Day in Canada, I think there are a lot of positive things happening in Canada from a soccer perspective. The new stadium and professional team in Toronto is fantastic. The fact that Canada is hosting this tournament and young aspiring players have the opportunity to watch a live game is fantastic (would this tournament even be televised if Canada was not represented? - hopfully, yes). The Canadian men's team did well in the recent Gold Cup - that is something to be proud of. And the Canadian women's teams are amoungst the best in the world. Owen Hargreaves (a player I believe who was passed over by the CSA because of his size) has just joined Manchester United for GBP17M. While he plays for England, he is Canadian. From the current batch of U20 players, I think David Edgar will break through into the Newcastle team permanently in the next one or two season, and he will now be playing for the senior Canadian team once Dale Mitchell takes charge. The experience at the U20 world cup will have helped his, and the rest of the squad's, development.

I hope Canada beats Congo and progresses on goal difference. Let's put our disappointments aside and support Dale Mitchell and cheer his team on. Good luck lads - you can do it!

i enjoy reading these comments because most say exactly what i feel and i no longer have to rant on my own - i particularly agree with the poster re journalistic honesty - it's depressing to have announcers like Craig Forrest not tell it like it is - Dale Mitchell is a disaster - the coaching strategies and player choices are horrific - only in Canada with its "old-boys" networks is it possible that this coach is promoted (!!!) to coach the senior mens' side - Canada has the talent - there's no doubt - but will we make it to South Africa 2010 with these coaching choices???

Com on Felix, with or without Dale Mitchell Canada will never make it to South Africa 2010, and the only reason they made it in 1986 it's because Mexico was hosting the event.

some people up there said that Canadian soccer is just fine , IT'S NOT . did u see how they played with Austria ? our Canadian U20 team loves football and wants to play but just can't be good at it. It takes more than some training and loving the game.
not because some players have experience and played with English and Italian football clubs doesn't mean they are the best in the country. I hope that David Nutt and who is concerned wake up and do the best to have the best team for 2010 South Africa .

I am a 12 years old soccer fanatic. play competitive soccer, or football as it is called everywhere except Canada and USA. Teams such as Canada, New Zealand, India and the like are still considered to be in their infancy stage, since soccer has only been popular in such nations in the past decade or two, while the rest of the football world has enjoyed this sport from time immemorial. Football has always been their passion and has been passed on from many generations. This lovely sport was introduced to me by my father when I had barely started walking. I have been told that even my great grandfather played football as a young man in Africa. Soccer is the most popular sport around the globe. While most countries around the globe enjoy futubol/football/soccer as their number one sport, Canada has enjoyed (ice) hockey, baseball, North America football etc, while India has enjoyed cricket, and in the past, field hockey as their popular sports. So, let us all be patient for another decade, build on today's strength and work on yesterday's weekness and hope that in 2018, we will see Canada in the World Cup Soccer quarter finals, if not the Semis. As for now, let's enjoy the Growing Pains.

(PS: My 15-year old brother, who also plays soccer, assisted in writing this comment)

DESIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The main thing missing from the Canadian Team's makeup so far, along with a few other vital abilities. Good coaching develops this in a team that goes on the field to WIN!!!!!!!!!!! However it must be accompanied by developed skills, so obviously lacking in many of the players. I would put these guys on 2 weeks of Trap & Pass Drills, followed by 2 weeks of one touch. Anyone who couldn't master these accurately at the end of the month would be sent home. Coaching is paramount.
In Canada I see the same lead footed approach to soccer as most of the Brit teams. You never wait for the ball, you must always move toward it, and make it your's. What you do off the ball is as equally important, as when you have it.

Craig you are partly right, the skilll level etc is abysmal. But the coach should share the responsibility for the performances after all is it not him who picks the team? What Canada needs is to invest large sums of money and get proper outside help from the Europeans which will cost money. I believe we have the players but not the confidence or the technical knowhow. If you remember before the 1994 World Cup the U.S. were in the same situation as Canada they were useless, but then what happened? They threw loads of money at the sport, got lots of sponsors and interest. Then they got all the right training programs and scholarships etc. which are necessary for success. This is not our national sport we are not European or South American so we need help from people who do know the game!!

From what I've seen of this tournament, Mitchell has fielded a typical Canadian team.

As someone who has been suffering watching Canadian soccer for a few decades now, I've always felt the problem is approach -- namely the British/German tactics we always seem to default to. Not only are they dismal to watch, our players don't have the technical wherewithal to score goals in wars of attrition.

Obviously we have a far smaller base of players and money, but if tiny countries like Iceland (pop. 300,000 or 40% that of New Brunswick) can field teams playing attractive football, we really have no excuse.

When are we going to recognize we are part of the Americas, and start teaching our players to learn to love "playing" -- i.e., having fun, doing creative things with the ball, participating in the "beautiful game," and not some germano-british-style sludge?

I would just like to say that as a players' agent who manages a few young canadian players i have been reading with interest the comments placed by fans on here regarding the state of Canadian soccer at youth level. In my professional opinion the CSA needs to place more emphacious on developing the future players from a very early age on both the technical and tactical areas of the beautiful game, i believe from as young a 6 years old young players should have opportunities through regional CSA run academies to learn and develop and groom the raw talent, but of course this would take considerable financial investment over a long period of time and i am not convinced that the CSA would take such a long term risk. I also doubt if the amount of funding for such a venture is there. I currently manage the careers of at least 2 Canadian Players with dialogue with 3 others ongoing the eldest is 19 years old and the youngest just 14 years old, i look for raw canadian talent that i can bring to a professional enviroment when they become of age, i can only bring young players to europe when they reach a certian age, FIFA regulations gobverning the protection of minors dictate this. I am looking towards young canadians as my future stars and i plan to re-invest 10% of any profit back into grass roots soccer in canada and my long term goal is to promote and encourage the development of young canadian players.

I would like to say to all the soccer fans in Canada, don't be too hard on the players' as i believe that the game in canada is in its professional infancy and that within 10 - 15 years the CSA and the canadian players' will get there, after all as we say in europe "Rome wasn't built in a day". The players' will learn from the experience.

A player for the future is Midfielder KEEGAN AYRE who is just about to break through to the 1st team of his club hibernian scotland. A very skilfull midfield player who is in the u20 squad but is getting over fatigue illness that has meant he only played 82 minutes against austria look out for a good performance from keegan against congo tonight.

As a Canadian living in the US/the world I have a strategy to offer.

In soccer I support the team with the most Canadians, when that team is eliminated (if it is) I support the team with the most Brazilians.

This keeps me involved in most tournaments.

In hockey I support the team with the most Canadians. Congratulations Anaheim.

Try it.

The point of hosting this tournament was not for Canada to blow away the competition and dominate, of course I'm disappointed with Canada's play, but I think that what this tournament is really about is putting Canada on the international soccer stage as a country that is at least interested in soccer. We've showed that. Early this week I had a chance to watch Canada play Chile, and Portugal/ New Zealand, Mexico/Gambia. They were all fantastic games, and the fact that the fans are so passionate really prove that Canada cares, the biggest disappointment for me was actually that the Canadian fans weren't nearly as good as the TFC fans, but the Mexican, Chilean and Portuguese fans were. So overall as a country not a team this tournament has been a success, but now all I have to say is FORCA MEXICO!!!

Sam

Whats with the hate on edmonton?

If that stadium was full it would be great for soccer. It holds 60,000 and we had 31,000 at the field. That being said, we should break the record for people attending.

Anyways, I think the team looked scared and afraid to make mistakes.

The only time i saw some chances is when they started playing 3 forwards and bombed out the ball near the end of the game. I was very disappointed that canada lost, they were not playing a quality team....

Thats right, dont blame Mitchell.
He's only doing what he can, which is not much. Lets blame the true villains, in this case the CSA for their general mismanagement of soccer in Canada. Who the hell are these guys accountable to anyways?
Support our boys in red but lets point the fingers at the real culprits.

Canada needs to stop forcing the ball up the field and start to look for the shorter passes. They need to create more of a build up instead of just slogging the ball up the field all the time. I think that Dale Mitchell is only partially to blame, somebody on Canada needs to step up and show some leadership.

Hey David, what you do is not not support.
Support would require you to bear or hold up, secure as a foundation, to sustain or withhold without giving way. I would suggest what you do is join the party, cause or movement, that by its mass appeal or strength readily attracts many followers. Band Wagon jump if you like.
You're not a football fan. Any proper football fan would be embarrassed by you.

Canada has some good and skilfull players but Canadian coaches at all levels appear to lack strategic knowledge of the game.

Why do teams like Chelsea and Real Madrid seek the best coaches? Because good coaches can make a dramatic difference to a team.

It isnt just about motivation, training or skills. It's about setting up the team to position themselves correctly on the field defensively and offensively. Canada on the whole has defended too deep (no pace in defence?) and the gap between defence, midfield and forwards has been too great. Especially when attacking.

Contrary to earlier opinions I believe the level of skill of Canadian players is good, but player positioning means they're put under pressure immediately they receive the ball and therefore make mistakes.

If you're going to play in a defensive style then at least do it right.

Thanks to Edmonton for the lack of support for the team. Given how poorly they played perhaps they deserved no better, but there where more people at the concession stands for the Brazil/USA game than there were in the stands cheering for Canada in Edmonton. Of course, scheduling the games on a workday at 5:30 in the afternoon was purely idiotic. Ranks right up there with making the Candian team travel to Edmonton in the first place. Somone ought to be held responsible for this. The soccer was embarassing, but the lack of support was worse.

It's obvious that our national team doesn't spend as much time together as the other nations. I don't know if this is a funding issue or just lack of interest? We have some great individual players, but no chemistry. Maybe mixing British Columbia and Ontario is like mixing baking soda and vinegar! It would be nice to score a goal at a world compitition, unlike '86.
Our soccer future looks grim, unless we open our borders to more immegrants!!!!

It sickened me to here the lame "homer" melodrama of the commentators during Canada's games. The Canadians couldn't finish their lunch, let alone a scoring opportunity. Their skill level is so far below the field that they had absolutely no chance to score, let alone win any games. To proclaim the need for a 3 goal victory in the last game showed how out of touch Canada and its supporters are in the game of soccer. Canada hasn't improved as a soccer nation one bit in the last 30 years.

Hope this gets to Craig.

Football is a great game but I am tired of seeing players rolling around on the ground feigning injury? Easy to resolve if FIFA really wanted to!!

Implement one rule. Any player who stops the game for injury purposes leaves the pitch for a minimum of 5 minutes unless the team is already down to 9 men.

Without scoring a goal in this tournament Canada proved they are a joke.
It's time for commentators and everyone conncected with soccer to stop pretending we're taking small steps..
Because while we take small steps, the rest of the countries take bigger steps to improve...and they are suceeding...
We are not...

I'm tired of how hearing how Canada put forth a great effort or showed a lot of heart. It doesn't matter if you lose.
Our development system needs to be over hauled. Our coaching is ten years behind. They need to re-taught by someome from a soccer country.

Every time I watch Cananda, I'm disappointed.
We need someone like a Don Cherry of soccer to get the CSA out of their 1970's mentality
and change the soccer in Cananda before it's too late....

The Canadian team was terrific at foreplay, and poor on scoring, kinda like our national birthrate.

Truely embarrassing. All of the CSA and Dale Mitchell should be fired. The only host country not to score a goal. With Mitchell taking over the senior team Canada should expect many more years of substandard results.
I don't think most people thought Canada would win the tournament, but to get 2 shots on goal in the first two games and to end up with no goals. That is pathetic.

after i watched canadas first game,i saw that canada can not manage to even score in the group games.anyways national team is not good,i saw u-20 too,they r not good either.woman team does well.

The Canadian players all have tremendous heart and are a talented group. However, I don't think that they were well prepared for this tournament. They seemed surprised at the pace and the intensity of a tournament that they were hosting!! This speaks to the higher ups and their inability to change game plans in time for our boys to do anything effective. All 3 games were played completely vertically with the exception of deep crosses. They were continually launching balls from the defense forward and it made it very easy for other teams to defend them. In the last game where offense is desperately needed, to switch to a 3-5-2 in the late stages made no sense to me. Why not go to a 3-4-3 from the start and concede that if you lose 10-0 it makes no difference??! And to anybody who was watching today, to host a game in our country with the stadium 1/3 full was simply embarrassing. We of all countries should be used to supporting our national teams despite inclement weather. Brutal job Edmonton.
Keep your heads up boys. Your refusal to quit made us proud still.

The poor play of Canada, which included setting a record for the only country to not score any goals in a U-20 tournament and being a host, was a national and global embarrassment. Effort was not enough. Throughout the tournament they looked disorganized, unskilled, and looked like they were fielding a U-17 team; they appeared very immature. I am a huge soccer fan and do support Canada, but please do not 'sugar coat' these poor results. Again, effort is not enough. It was not any coach or player’s fault for the poor result. This is a larger systemic issue. To be able to compete on the soccer global stage requires a DRAMATIC change in the Men's Canadian soccer strategy...otherwise let's re-direct our monies to the Women's team, or another sport, because we are a ship heading in the wrong direction - how sad.

The Men's National Team under Steve Hart played a completely different style of game than Dale Mitchell's team. At the Gold Cup Hart's team played a strong midfield build-up, with few long lazy balls, and creative and exciting offence that created many goals, was entertaining to watch and was successful.

Dale Mitchell's team stuck to the same boring, inneffective, outdated, unsuccessful, skillless system that resulted in a complete lack of success, no wins, no goals and barely any shots on net.

Craig, how can you honestly say this is not Dale Mitchell's fault. How can you honestly say we should stick to the tactic of booting the ball down the field and hoping something happens. This is a strategy that is barely adequate in a rec league. It was sickening to watch our U20 team keep booting the ball down the field, lose posession, and then have our opponents dominate our midfield and create scoring chances and score on us, and beat our team.

Dale Mitchell should be fired. He was a complete failure at all levels. His team failed in every aspect of the game. He was given a chance and he produced an embarrassment of a team and performance that can only have one outcome- his termination. Frankly, he should resign as a coach and allow Steve Hart to stay on as coach of the men's team, or, he should be fired.

To the poster who said Canada has no chance at qualifying for the next World Cup. I don't think you know anything about qualifying from CONCACAF. All we have to do is beat Costa Rica to get the third spot. The way we played at the Gold Cup, I can envision our men's team even taking the top or 2nd spot, let alone the 3rd spot. HOWEVER, I am VERY concerned that if Dale Mitchell takes over he will undo all of the positives acheived at the Gold Cup.

Soccer in this country should be re-vamped from the National program down to the rep level. There is no communication from the Provincial team to the rep level. The rep program is what keeps the Provincial team in business. As a former rep coach I had many players go up to the Provincial team and a few got national try outs. During all those years I saw the Provincial coach at only one game. I had one player in particular who I played as a left mid fielder yet the Provincial coach played him as a left full back. At no time during this kids stay in the Provincvial program did anyone from the Provincial staff discuss or suggest to me that they thought the boy was a full back, not a mid fielder nor was I asked to change his position to full back. As I said NO COMMUNICATION, ONLY REGISTRATION FEES>

In the wake of U-20 national team letdown;
Canadian soccer fans are fatigued seeing their national soccer teams (both senior & Youth) always bowing out in the early stages of major international soccer tournaments.
Soccer fans in the country have to express their frustration, disappointment and long-sought desire to soccer association and their bosses. Let them know that they want decent results. How long Canada is going to be just participants?
Canada had plenty of time preparing for this particular tournament which they were also the host. Proud host I may say. Yet we did not see any meaningful warm-ups games played. Most of other participants in Fifa's U-20 such as African teams travel and played warm up game in at least one European country. Surely we see the result of their effort and willingness to want to win. All four African nations participating in the tournament qualified for the second round.
I am afraid of the spill-over affect. I hope the poor show of Men's U-20 National Soccer team would not stop the growth of this beautiful game in Canada on its track.

Khalid

What happened to Canada in this tournament is nothing short of a National disgrace. This type of play would never ever be tolerated if the same thing happened in Hockey. I don't think Dale Mitchell should take all of the blame, but some has to go his way. Now, after this abismal showing he gets rewarded by being allowed to coach the Senior Men's National team. To me, such a thing is unheard of. On the bright side, the fact that this tournament took place in Canada means that the performance of the team will not be allowed to fly under the radar. Hopefully this will mean new public awareness and that the necessary changes will come. In the meantime anyone know what Rene Simoes is up to?

Anyone out there agree with me.... David Edgar is the next John Terry, he has all the right stuff and is headed in the right direction ??? one of Canada's few tournament bright lights.

The only reason the game in Edmonton was schedule for 5:45 pm on a work day was for television rights and money and that the game could be broadcast to the eastern part of this country at 7:45pm instead of 9:45pm on a working day.

And for all that think Edmonton didn't support this U20 WC and team Canada you should reserve your thoughts until the rest of the scheduled games are played in Edmonton. After that then you may pass judgement on Edmonton, after all this is the only stadium in canada that has grass as turf and can seat 60 000 fans. I never expected to see the stadium full with 60 000 screaming fans, but 31 000 in my books is respectable for the young game of soccer in this country.

As for tonights match vs Congo the weather was terrible, cold and wet even with rain gear on! but my son and I dealt with the inclement weather and supported team Canada to the final whistle as did many other Edmontonians.

Everything I feel have been said by fellow fans in the posts here. what is left to say when your team dissapoints you to the point where you feel like you dont even want to watch anymore..cause its too painful. SUCH horrible 1-2 passing. Dysmal communication between players. NO forwards to speak of, isnt there anyone in Canada who can score? are we all defenders? There is no personality to the team, seems like its a common theme.

Is there any hope of someday having someone like a lionel messi develop out of Canada and bring us pride in the international stage.

Just at least one goal.......

As they say, " Form is temporary but Class is permanent." Our team was clearly out of form and certainly not in the class of Chile, Austria or Congo. The form of the players falls on the coaching staff (sorry Craig) while the class of the team is dependent of the system developing talent. A poor tournament nonetheless.
Femi

craig you sound like your colleague gerry dobson after u20 wc in argentina. gerry defended his buddy paul james and blamed the players for the team's poor performance. mitchell is to blame and he does not deserve nor ready to coach the mens national team.

it dosnt look good for canada in soccer if dale mitchel cant win with the under 20s how can he win with the old boys who never win anything

What a nice article for a buddy of craigs. Dale Mitchell has to take almost all of the blame, next the CSA for having Dale there in the first place.
I now see our men's team failing to qualify for another world cup in 2010, because Mitchell will be there, and doesn't know how to coach on the international level.
I have lost all respect for the CSA as they don't seem to know how to put together the right program, coach and players, I have no respeoct for Dale MItchell because he has no idea of how to coach a tactically based game, and now I have no respect for Forest for writing such a piece of "pap".

Last night marked the conclusion of a horrid campaign for our boys. However, I feel that our senior men's team is on the right path. I watched all of our Gold Cup matches and was impressed. They played brilliant football. With players like Julian De Guzman, Hume, Hutchinson, De Rosario, Gerba, Bernier and Stalteri the future is bright. These guys play at the highest level and they can take us to South Africa. Edgar and Begovic also have bright futures with the national team. Yesterday was a sad day for our program, but we can move forward. The CSA should have a summit, but they won't. After the U-20 WC, Canadians will forget about soccer until the WC in 2010 and revert to supporting their countries of origin. I am the son of immigrants and I was disappointed with the numbers of Canadians who chose to support their country of origin rather than Canada. Am I the only one who feels this way? Think about it: Canada has given all of us so much in terms of opportunity and yet many of us support the old country over this country. Something is wrong with this picture.

I too am not too confident in Dale Mitchell's abilities. His post game comments sounded rather arrogant. Stephen Hart performed admirably well at the Gold Cup and the players seem to have responded well to his coaching style. Things will improve.

Easy on the players folks. They're young kids playing their hearts out. No, we don't have a good enough team yet, but that's not their fault. All we can ask from them is they play hard.

It will take years of developing a system in this country to truly develop soccer players - and not just count on privileged kids who can afford to have their parents drive them around to practice and tourneys.

It's a question of resources and how we choose to alocate them.

Watching the Congo game and the team finally playing at speed, Ricketts has a future, Jackson, Johnson, but the most impressive players were the starting fullbacks, full of vigor, played great. The team got poor goalkeeping and Lombardo made a mess of so many chances, hard to believe he's our sole striker. Most of the team plays/trains in Europe so they must have some skill to get drafted over there. Mitchell may do better at the senior level but will he allow a field general onto the team to make up for his sleepwalking coaching style?

England had a sleepwalking coach in Ericksson but had field generals to motivate the team and play with passion. Will Mitchell allow pationate players in the side to make of for his own narcoleptic sideline managing? In the past our amngers kepy guys like Peschisolido out of the side because they would countermand the manager's orders. Will Mitchell screw up like this??

I saw good fullback play from Canada, decent play from Peters, Jackson, Johnson, and Ricketts. Players the senior team should start developing HARD.

What a shambles!! Last nights game was a downright disaster. How can u expect a team to score 3 goals in a game when they have difficulty finding the net at all in the previous 2 games. The team looks like it has no passion. They are lacking direction from coaching staff that need direction themselves. Back to basics is in order - passing, communication, ball control, until those are mastered Canada will always have diffculty putting the ball in the net. Now this U20 head coach is going to guide the National team - good luck!

I feel so awful for those young men, the CSA sent them out to the wolves and they were devoured. It is crystal clear that the CSA needs to be cleaned out and rebuilt from the ground up. When are they going to realize for Canada to perform on the world stage we need foreign coaches and money(lots of it). When countries want to improve their hockey skills where do they come to train??? Canada of course simply because we are the best. So why is it when we go looking for a coach we don't have the insight to go to the best countries in the world for the talent? Just doesn't make sense to me. Kick and run soccer gets you knocked out in the first round with no points and no goals.

How can we say that soccer in this country is in its infancy? Are you forgetting that Canada did play in the World Cup in 1986! I realize that performance was no better than what we all saw on the weekend. But really that should have been our starting point in developing the game.
20 years have passed since that "historic" debut and we are still talking about developing soccer in this country.
Give me a break! The CSA has made a mountain of money from the various fees that we as soccer parents in this country pay every year and they have squandered it. I'm sick of listening to excuses.
The boys tried their best, unfortunately their best was not good enough. The players are only responsible for their play on the field. The players are not responsible for development programs of players AND COACHES, or scounting programs, or even the quality of our stadiums. That's the Canadian Soccer Association's job and they have failed, dismally.
The CSA should be held accountable for the state of soccer in this country. The CSA should be fired. In any other country the coaches are hired on a performance basis. You lose, you're fired. In this country we "discipline" our coaches by promoting them to the national team. What's the rationale here?
Stop treating Canadian soccer like a baby! There are tremendously talented players and coaches out there, go find them, train them and for God's sake, Play them!

Don't blame Dale Mitchell? Canada was beaten 2-0 by a country with half the population of the GTA. No goals in the tournament, poor tactics, selection.

Mitchell should resign! Wake up and smell the coffee.

For the most part, the players played their hearts out. Frustration eats away at those of us who have had some worldly experience, these boys are 20 years and under, and while they didn't win, each of them gets to walk away and tell their story of playing for Canada's national team to their kids, their grandkids, etc. It is truly an honour for each of them and no one should pass judgment on the effort that they showed.

That being said, I have suffered through the politics of the provincial team and the national team. The provincial associations are poorly run with little communication between other provinces and mostly with little or no communication with the CSA. The CSA, being the leader, is utterly disastrous. Management and coaches at the CSA level do not seem to have any intention of strengthening a very entertaining and well loved sport in this country, nor the ability of those youths who truly love the game and really want to learn how to play. The only strengthening they seem to want is that of their giant egos. Craig Forrest should be the first to admit this having come through the ranks as a player, competing on the National Team is not an easy thing for most of our young players to do. It is not about the youth's ability, be it lacking or utterly fantastic. The problem here is politicial, regional and in my opinion abhorrent. There are many youths who live and breathe soccer in Canada and for the most part, their efforts go un-noticed by the CSA scouts who seem to spend most of their time picking players from Quebec and Ontario, short plane rides from their home base. How many players are from the East Coast or the West Coast, very few and believe me, there are good players ALL accross Canada.

So Craig, the blame is on Mitchell, but not solely, it also falls on the CSA. If we want to compete, we need a much better organized association looking out for the best interests of the Canadian Youth, with that becoming the primary goal, the strength of soccer in Canada will greatly increase and maybe down the road, Canada will be a contender in the World arena.

Until then, lets hold the CSA accountable.

Lets also have some real Canadian players, ones who have lived in Canada for the greater part of their life, who strive daily on and off the field to represent a game and a country that they love, not some kids who we think might be better because they have lived in Canada for a couple of years (Begovic only lived in Canada for 5 years), just long enough to get immigrant status and who have played else where, they are not necessarily going to help us just because they have played over seas. Lets move some of the youth from the provincial programs in this Country into the National Pool.

Well done boys, we'll hope for a better showing in 2 years.

Let's see...Congo has virtually no minor soccer infrastructure and selection system. Millions of kids are left for most of their "golden" development time (ages 7-12) on their own kicking a ball around incessantly in largely unorganized forms. Their foreign coach makes a personal tour around the country, selects a hundred or so promising technical teenaged prospects, and then teaches them tactics.

This team goes on to win the African U20 championship, and defended effectivley against the prosperous "Academy trained" Canadians until capitalizing on the few chances that opened up.

I can't think of a sport that relies more heavily on technical skills, shaped only by salting of tactics. All that time young Canadian players spend in organized tournaments, selection camps, and tactical coaching sessions four nights a week is just holding us back.

Let the kids play....all of the time. Find a foreign coach (not an ex-player who we feel obliged to compensate), and give him free reign to select from a deep pool of prospects with as little filtering as possible before hand.

Then let him train them in the tactics of his choice given the talent he has to work with.
It isn't that difficult. As usual, we've over-organized a simple game and coached the hell out of it.

The reality is that our �best� young soccer players aren�t even close to being on the same level as other teams. What we saw in the last three games were little boys competing against young men � it was an excruciating embarrassment for the nation � those who cared anyway.

That anyone thought we would advance out of our group must have been seriously deluded. What were we thinking about hosting a competition without having any ability to field a competitive team?

Craig, I thik Canadian Soccer Authorities should really OPEN the EYES and EARS; when Simoes (Brazilian Coaching) offered a 7 year Plan at the beginning of this year is for Boosting Soccer in this Country. Nothing wrong to HEAR and LEARN from South American Soccer Style.
Instead of putting Blame on U-20 Players, Coaches or CSA; let's start Fresh with Soccer Programs introducing DIVERSITY in the Styles. Nations like US, JAPAN and like were not born in Soccer class, they learned from real Masters like Zico, Pele, and now the performance of those countries are Product of those lessons learned. Let's leave in the past the "LONNNNNNNG Balls" passing Systems and Start with real "Ball Touching" which makes Soccer the Beautiful Sport.
Perhaps, this is the Time to EXPLORE the DIVERSITY of Soccer Styles in Canada and let's look, help and play!
Responsability starts with acknowledging what we have and what we can achieve!

Yes, the young lads sucked, but they tried and so encouragement is needed for them to train harder rather then give up. I played in youth soccer as a kid and I was pretty good and I enjoyed it, but it was not a priority in my life. Criticism makes you not care about the sport even more. We have lots of "immagrants" that play soccer really well and they are here in canada, born and raised, but there is not really any incentive or people to grab their talent for them to be an asset in a world cup team. Likely they are working hard to live or support a family, or they don't know that they really could be an asset. Other countries have youth that have played since 4 and go out every day and play with there friends. The priority and concern for soccer just isnt here(plus we have a small population compared to the states, for example). You want the team to succeed, time for a field trip to south america or europe. Stay for a year and play daily, they need experience, they need to be battle hardened veterans if you want they to know how to play without thinking, to automatically play at the international level, naturally. Its about being aware on the field, each player thinking like a coach, confidence with every execution without thinking, thats where they need to be. Real players don't care about where they play or who is watching: they just play!

While I'm on it, I'll leave a comment regarding something in soccer that I think needs to change, maybe it can be recommended to FIFA or something. Penalty shots in a game are ridiculous and are a cheap way to get a goal. The effort required for a goal is so much more then to get and deliver a point with a penalty. My advice is that for penalties in game time, players should be forced to shoot the ball like, 5-10 feet farther back from where they are shooting. Maybe then it will be a fair test of their skill and fairer to the other team.

Well if today's game result against the Congo and the resulting consequence of this tournament is any indication of the financial help that will come as a result of our successes on the world stage, I think that young ladies wishing to participate in soccer should simple hand up their cleats, return to the kitchen in their bare feet and await a call from the C.S.A. in about ten years. More disappointing than the blatant inequality being shown by the C.S.A. towards our women's national program is the complete absence of any political voice to represent the female players in this country. Disappointment quickly turns to embarrassment when you realize that approximately $0.48 of every player dollar given to the C.A.S is collected from female players.

After reading the comments in the local newspapers and listening to the reaction to our dismal performance on CBC, I can only say with a heavy heart, what about our future ? Nobody has addressed that issue...most of these players will represent out country within the next 4-8 years...does this mean no World Cup Qualifications...CSA please wake ! Assess the team and coaching before we again sit out the next 3 World Cups.I would like to think I can cheer for Canada one more time before I die.

I agree with the last comment. First, CSA has to take the overall blame for the disastrous result of this team. The dvelopment infrastructure in Canada is non-existent or inooperative. There is a missing link between the thousands of participants in the youth level and the more competitive elite levels in higher age groups.

I don't think lack of money is one of the problems. it's poor management on CSA's part. They've bungled this for a long time.

Mitchell shares some of the blame for the team's performance. How can you play with a lone striker agains Austria? Unbelievable. I am very puzzled by the performance of the players too. This team supposedly beat others in friendlies prior to the competition and yet they failed to exectute basic soccer moves. Against Congo there shoud've been at least a goal on a header. Lombardo also played like an overgrown Giraffe and couldn't control the ball whenever he came into contact with it.

Hopefully this is nothing more than growing pains. However, I hope the CSA learnt its lesson and that Dale Mitchell's poor performance doesn't affect the senior side.

Craig I agree with most of what you are saying. I do though, have to say that there is some of this to blame on dale, but even more on CSA. A lot of what "vancouver fan" said is very true. I went through the politcs as a player and its not fun. I have seen some really great talent leave Canada because they have been overlooked. This really hurts our youth program. Thank God we have players like De rosario and De Guzman in the mens team who try to feel those voids by coming back to Canada and bringing with them some of there skills to add there bit for Canada Soccer. I know that Canada in general has pro soccer very low in the totem pole. But I just did not think CSA would put it low in there list as well. Sorry boys you had to go through that, it was bad for us all. I guess if things don't go well then you just go and gets yours, there may not have been a lot of talent on the field, but some of you showed some real heart. Oh and Dale, for someone with the brains and talent you have as a coach, you really should have seen this coming. Please don't be so complacent with the mens team, then you will really break the fragile hope of CANADA SOCCER

I've seen this too many times before. Canadian Soccer is run by an old boys club and is not willing to allow anyone with decent qualifications to revamp some serious technical issues with our game. I went to see Canada's first game against Chile and even without having a National A license anyone with any soccer sense could easily see why we weren't scoring any goals or getting any quality chances. When the ball was being passed on the ground we actually looked respectable, I actually thought we had a chance, but when the old English style of Football of long unattainable passes took hold of our team we looked no better than a house league team. Passes were coming through the middle to our lone forward while being covered by four defenders with nu support from the midfield, it was embarrassing. The blame is not only Mitchell's but with CSA, they need some new blood in there, with fresh ideas. The old boys network is killing us!!!

What's to be done about the yellow card system?
Or more to the point, what's to be done about how the referees are interpreting the use of yellow cards?
I've been following the FIFA U-20 closely and I'm very disappointed about the standard of refereeing. Let me say up front that I'm a neutral when it comes to supporting any of the teams and was simply looking forward to world class football in Canada, some great games, skillful play and real competitive soccer. What I've seen so far is the majority of the referees stifle games, ruin young players opportunities to participate with their teams and all because they can't seem to distinguish the differance between, normal physical contact, normal fouls committed during the course of a game and the cynical, fully intentional fouling of opponents. Not every foul merits a yellow card. Have any of these referees played the game at a competitive level?
I was at the Portugal v Mexico game. It was truly on of those 'great games' I had hoped to see. Fast, skillful, competitive and passionate and it produced eight (8) yellow cards. There wasn't a cynical tackle in the game. This was not a dirty game and even lacked the usual amount of 'gamesmanship' (diving/feigning injury/attempting to get opponents sent off) normally associated with Portugal and most South American teams.
I have just finished watching the United States and Austria. Same again and no coincidence, the same referee. Overall it was a good game (if you're not a US fan) but it produced twelve (12) yellow cards including an automatic red! A couple of nights ago I saw a Chilean player sent off for time wasting in the 92nd minute. What are the referees thinking? Destroying the hopes and aspirations of these young players on a whim. Is it really surprising that players lack respect for referees?
This is not to say that a game will not result in yellow cards. Bookable offences will happen in the normal course of a game but this grandstanding by referees, flashing yellow cards for the most innocuous and debatable fouls is hurting the game and depriving the fans of seeing skillful players and competitive games.
FIFA like to talk about their 'Fair Play' program. How about some fair play for the players?

Our sense of complacency is frightening. We should hire the best talents, no matter from Brazil or UK, and jack up our quality. We are here to compete and lets get the boys the best tactician they can get.

I find the whole "lets stick with Canadian talents" part absolutely appalling.

Craig, with all due respect, you are just supporting status quo. Lets get results and blame should be assigned accordingly. Dale did not help our boys perform, and thats a fact.

Certainly an article written by a man who is friends with the coach.

Regarding the solution, I offer an example from hockey. I'm not sure of the exact timeline, but let's say over the last twenty or thirty years, Swiss hockey has risen to a level where they can compete with some of the best countries in the world. A large part of this was bringing over Canadian coaches and players, so that people here could learn from the best, and then use this knowledge to develop a successful system from the ground up. Canada needs to do this with soccer, and welcome new leadership from one of the elite soccer nations.

I think the logistics of this country and the lack of real professional leadership for the last thirty some odd years has got a lot to do with the expanding and development of a good programme for future soccer players in this country..The powers that be and that includes the likes of certain so called experts that I have had to listen to recently who have been very critical of Dale Mitchel and the current new CSA staff,( thank god that we have some up and coming VP'S who are currently in position who have some business skills and who know the game here and on other continents) and in all fairness are unfairly taking the flack for thirty years of the old school doing nothing but keep themselves in a job. What we need initialy is funding to create three or four zones across the width of Canada all governed by a central body with teaching or coaching centres with a head coach and two assistants in these areas all answerable to a director of operations possibly with the main centre being in BC as the climate would afford the national team to play and train all year.I personally have played professional soccer, and when I first set foot in Canada forty years ago was impressed by the young men I was playing with in regard to their strength and physical condition but as the imigration rush slowed down so did the skill level and am appalled at the the game and quality of soccer and lack of skill of todays generation even with the so called coaching clinics which are being run by the so called professional experts.My take on this is that it's a money making venture and using the success of the global appeal to line there pockets.Yes I did see Mr Forrest as a lad and did have the misfortune to have to coach against him,this being said I have to admire his political correctness and his knowledge when making comments regarding games.The tournament so far is a success and hopefully some of the local sports casters will take note that this is the only global or world game worth watching ,I often think that some of them don't have a clue and have never left Canadian soil to see a real game.
Best Regards George Urquhart Burnaby BC

Canadas tactics were horrible during the u-20s, especially compared to the MNT in the Gold Cup who played an exciting attacking game. If our MNT starts kicking the ball up the field to one striker surrounded by 4 defenders every time, then maybe I should start supporting my great great great Grandfathers team like the rest of the country.

Craig Forrest after hearing your different comments on tv, in this U-20, make me realize that you like many Canadians don't know soccer.
I hope from the bottom of my heart that u will learn more about it and improve your comments.

CBC is doing a great job !!

I would like to share my ideas with you about this sport anytime.

lack of passion, hiring coaches that have no clue what they are doing, and the whole Canadian Soccer System is to blame. i cannot believe there are some people in this country who actually believe soccer is fine here in Canada! no it's not period! everywere and anywere else in the world the soccer programs in other countries put money effort and quality in forming world class teams. we don't, and until that changes we will never be on the world level. while entire goverments give millions of dollards to their soccer programs all over the world, we have to sell chocolate bars to help train and develop our kids! someone has to wake up an smell the coffee and do something about it.

You know my grandmother once made a pancake that looked and tasted like a banana omelette. I asked her: "Where did you get the recipe for this pancake?" She replied: "I don't have a recipe. I saw the the darn thing on tv." I said, confused: "But, how did you know what ingrediants to use?" She said: "I didn't," and went on to say, "but what do you care? You like banana omelettes." "Yeah," I replied, "but I wanted pancakes."
I went on to tell my grandmother that pancakes have been around for zillions of years. You don't change a pancake recipe. It's not made to be changed. If you change it, the pancake becomes something else. A pancake is a pancake.
As is soccer. It's soccer. Not hockey.
Stick to the recipe and then add the fruit...