Mitch Peacock FIFA U-20

The Czech Republic struck twice for the fourth time in the tournament Wednesday night against Austria Edmonton - goals in the fourth and 15th minute were more than enough to take one surprise side past another and into the FIFA U-20 World Cup final.

The Czechs took advantage of a modified Austrian back-four, and rode their early advantage to their first knockout stage victory that didn't call for penalties to decide a winner.

The Austrians made six changes in response to the shock broken ankle/fibula suffered by defender Thomas Panny in practice Tuesday and the suspensions of fellow defender Michael Madl and holding midfielder Michael Stanislaw.

Saturday's Spain-Czech Republic quarter-final in Edmonton is stirring up a lot of emotion.

Not from the 26,000 fans in attendance as much as from some of those covering the match and from the Spanish side after the contest. Of course, the underdog Czechs were geared up too, but in a different way.

At issue is Spain's belief they played to win, and their belief the Czechs played 'not to lose', or at least simply to wait for counter-attacks and set-piece chances.

As the knockout stages begin without the host team for the first time in the last five FIFA U-20 World Cups, it's safe to say Canada's performance was disappointing.

Disappointing to those in-and-around the side, and disappointing to those backing the side.

After all, the consistent message was this was a group capable of matching that best-ever quarter-final showing earned in 2003. Lost in that message was proper due for the word 'capable'. After all, it's tough to predict how a side made up of players spread all over the place for their club play, and one not having to qualify, will fare when the ball starts getting kicked for real.

A wise man once said it's better to have goals than expectations.

With goals you've got something to shoot for, and if things don't work out as planned, you've got the lessons learned along the way.

With expectations all you've really got are three options and two of them aren't great. On the "not great' side you can either come up short and get hammered for not doing what people wanted you to, or you can simply do as expected and get a "pass". Only rarely do you exceed expectations and reap all the rewards that come with doing more than people figured you for.

Canada makes its way to Edmonton Monday, and hopes a change of scenery will help put Sunday's 3-0 opening match loss to Chile behind them. The expectations of many were sky-high for the Canucks heading into the first game, and for those looking at Canada as a sure bet for the knockout stages, the result must have come as a shock.

But even those thinking Canada would have to work to advance to the last-16 had to be surprised at how much stronger Chile looked. The likes of Arturo Vidal, Mathias Vidangossy, and Nicolas Medina more than made up for the absence of Alexis Sanchez and Hans Martinez, both out due to suspension. Canada struggled for possession, and was unable to maintain it for any real length of time. Chile showed that when they are allowed to play to their strengths they are tough to stop.

So it's -3 in the goal-difference column for Canada with Austria and Congo to come in the Alberta capital, and it seems to me the red-and-white have to find the right outlook before they can get the points they need to keep this thing going. Post-game Chile, the theme was "they were better on the night, we just have to move on".