Canada Cup's a cracker
Wednesday, July 16, 2008 | 10:29 PM ET
I've just returned from my annual trip to the old country to visit family and play a little golf. Don't ask about the golf or the weather – neither has improved since last year. Indeed, the weather was considerably worse.
British 'summers' are something of a misnomer – no one takes much notice of the forecast since it is invariably inaccurate, but rain is rarely out of the equation. It's a constant puzzle to me why summer sports like cricket and tennis, which rely on dry weather, have survived for so many years in the UK.
With English soccer on its summer break, and teams busy re-tooling for the new season just a month away, there was time to focus on a classic Wimbledon tennis final and a stout rearguard action from South Africa's touring cricketers to salvage a draw against England.
Two very different sporting events sharing one vital ingredient – rivalry. Rafa Nadal, at last, overcame his nemesis on the grass courts in a match which gripped and divided the nation. Half my family were backing Roger Federer to surpass Bjorn Borg's run of consecutive Wimbledon titles, the other half desperate for Nadal to halt the Fed-Express and finally get the better of his arch rival.
Meanwhile, across London at Lord's, the home of cricket, spectators watched intently as first England, then South Africa asserted their authority over the course of five days. Neither team would yield and, in the end, the respective captains shook hands with the honours shared.
Sporting rivalries take time to evolve. It can take years, sometimes decades, for teams and their associated fans to find their niche on the landscape and geography generally has a part to play. In Europe, it's not uncommon to find two or more teams in the same town or city. In North America, it's a rarity and the vast distances between them does little to promote healthy competition.
A five-hour flight from Europe will land you in a new continent. A five-hour flight from Toronto doesn't necessarily get you out of Canada. And yet, radiating across the Rockies and the Prairies, soccer rivalries are being born which, given the correct nurturing, will grow and blossom for years to come.
For those who thought the Nutrilite Canadian Championship would be a convenient money spinner for the Canadian Soccer Association and the three teams involved, it's time to re-think the equation. This is not the comfortable qualifying route some Toronto FC fans had imagined. This is a real competition and there is a real danger that TFC will not be Canada's representatives at the inaugural CONCACAF Champions League.
After stumbling twice against Vancouver, it's now win or bust in the finale against Montreal next week. The Impact doesn't need a victory – a point will be good enough to eclipse John Carver's team and collect a bagful of Canadian bragging rights.
Toronto has home-field advantage and goes into the game knowing it has already beaten Montreal earlier in the round-robin tournament. But nothing would give the men from Quebec more satisfaction than to frustrate their so-called 'superior' rivals and, after beating the Whitecaps home and away, the Impact have the chance to notch-up a notable success and be crowned Canadian champions.
Such an outcome would also lend weight to the Saputo family's dream of having Montreal fast-tracked into Major League Soccer. The Reds, by contrast, must step up to the challenge, be patient and impose their style on the game rather than allowing Montreal to dictate the pace of the match. I think we're in for an absorbing contest where the stakes are high and where there are no prizes for finishing runner-up.
As things stand, we don't yet know who the victor will be. One thing we already know is the Canada Cup is a winner.
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About the Author
Nigel Reed lends his extensive experience, passion and knowledge of the game of soccer to his role as play-by-play announcer for CBC’s Major League Soccer broadcasts.
Reed has more than 20 years experience covering soccer, most notably a five-year stint from 1999 to 2004 where he was a host and producer for the English Premier League for BBC. He also covered English Premier League giants Liverpool and Everton for BBC Radio and provided analysis for both BBC TV and the BBC website.
More recently, Reed served as play-by-play announcer for CBC’s coverage of the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He also hosts The Soccer Show for the Toronto sports radio station the Fan 590.
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Comments
brad
toronto
Nigel, I couldn't find anywhere else to provide this.
Could you please blog about the FIFA global schedule for some of us newbies?!?!?!?
I've heard and read bits and pieces. With a Canadian team playing in CONCACAF (they need a new name!) I assume CONCACAF adhears to this global schedule.
What is MLS' position on this? How does this affect our Reds?
Your insight will be very much appreciated!
Cheers
Brad
Posted July 25, 2008 11:49 AM
Mark
Peterborough
The series is really entertaining and is great for building canadian rivalries. I saw the game and it was the most eletric sporting event I have ever attended. Hopefully TFC can advance next year though :|
Posted July 23, 2008 09:08 PM
Cristian Ureta
Calgary,Vancouver
I have said from the beginning that Vancouver and Montreal should never be taken lightly due to the strength of their individual achievements in Canadian soccer. Also the fact that so many ex Whitecap and Impact players are spread among teams in the MLS including TFC should also be an indication of the type of football being played in the USL (formerly the A-League).
That being said, and I hate to say this (being a huge Whitecap supporter) TFC has not shown their true form yet,and if they could've just finished better in the final third against Vancouver. The stakes in the next game would be different.
This will be the most important game in Canadian Club Soccer History, and The CBC, Sportsnet, and TSN can no longer look at this from a business perspective ie. advertising, they must, and have an obligation to its viewers to provide coverage of these important events. This game will not grow on its own we must all pitch in and make this game grow in North America. D. Beckham is doing his part and we should too, for real!
Whats Up Garrett? Have seen or heard from you in years Bro! Still playing ball I see.
Posted July 21, 2008 03:19 PM
Sones
Lethbridge
Mr. Restrepo, give your head a shake, the NFL on the internet? The most important thing for TV networks is money and the NFLs ratings will always be much, much higher than Canadian soccer. Canadian soccer or any soccer for that matter gets the coverage on TV that it deserves, some people like it but most don't care.
Posted July 21, 2008 12:46 PM
Mike
Toronto
Loving the soccer.
Yes better coverage would be great.
Canada still has to over come its colonial mind set - "If its from somewhere else it must be better."
I remember once trying to explain to a visiting friend from another country why people here were watching foreign (i.e US and European teams) and not our Canadian ones.
I couldn't.
Posted July 19, 2008 01:12 PM
Rick K Restrepo
Toronto
Wow, I completely agree with Rosie of BC. Why is it the soccer highlights on sportsnet, TSN Sport Center are about a second and usually shows the last goal that was scored. Euro recieved much more coverage, and also the European clubs. CBC is canadian as well as sportsnet, and TSN sports center and they should broadcast games of Canada National team as well the Gold Cup live instead of a tape delay. Its exhausting to watch through the internet. Why does TSN broadcast hockey games that does not involve Canadian teams, playoffs I understand, but during the regular season, come on. All these sports shows really wrap themselves around american teams like the NFL more instead of the CFL or the Premier League instead of TFC of the MLS or Montreal and Vancouver of the USL. These stations must commit to broadcast Canada or else we'll lose our identity. Identity of being truley individual instead we are british or americans, I want to be Canadian who loves hockey and soccer among other sports but really want to root for my home team. Let people who want to watch the Premier League and the NFL suffer by watching it through the internet!
Posted July 17, 2008 06:31 PM
Dwayne Cole
Winnipeg
There is no such thing as the Canada Cup.
The teams are playing for the Voyageurs Cup and this is the seventh year running for this trophy.
It should also be noted that Montreal have won the past six years in a row.
Posted July 17, 2008 03:02 PM
Garrett Currie
Vancouver
Bravo CSA,
Sorry its about time that the CSA allows something like this to happen with the use of several of its players. It has been a long time over due for this occassion. But lets not shed a gray cloud on an event that will hopefully turn a corner for the Canadian Soccer Association as a whole. Lets have fun and celebrate how far the CSA has come and their thinking and the players talents that will be put on display. Although, the next step for the CSA is to scout talent that exists in many small First Nations communities in BC. An undiscovered wealth of talent exists.
Yours Truly,
Soccer Fan and Player Garrett Currie
Posted July 17, 2008 02:40 PM
Rosie
BC
The Canada Cup is an excellent step in the right direction in developing and showcasing professional soccer across the country. One thing this tournament has certainly highlighted is that soccer is alive and well in other areas of Canada. What a shock for Toronto and their fans to not be able to blow away these "lesser" teams and win this cup hands down!
What soccer fans in Canada have always known, and what the CSA and even the CBC don't seem to grasp, is that Toronto is NOT the epicentre of soccer. Just because the Whitecaps and Impact play in a lower division does not mean the quality of soccer from these teams is any less than Toronto. The Canada Cup has certainly highlighted this point.
The only difference between these teams is that Toronto has the BMO field which allowed their qualification into the MLS. Vancouver and Montreal have not been able to convince the various governments to allow for this qualification. But this has nothing to do with soccer. This is politics.
For my own opinion, if we want to develop professional soccer in Canada then we need to promote soccer all across this country. Unless you live in Vancouver or Montreal you would not know how well these teams are doing in their leagues. The CBC is just as much to blame as CSA or any other sports media because all you have to do is look at the front page for your soccer section and it all revolves around Toronto and the MLS. The section has done an excellent job of covering Euro and World cup, etc., but for more local soccer flavour, I'm sorry but you are seriously lacking.
The CSA and all major medias have to be fair and promote all soccer, all across the country, then they can say they truly represent the soccer community.
Posted July 17, 2008 01:17 PM