Midfielder Julian de Guzman, centre, battles Jamaica in a World Cup qualifier for Canada last August.
(Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)Canadian midfielder Julian de Guzman blasted the Canadian Soccer Association on Thursday, saying it does not take the game seriously, and that is what led Canada's national team to play like "a bunch of amateurs" in its failed bid to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.
De Guzman, a midfielder with Spanish club Deportivo La Coruna, told the Associated Press that Canada's national team would never succeed internationally until major changes are made.
He noted that the federation has only scheduled one friendly — against Cyprus on May 30 — in preparation for this July's Gold Cup, the CONCACAF region's championship tournament.
"They're not going in to win it," De Guzman said. "We're going to play one game in May to prepare for the Gold Cup? How real are you being trying to compete at a high level internationally?
"It feels like we're taking a step backwards. That's the feeling in the whole association. They lack knowledge about the present game."
CSA spokesman Richard Scott told the Canadian Press he preferred not to comment, although he did say the team will play more than one friendly before the Gold Cup.
When contacted by the Associated Press, Canadian team manager Morgan Quarry said he had no comment.
Canada, ranked No. 9 in the region and 86th overall, has already been eliminated from qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa after a dismal performance left it last in its group behind Honduras, Mexico and Jamaica. It failed to win a match, earning only two draws in six matches.
"The players we have were good enough to make the World Cup, I don't care what anyone says," said de Guzman, who was selected as Canada's best player in 2008. "I heard statements from the coach [Dale Mitchell] where he said the team wasn't good enough … but this team for me was the best team … It was just the way he went about it — we went about it like a bunch of amateurs."
De Guzman, who has made 35 appearances for Canada and helped lead the team to the Gold Cup semifinals in 2007, said he would never refuse a call-up — even during his off-season break from playing in Europe.
He said he took great pride in playing for his country, although he feared that motivation would be absent at the Gold Cup unless some changes were made.
"You're not going to make everyone happy if you don't have a proper plan," the 27-year-old Toronto native said. "But if they're going to just go about it like amateurs and waste our time, then it doesn't really make it interesting for all the guys. We're not playing a provincial tournament here. This is a different level of football, and they're taking it like a provincial tournament."
De Guzman said he has voiced his concerns to the CSA but hasn't heard any response.
"I'm lost for ideas right now," he said. "I already gave all my ideas out, and they put them in their back pocket and sat on it."
De Guzman's contract with Deportivo runs out at the end of this season, and despite listing Toronto FC as one of his favourite clubs on the CSA's website, he has no intention of returning to North America for at least another five years.
"It's too early. I'm in my prime right now," de Guzman said. "I don't know how many Canadians have been able to experience this at this level. I need to continue to do it as long as I can."
De Guzman's younger brother, Jonathan, ditched a chance to pursue his international career with Canada, opting instead for the Netherlands after coming up through Feyenoord's academy.
With files from the Canadian Press
