Club vs. Country, TFC style
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
De Guzman, starring for Canada at Gold Cup 2007.
Yesterday the CSA finally announced what every hardcore Canadian soccer supporter had long known, that its men’s national team would be taking on powerhouse Argentina in Buenos Aires on May 25.
Somehow, little Canada got chosen as the opponent for Lionel Messi and company’s final preparatory match prior to jetting off to South Africa for the World Cup. In fact, the match will also headline Argentina’s bicentenary celebration.
Never mind the fact that the oft-maligned CSA somehow managed to convince a two-time World Cup winner that Canada was a worthy opponent in such an impoirtant match, as this”new” CSA seems to be doing things right more often than wrong these days (that’s not to ignore all that the Association has done wrong over the years, but that’s a much longer tale).
The big story here is that the match – the most glamourous friendly that Canada has been involved in since it hosted Brazil on Edmonton one week prior to the opening of the 1994 World Cup – falls smack dab in the middle of the MLS season, and is not on a FIFA-mandated international date. What this means, of course, is that any club still playing its schedule at the end of May is under no obligation to release its players.
For Argentina this is no problem, as all of its players star in European leagues that will have either ended their seasons or shut down by then for the impending World Cup tournament. For Canada this is a big problem, as many of its key players ply their trade in MLS, which is famous for playing through FIFA international dates and tournaments.
Of course, this game does not fall on a FIFA date, as previously mentioned. But that’s beside the point. Canada doesn’t get invited to such hotbeds of football like El Monumental very often, and some of its MLS players may want the opportunity to play in this match, regardless of the rules.
TFC, for all the criticism its taken from some quarters for fielding players who have skipped the Gold Cup tournament or friendlies to focus on their club, would be well within its rights to refuse Canadian coach Stephen Hart’s request for some of its players, should it come along. But what if star players like Dwayne de Rosario and Julian de Guzman voice their desire to play in Argentina?
Toronto has seven games scheduled for the month of May, including MLS matches versus New England and San Jose on the 22nd and 29th, and what could be the deciding game of the Voyageurs Cup at home against Vancouver on June 2nd. They simply cannot afford to lose even one of JDG or DeRo during such a crucial stretch, let alone any other Canadian players.
Yet, if any of the Canucks in the side quietly asked Preki for permission to play in the Argentina match, would he be able to say “no” so easily? Does Preki want to risk disappointing De Guzman, his highest-priced player and midfield general, should the star ask to go? Will De Rosario, the club’s leading scorer and main attacking talent, take kindly to not being allowed to represent his own country? Will a young stud like Nana Attakora feel alienated by his coach if Preki was forced to deny a request to fly south for a week in the middle of the worst stretch of the 2010 TFC season?
To me, Preki has to say no, as his job is to give Toronto FC the best chances to win games, and losing anyone during the ridiculous May stretch is just not conducive to that goal. That said, if the players ask to go (because I really think it will be up to the players as Hart has no real ground to stand on requesting players on a non FIFA date) does Preki risk the potential rift denying such a request may cause?
Only time will tell, of course, but how typically Canadian soccer it is that this is even an issue.
Posted by Rudi Schuller
Category: Canadian Soccer, MLS, Toronto FC
Comments (114)
Awesome site, I’m very glad I wandered onto it through yahoo oing to need to put this one on the old bookmark list
Hrmm that was weird, my comment got eaten. Anyway I wanted to say that it’s nice to know that someone else also mentioned this as I had trouble finding the same info elsewhere. This was the first place that told me the answer. Thanks.
Advantageously, the post is actually the sweetest topic on this registry related issue. I fit in with your conclusions and will thirstily look forward to your future updates. Just saying thanks will not just be enough, for the extraordinary clarity in your writing. I will immediately grab your rss feed to stay informed of any updates.
Hi, I hope you will have some time for answering my following question. How do I treat pain for kidney stones without using pain meds? Could you recommend any non pharmacological treatments? Thank you in advance.
I just book marked your blog on Digg and StumbleUpon.I enjoy reading your commentaries.
I was reading Paulo Coelho’s book entitled Eleven Minutes and I felt compassion for the main character in the plot since life in general for her was harsh . The author was really imaginative without losing grasp of the ruthless realities of today which made the work of fiction worth reading.
I was observing my children playing by the lawn and they were so active playing with their toys. I always enjoy watching them as they are but every time I start imagining that they’ll be going to school soon worries me. Life in general can be very easy when you’re still little but things become difficult as you grow up.
I was reading a lifestyle magazine about how to raise your kids right and life in general. I had so much fun reading the magazine that I’m planning to buy an copy of it every month.
I was reading a book in our library and I was so surprised at the things that the author highlighted in the book. He fundamentally talked about life in general and how people disregard a lot of important things and allocating most of their time worrying on unimportant things.
I was requested a few months ago to be a lecturer at a high school in a nearby city. I’ve been in several career talks before as a speaker and I’m excited about this new invitation since I find it very rewarding to talk about career and life in general.Life in general can be a little hard for most of us. Individuals go to work to pay for fees and mortgages and spare only a few dollars for future use since we’re all accustomed to living our lives in debt nowadays .
Hi, I’ve found your stuff pretty helpful but you can improve it by answering my question – )) What are some ways to get rid of headaches during pregnancy? I was told “drink plenty of fluids and make sure your eating frequently”. that doesn’t work ((
I was watching a television series for the first time and my interest grew on it because it was a funny series about life in genera The group of actors are not very familiar celebrities but the story line is really satisfactory that’s why I’m planning to stay on such series.
We were talking in class a artwork during the Renaissance era. It was a beautiful painting about life in general throughout those times. There were people in the painting doing their daily routines and the painting was like a portal of the past .
If you are to have a wedding reception, selecting the right caterer to deal with, becomes a major task to take on.