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    Guest
    In Canada there is a growing consensus that the Canadian women are a legitimate darkhorse in the World Cup. Most assume that they will advance to the knock-out stage and a semi-final berth seems to be the result many would be satisfied with.
    Outside of these borders, however, the Canucks aren’t as fancied. Although most non-Canadian previews suggest that Canada is “improved” none suggest that they are legitimate contenders. Only one non-American preview I came across in my research had Canada advancing to the semis – Lauren Barker in the All White Kit/ Equalizer preview. Like, CSN they predicted a fourth place finish for the Canucks. There was an even split between those that saw Canada losing in the quarters versus those that saw France advance at their expense in the rest of the non-Canadian previews I came across.
    The betting houses are even more pessimistic. Although it’s important to realize that odds are based on action and a lot of action on the WWC is from people with limited knowledge of women’s football (and who base their perceptions on their knowledge of men’s football) the odds do tell a story of where people outside of Canada see this team.
    Here are the current (11 a.m. Friday) odds at one British betting house.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]To win the World Cup (odds are multipliers – so, if you were to bet $10 on Germany to win the World Cup at their current odds of 2.04 you would get a return of $10 X $2.04, or $20.40)
    1- Germany – 2.04
    2- Brazil – 6
    3 - USA – 6.6
    4 - Sweden – 16.5
    5 - England – 30
    5 - France – 30
    7 - Japan – 36
    8 - Norway – 38
    9 - Canada – 42
    10 - North Korea – 55
    11 - Australia – 160
    12 - Mexico – 300
    13 - Colombia – 500
    14 - New Zealand – 540
    14 - Nigeria – 540
    14 - Equatorial Guinea – 540
    For those that are interested in betting on group winners you’d get these odds:
    Group A
    1 - Germany – 1.1
    2 - France – 9.6
    3 - Canada – 15
    4 - Nigeria – 29
    Group B
    1 - Japan – 1.97
    2 - England – 2.46
    3 - Mexico – 9
    4 - New Zealand – 12
    Group C
    1 - USA – 1.67
    2 - Sweden – 3
    3 - Colombia – 26
    4 - North Korea – 7.2
    Group D
    1 - Brazil – 1.43
    2 - Norway – 3.15
    3 - Australia – 9.2
    4 - Equatorial Guinea – 42
    If you just want to bet on the Canucks for Sunday you can get odds of 26 for a win over Germany or 10 for a draw.
    Guest
    Today we're joined by ESPN's Jeff Carlisle to help set up the Women's World Cup, talk about the decline of the U.S. team over the past few years and get some predictions on Canada's chances.
    We'll also talk about some of the names being linked to Toronto FC, debate where the U17 result against England ranks in national team successes and discuss what the CSA should do, if they find Nevio Pizzolitto guilty of spitting on a fan.
    The archived show is now up
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <embed src="http://itscalledfootball.podhoster.com/FlowPlayerLight.swf?config={embedded:true,videoFile:%27http://itscalledfootball.podhoster.com/download/2540/24080/jun242011final.mp3%27,initialScale:%27scale%27,controlBarBackgroundColor:%270x778899%27,autoBuffering:false,loop:false,autoPlay:false}" width="400" height="25" scale="fit" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed>
    Guest

    TFC targeting Dutch DP

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Multiple sources have told CSN that Toronto FC is after PSV striker Danny Koevermans.
    The 32-year-old has 65 Eredivisie goals over the last seven years, playing for AZ and PSV. He has four Dutch caps.
    Toronto would need to spend DP money on the Dutchman, but it's said that it would not be a problem.
    If Koevermans is signed it is unlikely that the Reds will continue their pursuit of Canadian international Rob Friend. The club has a discovery claim on the BC native and have had initial conversations with him about a possible move. The stumbling block is that he would require a transfer fee, which would force Toronto to sign him as a DP.
    A source in Vancouver told CSN that the Whitecaps have also expressed interest in Friend, but that his representatives informed them that they were "in talks" with TFC.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest
    Here at Long Balls, our bag of writing tricks is pretty easy to haul around at the best of times, nevermind when we're on our patchy summer posting schedule. Therefore, when we went searching for a word to describe young Canadian Joseph DiChiara's rapid ascent through the ranks of Russian football, the first one we found was "meteoric."
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The Toronto-area youth out of North York's Spartacus Soccer Club signed a pro contract with Russian Premier League side Krylya Sovetov in March. That is impressive, considering he is 19 years old. Starting with the youth team, he progressed in the span of four months to the reserve squad, to being an unused sub with the first team, to a substitute appearance with the first team last weekend, and then finally, his first start on Wednesday.
    DiChiara, described as a defensive midfielder, played all 90 minutes in a 3-0 loss to Anzhi Makhachkala. That club is home to once-brilliant Brazilian fullback Roberto Carlos, who also did the full ninety.
    The Russian Premier League is not England, Spain or Germany, but it's hardly a gig for stiffs either. It's UEFA's 7th ranked league, and anyone who follows European football will immediately recognize clubs such as Rubin Kazan, Zenit Saint Petersburg and CSKA Moscow.
    One match does not mark the second coming of Claude Makélelé, but it's still remarkable that a kid developed in Toronto has made such fast progress in Russia. The fact Krylya Soveto is placed near the bottom of the table notwithstanding. An interesting interview with the president of Spartacus can be found
    . The bits about DiChiara kick off at about the 12:10 mark. A hardworking Krylya Sovetov fan has been updating Canadian supporters on DiChiara’s progress over the past few months via online fanboards. To give a sense of how the he is coming along, here's some words originally written by one of the team’s coaches in Russian describing a seminal moment during DiChiara's time on the training pitch.
    Whew! Such words are enough to quicken anyone's pulse, nevermind the pulses of those who watched 270 minutes of Canada in the Gold Cup earlier this month. That side could certainly have used an animated golem or two in the middle of the field.
    DiChiara has never represented Canada at any youth level, but some supporters have already sounded online rallying calls to get him into the senior setup for the first round of World Cup qualifying later this year. Assuming that is, he continues to get regular minutes in Russia.
    What do you think? How does the potential of youth, regular action in the Russian Premier League and an extremely rapid learning curve compare with Canada’s established central midfielding suspects like Julian de Guzman, Patrice Bernier, Terry Dunfield, Will Johnson and Pedro Pacheco?
    If DiChiara establishes himself in Russia, Long Balls wholeheartedly endorses seeing him suit up for Canada against anyone in Concacaf, be it Saint Lucia or Mexico.
    Guest

    Support the Fort

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    By now, most will be aware of the issues between the New England Revolution and those that sit in their supporter's section The Fort.
    If not, take a quick moment to read Tom Dunmore's great reporting on the incident.
    In short, the Revs front office apparently directed its security force to forcefully remove fans from the supporter's section who were participating in the "You Suck Asshole" chant. I'll let Dunmore tell you the rest. However, I do encourage people that believe in the importance of vibrant supporter's sections across the league to add their support to the Support the Fort Facebook page.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest
    With only days left until Canada begins its Women's World Cup journey against Germany, we check in once again with Ingrid Green, the managing director of soccer for Play3rSport.com. Ingrid brings her passion and insight to a discussion of Canada's roster selection, the (now seemingly resolved) issues concerning Carolina Morace and player compensation, and what sort of inspiration the CanWNT is drawing ahead of the tournament.
    She also offers her take on Canada's Group A opponents -- Germany, France and Nigeria -- and what sort of results Big Red can expect. We're hoping to check in with Ingrid during the tournament, so to stay up-to-date, be sure to subscribe to the Some Canadian Guys iTunes feed.
    Click here for today's interview (June 23) (mp3)
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest
    Canadian u17 head coach Sean Fleming confirmed that goal scoring hero Quillan Roberts while once again get the start in goal against Rwanda, as the Canucks look to advance to the knock-out stage of the World Cup.
    Roberts made history – and worldwide headlines – yesterday becoming the first keeper (any age group, both genders) to score in a traditional FIFA championship.
    The goal was nice, Fleming said, but he was happier with the way Roberts took command after coming in as a back-up.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]“Coming into the tournament against a team like England is not easy,” Fleming said. “But (Roberts) did well. His shot blocking, communication was good and his distribution.”
    Fleming said the coaching staff had a quick word with the Toronto FC academy player following training today.
    “Obviously no game is perfect,” the coach said. “We saw some things we’d like him to work on against Rwanda. Hopefully he can make those changes.”
    Canada goes into its final game knowing that a loss will eliminate them. A draw might be enough to put them through as a best third place finisher, but it seems unlikely. However, a win will more than likely be enough.
    With a win Canada could even go through as the No 2 team in the group, but their margin of victory combined with England’s margin of loss against Uruguay would need to be greater than five.
    Fleming said he’s not focusing on that type of mathematics.
    “It’s that old adage that it’s about the performance. If the performance is there the result will follow.”
    As such, Fleming claims that he will not be watching the scores as Canada play, nor will he adjust his tactics to reflect a need for more goals.
    The game against Rwanda can be seen live on CBC Bold, and on CBC.ca.
    Guest
    Canada finally earned their first ever point at the FIFA U-17 World Cup on Wednesday night, with a half-field stunner by goalkeeper Quillan Roberts proving to be the goal that sealed the 2-2 draw for the Canadians versus England.
    You can read the full story in my MLSsoccer.com match report, but the truly stand-out moment of the night has to be Roberts' 87th minute goal, basically a ball launched from just behind the centre line that took a high bounce and proceeded to land fortuitously into the England net.
    (Video after the jump.)
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ole37HtoM8
    Canada are still in the hunt for a Round of 16 spot, with a win against Rwanda on Saturday the needed result to advance.

    Rudi Schuller occasionally contributes Toronto FC and Canadian national team content to the 24th Minute. He manages the Euro File here at Canadian Soccer News, and is MLSsoccer.com's beat writer for all things concerning Canada's men's national teams. Follow Rudi on Twitter, @RudiSchuller.
    Guest
    In the final part of CSN’s WWC preview, we look at the top four teams – The Favourites.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    No 4 – Sweden
    The forgotten world power – likely for a reason, they’ve never won a damn thing. They likely feel a little screwed by the draw, which placed them in a very competitive group that includes the United States. However, the positive of that group is that they draw the US at a time when the Americans seem most vulnerable (which is relative, more on that in a bit).
    There are questions up front where only Lotta Schelin has scored with any consistency in the past. Still, Sweden is a well coached and tactically strong team. Although few think of them when naming tournament favourites, they have to be considered right there.
    Finding a way to beat the US is the key. Failing to do so means Brazil in the quarters and although Sweden could upset Brazil on the right day the quarters are not where they want to be testing that out.
    High end expectations: Winning seems too much of an ask, but they can win the group. If they do, the finals are within reach (and once there...)
    Low end expectations: It depends on how strong North Korea is. If everything goes wrong they could miss the knock-out stage.
    Our expectations: Second in the group, lose to Brazil in quarters.
    No 3 – United States of America
    Gone are the days when the Americans were next to unbeatable. This is a side that has demonstrated questionable tactics and an unprecedented vulnerability over the past year.
    Games against Mexico used to be an opportunity to give the kids a run out. This past winter, the Mexicans beat them in a game that mattered.
    Player selection seems to be based on seniority rather than merit and there are a lot of questions about what they are going to do when the current group finally retires.
    But, they are still the Americans.
    Other than Germany, no one can match with them physically. They still have the stars and every time people count them out they tend to bounce back to win a gold medal.
    High end expectations: On the right day, the Americans might be the only team that can beat the Germans. They could win.
    Low end expectations: Surely they can’t be upset twice in the group stage, but they could slip to second. Then Brazil would wait and Brazil is a side that the Americans struggle with. So, a quarterfinal exit is not that big of a stretch.
    Our expectations: They will lose the game of the tournament in the semi-finals against Germany. Then, they’ll beat Canada to take third.
    No 2 – Brazil
    Marta. Rosana. Christiane.
    Let’s start the conversation there. In a tournament that will feature some incredible talent, Brazil is blessed with it in abundance. On a player to player basis, the Brazilians might actually have more talent than the Germans.
    They lose out on the tactical side of things though. Brazil has improved its team game in recent years, but it’s still a team that is going to try and get by on individuals making individual plays.
    Pretty much every neutral in the world will want to see a Brazil v German final and the draw is set up to do just that. Brazil actually catches a break in that the Americans are likely (assuming they win their group) on the German side of the draw.
    High end expectations: We have a hard time seeing Brazil beating Germany, but we can see Brazil beating the United States and the United States beating Germany (if you follow). So, Brazil is one of the three teams with a legitimate chance to win.
    Low end expectations: Anything less than a finals appearance will be a major disappointment.
    Our expectations: Finalists to...
    No 1 – Germany
    It’s hard to remember a World Cup – men or women – where one team has been so clearly the favourite. If you play this tournament out 10 times, Germany likely wins nine. That it’s in Germany is just a happy circumstance.
    It could be a hell of a party in Berlin.
    They have won five straight European championships, have not allowed a goal in the World Cup Finals since 2003 and, for good measure, have the best u20 program in the world too. It’s an embarrassment of riches.
    The veteran core of the side looks like an all-time World Cup best XI list.
    Can Germany be stopped? It seems unlikely. The only side that might be able to draw the resources to take them down are the Americans, but that would be a once in 10 scenario as well.
    High end expectations: To win without allowing a goal
    Low end expectations: If they don’t win it will be the biggest upset in women’s football history and on a short list of biggest upsets in football history, period.
    Our expectations: Bet the house on a German championship.
    Guest
    In part 3 of CSN’s WWC preview we look at team’s 5 to 8 – the On the Cusps
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    No 8 – France
    The French are a sexy darkhorse pick by many. Built in the same fashion that the powerhouse male French teams were there is some thought that they are ready to make the jump from middling side to true contender.
    Lead by the tournament’s most senior player, Sandrine Soubeyrand, and featuring nice mix of WWC 2003 veterans and new blood this is likely the best French side in history.
    The doubts come from a lack of success at any level in the past. However, the recent UEFA Champions League win by Olympique Lyon, featuring much of this squad, has caused some to pause.
    High end expectations: Edging Canada for second in the group and advancing to the semi-finals
    Low end expectations: Third in group
    Our expectations: Third, but not by much.
    No 7 – Canada
    There is little doubt that Carolina Morace has moved this program forward a great deal in a short period of time. They are a legitimate darkhorse pick to advance to the final, although that would be a big ask.
    Canada features one of the world’s great players in Christine Sinclair and a core that has played a lot of games together over the last 18-months. Played well too – Canada is 10-1-1 in 2011 and it’s won some silverware too. A pair of draws against Brazil in Brazil suggested that on the right day the Canucks can compete with the big players.
    There has never been a Canadian team with as much expectation placed on them heading into a finals. If Canada fails to reach the semis there will be a lot of people disappointed.
    But, let’s step away from the hype for a moment. Yes, Canada has a chance to go deep, but they could also lose out in the group stage. Germany is too strong – so that’s likely a loss. Nigeria should be a win, so it comes down to one game against France. The French are not going to be an easy touch.
    If they do get out of the group however the semis are a real possibility.
    High end expectations – If everything fell into place Canada could advance to the final.
    Low end expectations – A crushing group stage exit to underrated France.
    Our expectations: Fourth place overall after a semi-final appearance. But, we also won’t be stunned if they are upset early – Morace’s work is not yet done.
    No 6 – Japan
    A funny team that’s hard to pinpoint. After years of underachieving they had a measure of success in Beijing, which they then used to propel themselves to the No 4 ranked team in the world.
    FIFA rankings lie – a lot – but Japan is a solid team (emphasis on word team, as they play an organized and collective game). You’d like a true game breaker to emerge, but there is more than enough here to get out of a weak group.
    Getting out of the group might not be good enough as the No 2 team gets Germany. Japan needs to win to have a real chance at a deep run.
    High end expectations – A run to the semis is certainly possible.
    Low end expectations: It’s hard to see them missing the knock-out stage, but a second place finish in the group would be a disappointment.
    Our expectations: We rank England slightly ahead, so we see Japan losing to Germany in the quarters.
    No 5 – England
    The first requirement of being a contender in the women’s game is to have a superstar. England has one in Kelly Smith. The second is to show that you can grind out results against top teams. With results over the USA and Sweden recently, they are starting to do just that.
    Although it’s hard to see a true darkhorse wining, you would have to think that England is the most likely from outside the top four to do it.
    As with Japan, it will come down to wining the group. Do that and you are looking at a toss-up game against likely France or Canada to get to the semis.
    High end expectations: With recent big results a appearance in the finals is not out of the question
    Low end expectations: Second in group, German appetizer in knock-out stage.
    Our expectations: Win group, lose in quarterfinals to Group A runner-up (but with a good chance to win quarter).
    Next-up, part 4 – The favourites
    Guest
    In part 2 of the CSN preview, the No 9 to 12 ranked teams – the Mushy Middle:
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    No 12 – Nigeria
    They are always there; they always go home early. Nigeria has struggled to make an impact at the Finals, despite qualifying for every tournament.
    This year doesn’t look much different. Drawn in with Germany, Canada and France the Nigerians once again seem overmatched. Actually, they seem to be falling further behind the top teams – they lost 8-0 to Germany in November.
    The team is also in causing some controversy with its manager’s seeming obsession with driving lesbians off the team.
    If you read local newspaper reports about the team’s preparations, you’ll note that they fully admit that they know very little about France and Canada (but are convinced they can beat them).
    They’re the only ones.
    High end expectations: If they catch one of Canada or France napping they could play spoiler to the two sides chasing No 2 in the group.
    Low end expectations: France and Canada running up the score in an attempt to get a better goal differential.
    Our expectations: A fairly weak 0-3 and a blow out at the hands of Germany.
    No 11 – Australia
    This is another side that might have more of an eye to 2015 than to 2011. The Aussies are young – like, diapers young. However, they are also accomplished and come from a country that values women’s sport and has had a fair bit of success in women’s football.
    In short, just because they are young doesn’t mean they will be an easy touch. Elyse Perry is a bit of a star Down Under, as a two sport athlete. At 20, she’s an old lady compaired to some of the talent the Aussies are sending. There are a couple 16-year-olds -- Caitlin Foord and Emily van Egmond – are expected to feature.
    High end expectations – It’s not the toughest group. Brazil seems a step above and Equatorial Guinea a step below. So, it will come down to a match-up with a somewhat ordinary Norwegian side. The quarters are a possibility.
    Low end expectations – Likely losing to Norway.
    Our expectations – 1-2, losing to Norway.
    No 10 – Norway
    As Norwegian sides go, this one is fairly average. Gone are many of the stars that lead the team to Olympic glory last decade and to World Cup glory before that. What remains, however, is the system.
    Norway still plays the rugged, direct game that makes purists cringe and opposing defenders flinch. What Canada did for years, Norway does better.
    This is a young team now, which is why they are neck and neck with the Aussies to advance, but it should be remembered that Norway has reached the knock-out stage of every World Cup.
    High end expectations – Anything beyond the quarters seems a stretch, but this is a team that knows how to get results.
    Low end expectations: Nicked by Australia for second.
    Our expectations: 2-1, lose in quarters.
    No 9 – North Korea
    North Korea has made an impressive investment in women’s soccer and it has paid off at the youth ranks where they are contenders to win every tournament they are in.
    The senior women have so far failed to make that same breakthrough. The problem with handicapping North Korea is that it’s next to impossible to get good information about them.
    Still, you can make some assumptions – they will be fit and technically gifted. They will also have played together a lot.
    Until we see North Korea break through at the senior level we’ll have to assume that they will remain right at the cusp.
    High end expectations – With North Korea who knows. If they can replicate the youth sides they could go all the way to the final
    Low end expectations – They could also finish last in the group
    Our expectations – A tricky opponent that plays both the USA and Sweden tough, but falls just short of advancing.
    Next up, part 3 – The On the Cusps
    Guest
    Can Germany be stopped? Do the Americans have one last gasp left in them? Could Canada really go deep?
    Canadian Soccer News endeavours to answer those questions and more in its preview of all 16 teams taking part in FIFA’s second biggest event.
    In part 1 we look at our bottom four ranked teams, the “Happy to be Theres”
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    No 16 – Equatorial Guinea
    Oil rich and self-aware the Equatorial Guinea (EG) government decided that it wanted some footballing glory and deducted that the quickest way to so that was to focus on the women. With fewer countries playing the game seriously the road to the World Cup would be quicker.
    Unfortunately, EG allegedly took an extra step to make sure that it could get there – it allegedly enlisted the help of men. Three players -- Salimata Simpore, Bilguissa Simpore and Genoveva Añonma – were accused of being men.
    Although photos can lie, a quick Google image search does raise questions.
    Partly in reaction, FIFA implemented gender testing protocols for this World Cup. The players are no longer with the team. Their absence does not prove they are men, but it also doesn’t help the argument that they were women.
    Regardless the loss is significant on the pitch. The three were key throughout qualifying.
    It was always going to be a difficult journey for EG in its first finals. That task is now harder.
    High end expectation: Competitiveness -- in a very tough Group a win seems highly unlikely.
    Low end expectation: A disaster. The women’s field has become much more competitive in recent years, but if there is a team that might have a 10-0 howler it could be EG.
    Our expectation: EG will lose all three, but will keep the score somewhat respectful (except against Brazil. All bets are off there) .
    No 15 – New Zealand
    Like its men’s team the Kiwis have benefited from Australia’s defection to Asia. The NZ federation went young and has placed a lot of resources into the youth teams. The result is a team that is likely a few years away from true competitiveness.
    With just one point out of six matches at the 2007 World Cup and 2008 Olympics there is a lot of room to improve. The team seems realistic in its expectations, looking to simply improve from past.
    In a tournament that will be dominated by stars, NZ is lacking. There is no single player that you can look to as a game breaker.
    High end expectation: The group is likely the softest in the competition, so a result is not out of the question. Mexico will probably be the best chance (although the Kiwis lost 5-0 to Mexico earlier this year).
    Low end expectation: The 5-0 loss to Mexico illustrates the very real talent gap this team faces. Three bad losses are not out of the question either.
    Our expectation: If the confidence can stay up a draw is possible.
    No 14 – Colombia
    Colombia will be a World Cup darkhorse...in 2015.
    This is a young team that has grown quickly into a very competitive side at the youth ranks. As with New Zealand there lacks a true game breaker here, but this is a team that plays an impressive possession game and lacks identifiable weaknesses.
    The 5-0 loss to Brazil in the South America final suggests that we are a few years away from Colombia being a top 10 team in the world, but they have added some much needed competitiveness in South America. They bumped Argentina out of the No 2 South American slot.
    With an increasing number of Colombians making their way into the NCAA it seems that the future is bright.
    Long-term, anyway as it’s a really tough group and the team is very young.
    High end expectation: Spoiler to one of the big name teams in the group. Anyone that drops points to Colombia is likely in trouble.
    Low end expectation: Their youth catches up to them and they lose badly in all three.
    Our expectations: There is raw talent here. Colombia will push the more accomplished teams in the group, but in the end will go 0-3.
    No 13 – Mexico
    The instinct of many is to rank Mexico too high based on one game – the historic 2-0 win over the United States at the CONCACAF qualifying tournament.
    And it was an impressive win. It was also in Mexico in front of a rabidly partisan crowd and in an emotional setting that can’t possibly be replicated. It’s often forgotten that Mexico didn’t actually win CONCACAF – Canada did, beating them twice along the way.
    Maribel Dominguez will need to replicate her scoring from the CONCACAF tournament and they will need some help from a promising group of young players if the team is to come close to meeting the unreasonable expectations that the US win placed on them
    Women’s football has come a long way in Mexico, but it’s still not all the way there yet.
    High end expectations: It’s the easiest group and New Zealand should represent a win. The team has shown that it can step up and play above its level for a one off game. A quarterfinal berth is an outside possibility.
    Low end expectations: Japan and England are hardly easy touches. New Zealand does seem a step below, but it’s possible the Kiwis could steal a draw.
    Our expectations: That Mexico plays exactly to its level by beating New Zealand and losing close games to England and Japan.
    Next up – Part 2, The Mushy Middle

    Guest
    Today, we're joined by the NASL commissioner David Downs to talk about why the league saw Ottawa as a strong candidate for expansion, the ongoing stadium lawsuit and if it could interrupt the 2013 launch and whether he sees Canada as fertile ground for more expansion.
    He also gets into the Ft. Lauderdale stadium situation, updates on their efforts to secure a proper TV deal and how Vancouver and Montreal still believe in the NASL model.
    The archived interview with Downs is now up.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Also, there will be no live show tonight. The regular show will return on Friday with ESPN's Jeff Carlisle to talk about the Women's World Cup and we'll be joined by a member of the Canadian team.
    <embed src="http://itscalledfootball.podhoster.com/FlowPlayerLight.swf?config={embedded:true,videoFile:%27http://itscalledfootball.podhoster.com/download/2540/24032/daviddownsinterviewjune21final.mp3%27,initialScale:%27scale%27,controlBarBackgroundColor:%270x778899%27,autoBuffering:false,loop:false,autoPlay:false}" width="400" height="25" scale="fit" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed>
    Guest
    The CBC’s Anjali Nayar sums up the feeling of many true believers of the women’s game. Arriving in Berlin days from the kick-off of the World Cup, her description of Germany differ from the reports that predict that we are on the verge of a major breakthrough for women’s football in Europe.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Nayar needed have traveled across the Atlantic to make the observation. Whereas a year ago the streets of every major city in Canada were filled by cars displaying the flags of the occupant’s ancestry past (or, at the very least, a country they once visited). Now, the highways are once again flag free.The observation Nayar makes has as much to do with the absurd reach of the men's World Cup as much as it has to do with any lack of interest in the women’s event. The Munich airport I arrived into on the eve of the 2010 UEFA Champions League final was equally football free. I was in the Tampa airport two days before a Super Bowl – same thing.
    Outside of the Olympics there are few things that can compare to the hype of a World Cup. If you try and compare it to the women’s event, the latter is always going to come up short. Understanding that doesn’t make you an enemy of the women’s game. It makes you observant.
    Yet – and this is not to pick on Nayar, who is a fine writer – there is often an inherent judgement from those that enjoy and follow the women’s game towards those that don’t. At best you’re misguided, at worst sexist, if you profess a love of Messi, but not not Marta.
    Yesterday I asked my Twitter followers to give me an honest assessment of how much they cared about the Women’s World Cup. Although I had answers that both reflected a massive interest and no interest at all, the vast majority of the responses fell in between those extremes.
    A typical response (from @DonJulioTO):
    “I hope to care” is about as honest as I could hope for. For many, especially here in Canada, there is an understanding that the women have an opportunity to do something special. However, for a variety of reason that women’s football has little control of – a lack of media coverage, limited access and, yes, occasionally some good ‘ole boys misogynistic attitudes – many willing fans don’t have enough knowledge of the women’s game to develop the same type of passionate interest that they have in the men’s game.
    It’s a self-perseverating problem -- the lack of information leads to less interest which leads to even less information.
    Here at CSN we’re as guilty as the rest. Men’s coverage drives our numbers and we need to be cognizant of that.
    For the true believers it’s a frustrating problem and one without easy answers. You can’t make people care. You can only hope that the sport grows incrementally until the point where it doesn’t matter what the detractors say.
    Until that happens the best advice is to try not to care what others think. For fans of the women’s game this is your time to celebrate. And if more people care about the chase for Alexis Sanchez, so be it.
    Guest
    It has been 12 years since Brandi Chastain’s sports bra made headlines.
    Coming at the end of a remarkable World Cup that saw the US women capture their second title in front of 90,000 people at the Rose Bowl, to many it suggested a seminal moment in the history of women’s sport.
    The generation of American women that grew up post-title IX did not remember a time when there were not opportunities for them in sport. The only threshold left to cross was the professional ranks and, with the attention that the 1999 World Cup received, it seemed to be just a matter of time until someone figured out a way to profit from the millions of screaming teenagers wearing Mia Hamm jerseys.
    Certainly that was the position of New York Times reporter Jere Longman in his book The Girls of Summer, which recounted the events of the World Cup and attempted to place them into a larger context.
    Longman was at times breathless in his reporting of the possibilities:
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    It was suggested in the book that the American public – grown cynical from player strikes and steroid abuse in men’s pro sport – would surely turn towards the purer, more accessible world of women’s sport.That afterglow was still evident a year later when Longman reported on the plans for creating a a women’s pro league.
    The language in that Times article is interesting. An excerpt (highlighting is mine):
    History has not been kind to Longman’s thesis. The league that was being created in 2000, WUSA, folded on the eve of the 2003 World Cup, while the latest attempt at creating a pro women’s league, WPS, is on its last legs half way through its third season.It seems particularly tragic that MLS’ efforts at creating a women’s league were thwarted back in 2000. Although you can never be sure what might have been, it does seem more likely that women’s pro soccer would be on a stronger footing if that partnership had been formed.
    The language Longman uses, as well as the resistance of those in the women’s game back in 2000 to work with MLS, illustrates a problem that has hurt both the men’s and women’s game over the years – namely a resistance to working together.
    Far too often those in the men’s game are resistant to the ways that the women could help them expand their reach. Anyone that has ever been to a women’s game knows that, with exceptions, it’s a different audience than you see at a men’s game. If the men could reach a portion of those fans they would be stronger.
    On the women’s side of the equation the reaction to outreaches by those in the men’s game is far too often one of defensiveness. There is an us versus them mentality that prevents worthwhile partnerships.
    So it was in 2000. Rather than thinking about how the women’s success in 1999 could have helped the sport , too many people felt compelled to use it as an opportunity to rub it in the face of those in the men’s game. They were blinded by a 6-week party and were unable to see the true position of the game in American society.
    Here in Canada we’ve seen similar battles, albeit on a smaller scale. Many in the men’s game refuse to acknowledge the 2003 u19 World Cup as a turning point for the sport and the Canadian women’s program is famously an island alone within the CSA family.
    In 2008, Christine Sinclair felt compelled to insult the men’s program during a post game interview from Beijing. Asked what she thought about about former Canadian international Jason de Vos’ criticism of the team’s tactics she lashed out, saying that the Canadian men “were nowhere.”
    It’s toxic and counterproductive. The truth is the sport is not strong enough in North America for either gender to be taking potshots at each other. Landon Donovan’s goal against Algeria last year has the potential to do good for the women’s game, just as the 1999 women could have helped the men’s (while helping themselves) a decade ago.
    Now 12 years on from that summer the tables have turned in the US. The American men are likely as popular as ever, while the women’s program has stagnated in recent times. It’s clear that the summer of 1999 didn’t represent a changing of attitudes about women’s sport, but was rather a perfect storm, unique to that time and place.
    The lesson that should have been learned is that if it ever happens again those involved in the game need to work together to take full advantage.
    It’s also something Canadians should consider in the build up to the 2015 World Cup here. There is a chance there could be a Brandi Chastain moment for Canucks in four years time. Let’s hope that if there is we know what to do about it.
    Join CSN over the next month as we provide comprehensive coverage of the Women’s World Cup. Not only will we provide all the news that is relevant to Canadian fans, but we also hope to remain focused on the broader issues that face women’s soccer in 2011.
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