Like the popular snack mix, I'm going to break down these news hits into the flavoured Shreddie (the best part), the Cheerio (you never see it coming), the pretzel (you've got to acknowledge it, like it or not) and that cheese-stick thing (what the hell is it?).
The Shreddie: Hoilett and Hutch hit the het... err, net
Yes, young Canadian David "Junior" Hoilett opened his Premier League scoring account on Sunday with a thumper, a screamer, a cracker (or, as normal people call it, "a nice goal") against West Brom. But when I posted a link to the video, I was excoriated by an astute commenter for overlooking reigning Canadian men's player of the year Atiba Hutchinson's strike for Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven. So I tossed a link to Hutch's goal in the post as well. I hope you're happy, anonymous commenter, though I still don't believe you could score against WBA (though, if you can... may I give Stephen Hart your phone number?)
The Cheerio: Getting in goal in Greece... goodly
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]Former men's national team goalkeeper and current goalkeeping coach for the CanMNT, Paul Dolan, let slip on the Full-Time radio show on Sunday night that the CanMNT's two 'keepers for the February 9 friendly in Greece will be de facto (and de jure) number one Lars Hirschfeld and newcomer Milan Borjan. We welcomed Borjan aboard the Canadian ship in November, and when you read his most recent comments in a story by Red Nation Online's Ian Clarke, you'll probably be damned happy to have him aboard as well.
The Pretzel: Well, it had to happen eventually...
While it would have been nice for the women's national team to ride its wave of momentum (an 11-game unbeaten streak) to a victory over their rival Americans early Sunday morning, it just wasn't to be at the Four Nations Tournament in China:
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Ah well, we'll save that win against the U.S. for the knockout stages of the World Cup, I guess. (And on a positive note, another cold-as-ice finish from Melissa Tancredi -- who's really coming into form -- and what a terrific through-ball from Kaylyn Kyle).
As for this tournament, all three teams are now even on points, heading into the final matchday on Tuesday. Any of the four teams (Canada, U.S., China, Sweden) could still win, but Canada is in the disadvantageous position of playing in the first game (v.s. Sweden), meaning the U.S. and China will know exactly what's needed in order to win.
For Big Red to claim this tournament (which would be their fourth in a row), they need a win (by any score) and a U.S. draw or loss. No other combination of results will do it. Canada kicks off against Sweden tonight/tomorrow morning -- 11:35 p.m. PT Monday, 2:35 a.m. ET Tuesday on China's CCTV.
Late addendum: There's one more way Canada could win... if both matches end in a draw, with the right goal totals, the tie-breaking scenario could boil down to drawing of lots -- which Canada could, of course, potentially win.
The Cheese Stick: A footie-themed tourism advertisement!
Even if the Four Nations tourney doesn't pan out for the ladies, they'll get right back at it in the Cyprus Cup starting on March 2. Canada are the defending champions, having won 1-0 in the final of the 2010 tournament on a goal by Diana Matheson.
Though the tournament is missing global heavyweights like the U.S., Germany and Brazil, Canada will be in tough to defend their title. Big Red (ranked #9 in the world) have been drawn into Group 1 (the definite "Group of Death") with England (#10), Italy (#11) and Scotland (#24).
The tournament gets the "cheese stick" designation, though, because I can't for the life of me figure out how it works. In past years, it's been an eight-team tournament, two groups of four, and the two group winners meet for the championship. But this year, the tournament has moved to a three-group, 12-team format with one "finals day" (March 9) and no "playoffs" (i.e. quarterfinals, semifinals).
So how the hell do they decide who plays for the championship? Total goal difference? Coin toss? Most endearingly vociferous head coaches? (If that's the case, we've got it in the bag. Thanks, Carolina.)
Now, to those of you (i.e. Rollins) who may contend that the "cheese stick" is actually the best part of a bag of Bits & Bites -- and thus, that this section deserves the best news -- I offer the following conciliatory gesture: captain Christine Sinclair hit 150 caps for the CanWNT over the weekend, while her fellow Big Red stalwart, Matheson, has surpassed the century mark in appearances. A hearty congrats to them both.
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