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: Goals, goals and additional goals!
After the men's national team scored seven goals in two games in its first two World Cup qualifiers (the level of competition was as stiff as an overcooked bowl of spaghetti, but beggars can't be choosers), Canadians continued bulging the ol' onion bag over the weekend for their clubs. Many saw Julian de Guzman's marker for Toronto FC (how nice it is that the "he'll never score for Toronto" era is disappearing in the rear view mirror, eh?), but you may not yet have seen Josh Simpson's dramatic final-minutes equalizer for Manisaspor:
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhtcOof4LUc#t=1m13s
Not only that, Rob Friend bagged his first goal for Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2.Bundesliga and former Whitecap Randy Edwini-Bonsu (21 years old, 1 national-team cap)
For those curious about the Finnish league, newly anointed Canadian super-sub Tosaint Ricketts was a member of MyPa in Finland up until 2010, while current FC Edmonton goalkeeper David Monsalve (22 years old, 1 national-team cap) won the Finnish title with Inter Turku in 2009.
The Cheerio: Bundle up with a nice bowl of Canadian soccer
After having been perpetually peppered with the same question from reporters, time after time ("What do you think of the crowds? Why don't more people come to watch Canada play? How can you get them to do it?"), men's national team head coach Stephen Hart decided to just say something different on a media call last week, simply because he'd run out of answers (as he admitted to Nigel Reed on The Soccer Show).
Hence, the "taste the soup" meme was born.
Members of the Voyageurs capitalized on the saying, with long-time member strobe_z unveiling a special design:
Plans are also in the works for a banner to be displayed at the next Canada home game on Oct. 11 to confirm -- as if there were any doubt -- that the most fervent supporters of Canadian soccer are wholeheartedly offbeat.
Of course, the meaning of "taste the soup" is getting people out to fill the stands and support the national team. So if you haven't done so yet, nab your tickets and bring an armload of friends.
The Pretzel: She's not taking a break, she's... uh, oh wait, she is. #ChristineSinclair
Women's national team captain -- and future medical mask spokesperson -- Christine Sinclair confirmed via Twitter on Monday that she will be skipping Big Red's two upcoming friendlies against the United States (the first of which is this Saturday in Kansas City).
Sorry people it is true. I am enjoying my 1st break in 2 years so I can be 100% for olympic qualifiers. Will meet up with nat team in oct.
Can't argue with the logic, I suppose, when it comes to someone with 162 caps and 117 goals. No need to risk injury when the Pan Am Games* and Olympic qualifiers are coming up in the next few months. Plus, it will give newly-minted head coach John Herdman a chance to take a look at an array of players, to see exactly what he has at his disposal. As for Sinclair, methinks he's already got a pretty good idea of what to expect.
For those looking to "taste the soup" out west, grab your tickets to the Olympic qualifying tournament in January at B.C. Place in Vancouver, being sold through the Southsiders.
*"What are the Pan Am Games, you ask?" Oh, just the splendid international sporting tournament that Toronto will host in 2015, a large reason why there won't (barring some unexpected change) be any Women's World Cup matches contested at our "national soccer stadium". Yeah, that one.
The Cheese Stick: Where can I buy one?!
You'll recall that the description of this portion of Bits and Bites is "what the hell is it?" With that in mind, occasionally I plunk "Canada soccer" or some similar phrase into Google image search to see what comes up. Mostly the results are what you'd expect: players, game action, fans, flags. But then you sometimes get a result like this:
If you can get the "Taste The Soup" pic embroidered on the back, I think we have our new warmup gear.
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