Lost somewhat in the hubbub of the MLS SuperDraft and the realization that the season isn't really that far away has been the fact that the men's national team is playing! This month! Twice! Yeah!
Of course, were Canada's first games of 2013 actual World Cup qualifiers, anticipation would be at a fever pitch. As it is, though, the team is in full-on rebuilding mode, as evidenced by the inexperienced (to put it lightly) squad named by interim head coach Colin Miller for the upcoming games against Denmark (Jan. 26) and the U.S. (Jan 29).
Of the 22 men named, only five were on the roster for Canada's 8-1 catastrophe in Honduras (only three of them actually played), while 10 have never played for the senior men's national team before.
So, who the heck are these guys?
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
First, the 22-man roster, which you may dissect at your leisure:
1- GK- Lars Hirschfeld | NOR / Vålerenga Fotball
2- M- Nik Ledgerwood | SWE / Hammarby Fotboll
3- FB- Ashtone Morgan | CAN / Toronto FC
4- CB- Nana Attakora | FIN / FC Haka
5- CB- Dejan Jaković | USA / D.C. United
6- M- Philippe Davies | USA / Richmond Kickers
7- M - Terry Dunfield | CAN / Toronto FC
8- CM- Kyle Bekker | CAN / Toronto FC
9- F- Tosaint Ricketts | NOR / Sandnes Ulf
10- F- Frank Jonke | FIN / FF Jaro
11- M - Russell Teibert | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
12- M- Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault |
13- CB- Doneil Henry | CAN / Toronto FC
14- M/F- Dwayne De Rosario | USA / D.C. United
15- M- Emmanuel Gomez | ARG / Club Atletico Griffa
16- M - Matt Stinson | CAN / Toronto FC
17- F- Kyle Porter | CAN / FC Edmonton
18- GK- Roberto Stillo | ITA / Genoa CFC
19- M- Evan James
20- D- Mason Trafford | FIN / IFK Mariehamn
21- FB- Andrés Fresenga | URU / Racing Club de Montevideo
22- GK- Simon Thomas
A quick primer on the 10 newbies (note my non-use of the word "youngsters")...
Philippe Davies: Vancouver Whitecaps fans will remember the 22-year-old Quebec native as the guy who was there to fill out a Canadian roster spot during the 2011 season. He's since moved on to the Richmond Kickers of USL Pro, after a decent showing with the Canadian U23 team that attempted to qualify for the 2012 Olympics. Total of 25 caps with Canadian youth teams.
Kyle Bekker: If you followed the MLS draft, you surely know the name. Picked #3 overall by Toronto FC earlier this week -- the highest a Canadian has ever gone in the MLS SuperDraft -- the 22-year-old from Oakville, Ont. has been lauded for this technical skills in the midfield. Started all four games in the Olympic qualifying tournament last year.
Frank Jonke: The 27-year-old from Pickering, Ont. is a relative unknown outside of the Voyageurs message board, but has had success as a striker with several teams in Finland in the last five years. His most proficient stretch came in 2009-2010, when he scored 22 goals in 41 appearances for AC Oulu (coincidentally, he was then replaced by another Canadian who went on a scoring tear, Randy Edwini-Bonsu). The 6-foot-3 target man has no past experience with the Canadian program.
Emmanuel Gomez: Fear not, Toronto FC fans, it's not one of the Gambians. This Emmanuel Gomez, who generally goes by Manny, is a 25-year-old who grew up in Victoria and is currently playing in Argentina (though evidently there's some confusion -- to me, anyway -- about which club). He was overlooked for inclusion on the Canadian side at the 2007 U20 World Cup, and told his hometown newspaper at the time that he "wouldn't be completely surprised if (he) was chosen in two or three years." It's been a bit longer than he expected, but he's getting his shot.
Kyle Porter: The only member of FC Edmonton (the team Miller will take over as head coach this year) to make the cut, the 22-year-old Toronto native has come through the Whitecaps residency program, as well as having made 10 appearances for Canadian youth teams.
Roberto Stillo: The 21-year-old goalkeeper from Mississauga, Ont. has made several appearances for the Canadian youth system in the past and has been in the system of Genoa for several years, and has even cracked the roster of the first team in Serie A (though he's way down the depth chart).
Evan James: The 22-year-old from Toronto was drafted first overall in last year's MLS Supplemental Draft by the Montreal Impact, but failed to crack the roster and has since been released. Another member of Canada's Olympic qualifying squad last year, he scored a smooth goal against Cuba in that tournament. Earned a call-up to the men's national team for a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago last summer, but didn't get onto the field.
Mason Trafford: The 26-year-old defender, who grew up in North Vancouver is another familiar face to Whitecaps fans, as he made 37 appearances for the team in 2008-09 after several years in the residency program. He has spent the past several years in Finland, but says he's "done" with the country and is exploring new options, including a possible return to Canada's west coast.
Andres Fresenga: One of Canada's most promising prospects coming out of the Olympic qualifying tournament, the 20-year-old fullback from Toronto is currently with Racing Club de Montevideo in Uruguay (one of two top Canadian prospects playing in that country, the other being Lucas Cavallini), but has recently been linked with a potential move to the Whitecaps.
Simon Thomas: The 22-year-old goalkeeper from Victoria is yet another product of the Whitecaps residency, who had a brief sniff with the Whitecaps senior team several years ago before moving on to Huddersfield Town in League One. He was part of the Canadian squad during last year's Olympic qualifying tournament.
Considering that some of the others -- Attakora, Teibert, Henry, Stinson -- have each only earned a handful of caps (at most) with the senior national team and yes, calling the side "inexperienced" at this level would be a supreme understatement.
Still, the only way to move forward is to know exactly what you have at your disposal -- and for Miller and his (temporary) bosses at the Canadian Soccer Association, that process starts now.
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