Canada vs Honduras The match that defines everything

Canada plays its most important game in the last 11 years. Tuesday marks the day that history is gonna be made. I have not organized this, but it is what I feel and think at this hour of the night... 

Despite I have not been born in Canada, somehow someway I don’t remember when and why, I have supported Canadian –Football- soccer since 1998. I didn’t went to weekend trip with my friends the day Canada won the Gold Cup, because Canada is the team I supported and I practically followed Carlo Corazzin’s career, Forrest’s andother guys of that Gold Cup. I badmouthed Owen Hargreaves and felt almost raped when Radzinski dismissed the team. IN other words, regardless the fact that the team is not the most blessed technically squad, I can not avoid supporting them. Now, with all that being said, let’s go to Tuesday, October 16th. 

Current Canadian squad is the best team in years, when talking about skills; however, there is something lacking: Organized team play. Holger Osieck took a bunch of Canadian players in 1999, some came from the Lenarduzzi era, others got on board for the first time, and he made it look like a real team. I remember, a tv commentator said Canada played rudimentary, but the team work is what really made them champions. Now, in 2012, I see that the team has not a clear vision of what to do when they have possession of the ball. However, this fail is covered by the fact that the guys have a great heart. Canada always plays better as the underdog; the team will never be a goal scoring machine or will make you feel like you are watching poetry in movement. Team Canada is though, fast and can create a wall greater than the Great Wall of China if all the guys are focused. 

I feel nervous and I imagine the players may have goosebumps when they think about the match. They know it is gonna be a war. The 11 canucks will not only fight for qualifying; they will defend their pride, and the future of the soccer landscape in the country will be changed when they get the result at the always difficult San Pedro Sula. This is the best and worst situation. The guys have made a better campaign then the last 3 cycles. They have not achieved anything yet, but they know they are on the edge of doing so. The fans are flooding the stadiums and show their support. Kids and teens need to have idols, homegrown heroes. These CMNT has the pressure of achieving greatness and what a better opportunity that doing so in the place where other Canadian squads have fallen. 

Expect even more Hondurans throwing a party outside the hotel, witchcraft like the Panamenians used; maybe even the food in the hotel has something to fade their stamina. It is not gonna be easy. Fans at the stadium will insult them, boo the national anthem, spit on them. The referee will be pressured to make calls favoring the home team. So guys, keep yourself cool. The guys should follow this simple rule: “Be prepared for the worst, expect the best, do your own think and fuck what others say”. 

The first 15 minutes are the most important. The home team is gonna try to score and get the ball inside the box. Just resist the first 15 minutes. Hondurans will lose patience, start complaining and most important the home fans are gonna get discouraged. The players will feel that and that is when the team strikes back. There are countless occasions when a Canadian team made a trip to Central America and got owned. This time is different, cause this team has seen the light at the end of the tunnel and they are almost getting out now. Ball possession is the most important thing. I have seen that there is a problem with Canada. They can’t make 3 good consecutive passes and if they try, they are not accurate and the enemy gets the ball easily. Canada should go at its own pace. Hondurans will try to do everything fast, so make them cooler, get them desperate. They will freak out and even start kicking some legs. The fact that DeRo is not on the squad may be a blessing in disguise. When he is on the pitch all balls go to him so he has to come up with something, now everybody may have more freedom and needs confidence to go b themselves. Another negative besides low ball possession is that balls cross into the box are not effective. Sometimes when they send the ball because he knows he has to, but there was no real possibility of someone heading the ball.

 Check this video of the game against Colombia

 0:40, 0:59 1:01 passing ball in just one touch

   

 It is always possible, just believe and try your best 

Let’s go Lars!

   

On a side note, I have seen the increased of fan support in Canadian soil. The games against Panama and Cuba surprised foreign commentators. The good results both times have something in common, besides they team scoring goals. The support of the 12th player was there. What to do when the likes of Mexico or Guatemala go to Canada? I have a silly idea! Maybe this is not the solution, but someone can come up with something better after this. Voyeurs is the official supporters group. I ignore if they have a members list or they have made people sign up just to have an inventory. I think that 20,000 people who go to a stadium to support their country would be willing to donate 30 bucks. What to do with that? Buy 4/5 of the total tickets and then resell them to Canadian fans. So when Mexico goes to Canada they will feel the fans are not behind them. It won’t be home anymore. I think it is legal, because someone is buying the tickets and reselling them to their friends or giving them away. Anyway, just to conclude, Team Canada has to get out of San Pedo Sula with pride and joy. They got the result. I think that Canada will upset Honduras 1-0. Who scores? Ian Hume. Period 

I am moving to Canada the next year. It is gonna be my home. I am 30 years. I want to support them team in a Qualifying match. You say Let’s go Canada, Quebecois would say Allez les Rouges and I say: Vamos Canada!