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Hey, Look: Canada Doesn’t Suck, FIFA Says So! (Oh, and Hello)

December 20th, 2007 | By: Sam | 10 Comments »

First of all, hello to all of you, welcome to my first column for the Canada World Cup Blog. Some of you may know me from The Offside, where I write for the French league. I hope we’ll get along just fine.

If you’re a Canada fan like me, you’re used to hearing bad news more than anything. Luckily, this year provided lots of things to cheer about. And, we’ve been rewarded. While most people get a kick out of the “what the hell” elements of FIFA’s monthly world rankings, most people also admit there’s some sense that can be extracted from them. I am part of that group. Good thing I am, too, because Canada made a big step up in the last twelve months.

Out of the 207 FIFA members, Canada was the ninth-best mover. With a sheet of four wins, three draws and two losses against FIFA opponents, we managed to finish the calendar year with 177 points more than this time in 2006.

Among the other top ten improvments are Mozambique, who’ve climbed over 50 spots since the end of last year; Croatia, whom we all know made a joke of the mighty English in EURO qualifiying; and New Zealand, who of course has enjoyed Australia’s departure from the OFC.

This has made us the best mover in CONCACAF, and we’re now squatting in 55th spot overall, fourth in the confederation (statistically, we should be halfway into the World Cup were it to start now). We are so coming up.

If you’ve any questions, comments, rants, or anything, give a shout. Let’s hope this is the start of something good.

Tags: Team News

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Comments

By Laurie | December 20th, 2007 at 6:43 pm

Yea, Sam! Welcome the the quiet and more studious sister site. (I think I stole that line from Chris.)

Posted from United States

By Inara | December 20th, 2007 at 7:33 pm

http://www.bustedtees.com/bt/images/BT-canadaamericashat-featured-2410.jpg

Okay, I just couldn’t help myself. And thanks for bringing this blog to life. I knew Canada produced more than hockey players and maple syrup!

Posted from United States

By Kyle | December 21st, 2007 at 12:04 am

See now I’ve got Sam to help keep me on my toes… it’s like a good defensemen combo in hockey… so Sam you can play the good cop, I’ll be the bad cop about Canada’s play.

Though i will admit Canada did make its way up the rankings, but they were so far down to begin with it was no surprise they were able to move up that much. Yes I’m a pessimist. Anyways they did a good amount of moving and it was partly due to have some better results, and some actual games played this year, doing well in the gold cup never hurts either, and tying against teams that are fairly similar in strength. Though next year as the start of qualification begins for the world cup things shall get interesting, I’m still trying to figure out how Canada gets out of their group… yes I believe they can win there play in game, after that though with their current coach will they turn the corner and qualify for the world cup, the talent is there, but is the organization and the right coach there?

Posted from Canada

By Sam | December 21st, 2007 at 12:22 am

Laurie: Thanks, we’re siblings-in-blog for life, don’t even worry about it.

Inara: I just about posted that picture in my article. That shirt is hilarious, I know. (As far as I’m concerned, nationalism can suck my ass. I support the soccer team, not the country.)

Kyle: Oh yes. We’re going to make it. You could probably count Canadian soccer optimists on one hand, but i’m definitely the thumb of that hand. I have faith in Mitchell and in our players. True, the draw could almost not have been tougher, but we’re gonna have to be better than Jamaica and Honduras if we have a chance at not making an embarassment were we to book a ticket to South Africa. (more on the draw and World Cup hopes soon enough on the blog) Anyway, I’m looking forward to working with you on the site. Let’s try not to fall in the trap and make too many “eh” jokes.

Posted from Canada

By Kyle | December 21st, 2007 at 1:51 am

Sam: Eh jokes aren’t jokes, but actual usage of it is clearly the Canadian way of speaking… you should know that, we can’t help saying eh (Last one of this message I swear). But I will try keep them a minimum to my posts, though I’m sure a hockey comment will come in now again… it’s in my blood how can I avoid it.

I believe getting into the group is a tough enough task for Canada, pull that off and then we can focus our attention on Honduras, Jamaica and Mexico. Until then I’d rather see Mitchell spend enough time scouting a squad he has never seen that will have some advantage with the way the games are scheduled, as June is prime time for weather in Canada and then won’t freeze their respective tails off.

Posted from Canada

By Sam | December 21st, 2007 at 10:38 am

Yeah, i know, I’m Canadian too, I say it all the time. But them yanks think that’s all we got going for us, so I’m refusing to say dumb shit like “everything is eh-okay” or whatever

Posted from Canada

By pdp | December 21st, 2007 at 11:07 am

i think i like this blog already!

hi sam

the only thing i can say is i know more about Toronto FC than I do about the Canadian Soccer Team. i also don’t know a lot about maple syrup, although i like the taste. i’ll be doing more reading than messaging anyway

although maybe we can get our total of 13 comments to 3 digits one day!

By Laurie | December 21st, 2007 at 11:50 am

Well, you know how you spell Canada, don’t you?

C, eh? N, eh? D, eh?

Posted from United States

By pdp | December 21st, 2007 at 1:10 pm

hahaha

i’m gonna use that joke, if you don’t mind

By Laurie | December 21st, 2007 at 7:46 pm

Feel free. I’ll have to ask my son if he has more. He used to have a Canadian soccer coach, and he’d collect them and save them up to use as ammuniction.

Posted from United States

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