Tuesday Tribute

Holla!

Welcome to "Tuesday Tribute": a weekly video tribute to whatever I want.

This week we celebrate Team Canada. Huh? In June? Oh yes, my friends... Team Canada in June!

In anticipation of the major soccer match on Thursday vs. the U.S.A., I thought it would be nice to teach you all a thing or two about what our national team has been doing at the Gold Cup this year.

Team Canada has earned a berth in the semi-finals this year in the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament south of the border, and has done so with some very exciting footy. After a sluggish start, they are really turning it on. As a matter of fact, they are playing so well that Team Canada's world FIFA ranking has jumped to #56, from #94. If they can pull off the upset against the U.S. (which I think they can), then that ranking will continue to improve.

This all comes as a surprise, as Canada's Soccer Asscociation (CSA- governing body of National Soccer in Canada) had no plans on being competitive in this tournament. It seems that the focus of the CSA is qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa (if you ask me, that's exactly where it should be).

In any case, this team is showing great improvement over the past few months. In my opinion, the problem with Canada's soccer program has always been about experience. We simply don't have our National team playing in enough competitive matches. This is simply a matter of having enough bodies on the pitch. Most of our decent players have been overseas in recent years, and we haven't had enough quality men to put together a competitive team. Other countries can do without their stars, as they have the depth to replace them. This year however, with the rise of the MSL and Toronto FC, more and more of our players are closer to home and are more available to take part in the National program. This trend will continue, as will the skill level of our team.

I think we're seeing early signs of progress this year in the Gold Cup. Canada's offence really is a thing of beauty. The defence could be tightened up a little, but they really are playing more and more like a team. Dwayne De Rosario was just awesome vs. Guatemala last week. His teammate, Ali Gerba (probably the coolest name ever on the National team) is also down right nasty around the goal.

Team Canada is alot of fun to watch, and with a victory on Thursday they could show the world just how far they've come.

Quarterfinal Highlights: Canada 3-0 Guatemala

You know you've made it when your video clips have Euro-dance music!