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Now, it鈥檚 time for the guys.
After the host Canadian women鈥檚 soccer team reached the quarter-finals of the 2015 World Cup, the Canadian men now take centre stage in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
sa国际传媒 heads into the regional tournament on a four-game winning streak, mostly against lightweight sides. But when you are the 109th ranked team in the world 鈥� and the lowest of the 12 Gold Cup teams 鈥� you鈥檒l take it.
Defender Adam Straith of Victoria has become a reliable presence on the Canadian squad, which won its first round of Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying last month over Dominica. The Gold Cup, won by sa国际传媒 in a shocker in 2000 with Victoria player Martin Nash, will be a more demanding proving ground. The competition includes more formidable CONCACAF rivals, such as the U.S., which recently defeated both Germany and the Netherlands in friendlies, always-dangerous regional soccer power Mexico and Costa Rica, 2014 World Cup quarter-finalists in Brazil.
It鈥檚 a big deal, with Sportsnet broadcasting the games from NFL venues such as the Georgia Dome, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale and Soldier Field in Chicago.
It begins tonight for sa国际传媒 with a game against El Salvador at StubHub Center in Carson, California. sa国际传媒鈥檚 next group games are on Saturday at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston against Jamaica and the hotly anticipated fixture next Tuesday at BMO Field in Toronto against Costa Rica.
The playoff rounds will follow, leading to the final on July 26 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
鈥淲e had a great week of training in Santa Barbara and are now down in L.A. for the game [tonight],鈥� said Straith, the 24-time capped graduate of Bays United and Lower Island Metro.听
鈥淭here is a great sense of belief and enthusiasm within the boys, but we also know that it鈥檚 going to take three very good performances to get through to the knockout stage.鈥�
First things first, however.
鈥淲e鈥檙e just focused on getting off to a good start against El Salvador,鈥� added Straith, 24, who plays pro with Fredrikstad of the Norwegian league.
鈥淲e have spent a lot of time analyzing what they do and how they play, so we feel prepared. We鈥檙e hoping to bring our recent form into this match and ride the wave of confidence that the group is on right now. It鈥檚 exciting to finally get the Gold Cup started.鈥�
