If the Canadian men's soccer team was hoping for a good night's sleep Monday, here's hoping the players packed some ear plugs.
Noisy Panamanian supporters planned to camp outside the Canadians' hotel for the second consecutive night Monday to throw off the opposition ahead of Tuesday's important World Cup qualifier.
"We'll see what happens," said captain Kevin McKenna. "I'm sure there were police there so we'll see."
sa国际传媒 is first in its group halfway through the stage following Friday's 1-0 victory over Panama at Toronto's BMO Field. Gaining four points from its remaining three games would allow sa国际传媒 to advance to the final round for the first time since 1998.
Panama is pulling out all the stops to avenge sa国际传媒's win. On Sunday night, more than 100 Panamanian supporters stood outside the Canadian hotel banging drums, setting off fireworks and inviting passing motorists to honk their horns.
"I've got three kids at home. I'm conditioned," coach Stephen Hart joked when asked how he slept. "It's normal."
Sunday's antics may have been just the warm-up act as local radio shows and newspapers encouraged fans to show up at the hotel with car stereos blaring. Cars did their best to delay the Canadian team's bus en route to the stadium for training.
A capacity crowd of 31,000 fans is expected for today's game at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez.
"We're footballers. We have to get used to this and playing in these environments - especially in CONCACAF," said defender David Edgar.
