Two 25-year-olds who grew up just 10 minutes apart in Oak Bay are among the 23 players who have been tasked to get sa国际传媒 to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Bays United products 鈥� defender/midfielder Adam Straith and goalkeeper Simon Thomas 鈥� were named to the Canadian roster for the opening fixture of the fourth round of CONCACAF qualifying next Friday against Honduras at sa国际传媒 Place Stadium. sa国际传媒 will then travel to El Salvador for a game on Nov. 17.
For even more symmetry, Straith and Thomas both play professionally for teams in Norway.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an honour to be called up for your country,鈥� said Thomas.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the pinnacle of any career. The World Cup is every soccer player鈥檚 dream.鈥�
Thomas, with just two caps, will dress in goal for sa国际传媒 alongside veterans Milan Borjan and Kenny Stamatopoulos, the latter two more likely to be chosen for the start.
The emerging Straith, going for his 31st cap, will likely continue a stretch as a starter for sa国际传媒.
The two friends met twice this season in Norwegian Premier League II, with Straith and Fredrikstad FK beating Thomas and Strommen IF 3-1 and the other game drawn 0-0. Thomas started both games in goal for Strommen and Straith both for his club on the back line.
Asked if the two Island buddies had good chats post-game on fields in a far-off northern European land, Thomas chuckled: 鈥淥f course 鈥� it was great to see Adam those two times on pitches in Norway.鈥�
Norway plays a March to early November schedule, and both Fredrikstad and Strommen avoided relegation on the their respective final games of the season this month.
It鈥檚 been a valuable tenure in Strommen for Thomas.
鈥淭he one thing you learn in pro soccer as a goalkeeper is positioning, and mine has come a long way,鈥� said Thomas.
鈥淟earning that extra step of anticipation is so important.鈥�
Indeed, it has taken him all the way to becoming one of sa国际传媒鈥檚 top-three goalkeepers.
Other notable Canadian team selections for the Honduras World Cup qualifier include defenders Fraser Aird of the Glasgow Rangers, David Edgar of Sheffield United, Samuel Adekugbe of the Vancouver Whitecaps, midfielders Marcel De Jong of Sporting Kansas City, Julian de Guzman of the Ottawa Fury, Russell Teibert of the Whitecaps, Will Johnson of the Portland Timbers, David Hoilett of Queens Park Rangers and strikers Cyle Larin of Orlando City and Lucas Cavallini of CA Fenix of Uruguay.
