They would rather be playing in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying beginning this weekend for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Instead, goalkeeper Simon Thomas and defender Adam Straith, both of Victoria, and former Victoria Highlanders midfielder Jamar Dixon find themselves in a friendly today against South Korea in Cheonan.
The only goal now for sa国际传媒, after elimination from 2018 qualifying, is to begin preparing for the long-off 2022 World Cup in Qatar. That seems a world away, but that鈥檚 the way it goes for a soccer minnow like No. 110 sa国际传媒. It鈥檚 a different story for No. 44 South Korea, a reliable Asian contender, which has qualified for eight consecutive World Cups and made the semifinals in 2002. The Koreans are 6-1-1 in Asian zone World Cup 2018 qualifying and are preparing for a game next week against Uzbekistan.
Regular Canadian goalie Milan Borjan is unavailable this week, so that means Thomas and Swiss-born Jayson Leutwiler from Shrewsbury Town FC, will dress as the Canadian keepers. Thomas earned a clean sheet, including a stop of a penalty kick, in a 4-0 sa国际传媒 win over No. 115 Mauritania in a friendly on Oct. 7 in Marrakech, Morocco. The Islander then earned his sixth cap by replacing the injured Borjan at 72 minutes in a 4-0 loss to No. 60 Morocco on Oct. 12 in Marrakech.
鈥淸Thomas] is developing very nicely,鈥� said interim Canadian head coach Michael Findlay, in a recent phone interview.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very encouraging that we can advance the competition in goal. We need to push Milan [Borjan]. We see a very bright future for Simon Thomas. He is a very intelligent guy.鈥�
Thomas and Straith are both 26-year-old Bays United products and grew up a few blocks from each other in Oak Bay. They now both play pro in Norway.
鈥淎dam [Straith] is very versatile, very calm and intelligent,鈥� said Findlay, of the Islander鈥檚 stabilizing presence on the Canadian back line in earning 39 caps to date.
鈥淗e is really good technically, and in possession, and is at a critical age and extremely valuable for us moving ahead.鈥�
Meanwhile, England and Scotland said they will defy FIFA鈥檚 ban on wearing poppies in their World Cup qualifying game at Wembley Stadium today on Remembrance Day.
sa国际传媒 will play by the rules.
鈥淲e will follow FIFA regulations [banning political, religious or commercial emblems on jerseys,] but we will take that moment at the appropriate time of day to remember the fallen,鈥� said Findlay.
鈥淲e will not contravene any FIFA rules, but we will internally as a group take a moment [to honour sa国际传媒鈥檚 war dead].鈥�
