Guadeloupe 2 Canada 1 at Gold Cup.
I started this post after the Canada – Guadeloupe Gold Cup game Saturday but didn’t have a chance to finish it and post until this morning. By now, the Canada-Haiti result is in, but I’m resisting the temptation to check on the score as I’ve got the game tapped and waiting for me when I get home tonight. So, apologies for not being quite up to the minute with my posts here.
After the high of last Wednesday’s defeat of Costa Rica, Canada was brought back down to earth over the weekend and beaten by Guadeloupe 2-1 at the Gold Cup in Florida.
I know. Guadeloupe. Not even a country recognized by FIFA, but a protectorate of France. In fact, I’m not sure how a place that isn’t recognized by FIFA can compete in a CONCACAF regional championship like the Gold Cup, never mind how they are allowed to use players who have been capped by France, but that is beside the point.
The point being that, regardless of the fact that they have 8 players in the French league and a couple in the EPL and Dutch leagues, if we want to compete at the highest levels, we need to beat Guadeloupe.
The game started brightly for Canada and, prior to Jocelyn Angloma’s first goal for Guadeloupe, Canada controlled the game with some fluid passing and possession. Angloma’s looping strike 20 minutes in showed exactly why Canada needs to play together more. The shot came as a result of sloppy defensive work and a complete breakdown in communication between keeper Greg Sutton and our defenders. Sutton came off the line and Angloma delivered a great shot, popping it up and over the keeper.
Ali Gerba, the hero against Venezuela, replied for Canada. But a blistering 30 yard strike by Guadelopue and Canada ended the first half down 2-1, despite playing some nice ball.
As the game progressed I began to feel like we were lacking a bit of creativity in the attack. We controlled the midfield well, and it’s nice to watch a Canadian team that can pass the ball around, but we couldn’t seem to translate that possession into any sustained pressure around the Guadeloupe goal.
Hutchinson, who had a quite first half, seemed more involved in the second. But overall didn’t seem as much of a threat as he did against Costa Rica.
Despite the lose I thought there were some bright points for Canada again. DeRo, after criticizing Canada at the half for not playing a higher tempo game, had some great opportunities, particularly in the second half.
I also noticed Ante Jazic and thought he had a couple of nice attacking runs up the left side. Same for Stalteri on the right, who had the best chance of the game to tie it popping a DeRo pass just over the goal.
As for the covergae, although they were not quite as entertaining as the two clowns who announced the Costa Rica game, it was nice to have a couple Canucks in Forrest and Dobson calling the game.
Hmmm, so how does this work with FIFA standings? If Guadeloupe is not a recognized country by FIFA, does a lose to Guadeloupe count against Canada in the world rankings?
