The Footie Fool

What has surprised me the most about Canada’s great run at the Gold Cup so far has been how much fun I have been having watching Canada play. The last time I had a chance to see our boys playing together internationally was in WC 2006 qualifying and it was a hugely frustrating affair. From poor officiating, to less than stellar performances and a total lack of goals, 2006 World Cup qualifying was a dude in terms of entertainment for me.

This time around, there has been reason to cheer and, yes, even jump up out of the couch and do a little celebratory dance when a particularly fine goal is struck. A goal like Canada’s second goal against Guatemala. Ali Gerba’s solid strike finished off one of the nicest pieces of passing I have ever witnessed a Canadian team make. It was the kind of tic-tac-toe one touch buildup that I’m used to seeing Arsenal make, not Canada.

What is really nice is that we are scoring goals. Buckets of goals. Even in games where we have lost or drawn, we have scored goals. Whether it’s DeRo poaching one from an impossible angle, Ali Gerba’s solid strikes, or a rocket from outside the box by de Guzman, it appears that we now have some legitimate firepower. Add in offensive runs down the line from both Jazic and Staltari and some pinpoint passing from Atiba Hutchinson and you’ve got a potentially explosive offensive team that has been a real pleasure to watch.

I haven’t watched the U.S. play since the World Cup. But whatever happens on Thursday I’ll be coming away from the Gold Cup this year with some warm fuzzy memories. And a great feeling of optimism for the future. While I am not booking my flight to S.A. for 2010 just yet, you can’t help but think that, based on their last 1/2 dozen or so performances, Canada has a real and legitimate shot at appearing at the big show. And just the mere thought of that is making this footie fool quite giddy.