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  • Sports: De Guzman Named To Canadian Roster

    DE GUZMAN NAMED TO CANADIAN ROSTER

    Sportsnet.ca
    http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/sports/article/189186--de-guzman-named-to-canadian-roster
    Feb 24 2012

    Spare a thought for Stephen Hart.

    The Canadian national men's team coach was forced to scramble to
    put together his roster for next Wednesday's international friendly
    against Armenia in Limassol, Cyprus.

    The game takes place on Feb. 29, the first FIFA International Date
    of the 2012 calendar year. The neutral site match will be the first
    meeting between the two nations.

    Hart announced his 17-man roster Thursday, a squad that features 15
    European-based players and one from Major League Soccer: Toronto FC
    midfielder Julian de Guzman.

    Ideally, Hart would not have picked de Guzman, as he previously stated
    he was trying to avoid selecting MLS players because they are in
    the middle of their pre-season training camps. But Hart's hand was
    forced due to injuries and because several European clubs refused
    to allow their players to play in the exhibition match. By contrast,
    Armenia has 31 players in camp ahead of the game against Canada.

    "Putting this team together was extremely difficult. Injuries are one
    thing and having to deal with some clubs, because they are involved
    in promotion fight -- it's been very difficult," Hart told reporters
    during a Thursday conference call.

    "There were one or two players that received a lot of pressure from
    their club and it made it very difficult for them."

    Hart received so much resistance that the European teams badgered
    him to find out the exact time of the Canada-Armenia match -- FIFA
    rules stipulate that clubs are required to release their players for
    international duty 48 hours before the match kicks off.

    With forward Olivier Occean (foot) and defender Marcel de Jong (ankle)
    sidelined with serious injuries, combined with the hard time he was
    getting from European teams, Hart had to get a little creative in
    building his squad for the Armenia game.

    Hardly a surprise then that he selected de Guzman, and defender
    Nana Attakora, who is currently out of contract with the San Jose
    Earthquakes and who recently trained with Scottish club Hibs.

    "It's a situation where I needed somebody that can play centre back
    or right back. Nana was in Scotland training on a daily basis and
    from all reports was doing quite well. So it was a situation where
    I felt I could bring him in and once again give him the opportunity
    to show himself," Hart said.

    Like Attakora, Samuel Piette also benefitted from the current player
    shortage.

    The 17-year-old midfielder, who plays for FC Metz in France's second
    division, received his first call-up to the national team after
    previously playing for Canada's under-17 team, including at last
    summer's FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico.

    Hart was impressed with Piette's work when he recently participated
    in a training camp with Canada's under-20 side.

    "At the time I said to myself if I do get the opportunity I'd like to
    bring him in with the senior players and see how he settles into the
    midfield. This seems to be a good opportunity to bring him in. ... It
    will give me a good gauge for him," Hart explained.

    On a positive note, returning to the national team fold is star
    midfielder Atiba Hutchinson, widely regarded as Canada's best player.

    Hutchinson hasn't played for Canada since aggravating a knee injury
    during a World Cup qualifier against St. Lucia last September. He had
    surgery on the knee and underwent a demanding physical rehabilitation
    regime before recently returning to action for his pro club, Dutch
    outfit PSV Eindhoven.

    Hart said that PSV did not put up any kind of resistance with regards
    to allowing Hutchinson to make the trip to Cyprus. On the contrary.

    "The club was actually pleased that I decided to bring him in because
    he needs some games. Of course, we're going to monitor how well he
    does and be sensible about this, but (PSV was) very supportive,"
    Hart stated.

    Although it failed to earn a tournament berth, Armenia posted an
    impressive 5-2-3 record in Euro 2012 qualifying, finishing third in
    its group behind Russia and Ireland. Armenia currently sits 41st in
    the FIFA world rankings, compared to 71st-place Canada

    Armenia plays Serbia, ranked 25th in the world, the day before its
    encounter with Canada in Cyprus. Serbia also plays Cyprus on Feb 29.

    With Serbia already in the country for a pair of games, the Canadian
    Soccer Association looked into the possibility of setting up a friendly
    for Canada against the Serbs. But Hart said that idea was quickly
    put to rest when European teams denied his request to release their
    players a bit earlier.

    "There was no way we were going to get the players for an extra day
    or two," Hart admitted.

    CANADA'S ROSTER

    Goalkeepers: Milan Borjan, keny Stamatopoulos

    Defenders: Nana Attakora, David Edgar, Mike Klukowski, Nik Ledgerwood,
    Kevin McKenna, Adam Straith

    Midfielders: Julian de Guzman, Atiba Hutchinson, Pedro Pacheco,
    Samuel Piette, Josh Simpson

    Forwards: Marcus Haber, Iain Hume, Simeon Jackson, Tosaint Ricketts




    From: A. Papazian
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