By Alex

Canada’s men’s soccer team is coming up short in their quest to participate at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa - at least that’s where it is for now. Actually, following their recent 2-1 loss to Mexico, it doesn’t look like they’ll make it. Thus far in WC qualifying Canada has one tie (Jamaica) and two losses (Honduras and the aforementioned Mexicans).

So much to argue, discuss, cry, laugh and yell about when it comes to the senior national side. In the past, Canada’s team was a joke except for the four year Holger Osieck stint. Of course, the 1986 team (who were coached by Tony Waiters) deserve to be excused. Nevertheless, for a country with a huge immigrant population and long, rich soccer tradition the truth is that we have stumbled badly. The team and program has no identity.

By contrast, Team USA has carved itself an identity since its backwater days in the 1980s. I remember when I played in the 80s, Canada was actually ahead of the U.S. and our teams consistently got results against the Americans - at least my team did. The decade was probably among Canada’s best (though its run under Bob Lenarduzzi and Osieck between 1992-2003 was pretty good. Canada attained its highest FIFA ranking in its history 1996 under Lenarduzzi when the team reached number 40. Under Osieck its ELO ranking was as high as 32 ) which is probably why Waiters and Tony Taylor are considered to be among Canada’s all-time top coaches.

There is much blame to be assigned and most soccer fans will point the finger straight at the Canadian Soccer Association. The CSA indeed deserves to take the heat. It’s clear that the CSA is a dysfunctional “old boys network.” Why do I get the feeling there’s a lot of niaseries that goes on within its flimsy walls? Oof, they must be incredibly frustrating to deal with.

The interesting thing about Canada is that while they continue to struggle to get results, the talent on the pitch is not that bad. In fact, this edition currently playing is possibly, pound for pound, one of our most talented sides in a long time. It’s a shame we lost Owen Hargreaves. Along with Jonathan de Guzman and Dwayne de Rosario this could have made for an interesting starting trio.

I’m not here to dissect the national team. But I will say this: Though it’s improved quite a bit, Canada’s ground game remains naive. The midfield still can’t link to the strikers and the counter attack is non-existent. There’s a lot of heart on the team but very little tactical composure from what I can discern.

England is learning first hand what savvy strategy can do for a team and I’m not sure we have a) the coaching for this and b) the resources and personnel. Though I’m sure somewhere in this vast land there exists a Fabio Capello-Jose Mourinho-Guus Hiddink type master tactician and talent developer. Right?

Speaking of managers, there’s one thing I never got. After Dale Mitchell (who was a member of the ‘86 team) spectacularly failed at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, he was rewarded with a job with the senior team. If you thought disaster loomed with his nomination give yourself a pat and please accept an ISW wet T-shirt.

Perhaps “spectacularly” is a strong word given that he Canada still doesn’t have its youth development program in proper working order and most of the opposition (like Chile and Argentina) had players who were already playing professional soccer. Nonetheless, he failed to get anything out of the lads.

Canada seems to be headed in the right direction despite not having a clear game plan in place - at least to me anyway. But boy does the national program have a long way to go.

Fret not, bad as it is you can be a basketball fan in Canada. At least soccer has its own league in Canada.

Quick word on Gerry Dobson and Greg Forrest. All things considered, I think they do a magnificent job when it comes to covering not just Canadian soccer but world soccer as well. Personally, I follow publications and listen to experts in Italy, France and England and I must admit I feel Dobson and Forrest do just fine.

Forrest in particular has been stellar with his insights. Add Dick Howard to the mix and Canada manages to rival any team in the world in the broadcast booth.