Canada begins training in Philadelphia

Canada’s men’s national team enjoyed its first day of training today in Philadelphia, PA. The team will have five sessions this week before Saturday night’s quarter-final match against Honduras at the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Canada qualified for the quarter-final stage after finishing first in Group A in the preliminary round.



All 19 players were in gear for today’s practice at the University of Pennsylvania. Coach Stephen Hart and his staff had the team for just over 90 minutes on the grass pitch.



Canada is on a good run at the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. In fact, since coach Hart resumed head coaching duties in April, the team is unbeaten in five matches (four wins and one draw). With two wins and one draw at the 2009 competition, Canada is on its first three-game unbeaten streak at the CONCACAF Gold Cup since 2002 (Canada reached the semi-final that year).



Canada has never played in Philadelphia. The city is home to Major League Soccer’s next expansion team: the Philadelphia Union that join MLS in 2010. This Saturday’s CONCACAF Gold Cup matches will be played at Lincoln Financial Field