Canucks ready for big Montréal match

For more information on this match, please visit the following fixture



Canada’s men’s national team completed its second day of training today in Montréal, QC under the watchful eye of head coach Dale Mitchell. Mitchell wants another win to close out Stage II of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ Qualifiers. Most importantly, he wants a win in front of the home crowd at Stade Saputo this Friday 20 June.



“There is always pressure,” says coach Dale Mitchell. “There are two games and you have to get it right or it’s done. For all the teams, it is a difficult task. Anything can happen in a two-game series. There is always pressure and expectations. As players and coaches, you deal with it.”



Tickets to this Friday’s match are still available to the general public. Tickets are available through Admission (admission.com or 514.790.1245). The 20 June match – the first-ever FIFA World Cup Qualifiers™ match to be hosted by Montréal – kicks off at 19.30 ET.



For fans unable to attend the Friday 20 June match, the match will be broadcast live on Sportsnet West (television) and THE TEAM 990 (radio AM 990 and internet team990.com). The match will also be replayed on Sportsnest Pacific, Sportsnet Ontario and Sportsnet East.



Of note, Canada will have just 16 players in its lineup for the 20 June match. Two players from Canada’s intended 18-player lineup – Rob Friend (back spasms) and Richard Hastings (hip flexor) – have returned home because of injuries.



Canada’s men’s national team is looking to get back to the FIFA World Cup™ for the first time since 1986. From within CONCACAF, three or four teams (out of 35 total or 24 remaining) will represent the confederation at South Africa 2010™. The Canadian men are currently ranked fourth in CONCACAF based on the most recent FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings. Canada also had a top-four finish at last year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup by reaching the semi-final.