ALLISTON, Ontario – After three days in relative obscurity, the Canadian Men’s National Team is ready to take on the bright media spotlight of the big city.
The squad ended the portion of its training camp at Nottawasaga Inn Resort and is heading to Toronto for final tune-ups ahead of its Saturday friendly against Peru Saturday at the National Soccer Stadium (BMO Field).
Stephen Hart, the man entrusted with leading Canada to their first World Cup appearance in 28 years, began camp with 11 players Monday and ended with 19 on Wednesday after the arrival of Hertha BSC striker Rob Friend.
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Defender Dejan Jakovic is the lone missing player, as he’s still with D.C. United for their US Open Cup game against the Columbus Crew.
Despite battling 90-degree heat in their morning practices, Hart was pleased with the first three days of the camp and his players’ progress.
“We had only one day yesterday with the players and a lot of them landed just the night before,” said Hart. “Training went very well. The quality overall was good, the intensity was high.
"Today was the same and, of course, the temperatures were very very hot, so we have to be careful. We’ve been making demands of the players and they’ve responded very well.”
From the start, Hart has maintained that he’d like to create depth on the squad, something he says the team is lacking.
So far in 2010, Canada’s gaffer has had 43 different players in various training camps ahead of games against Jamaica, Argentina and Venezuela.
“We’re experimenting, we’re playing in some different ways and trying people in some different positions that they might be uncomfortable for now,” said Hart. “What we hope to do is to get two players for each position and then have flexibility in the way we play, so that we can adjust in games that we need to adjust.”
The players Hart has called upon for the match vs. Peru will also play against Honduras, but more players could receive the call ahead of an Oct. 8 friendly at Euro 2012 co-hosts Ukraine.
In the meantime, Hart’s goal is to evaluate the talent before him and also satiate a soccer-enthused public that’s craving home games and wins after yet another Canada-less World Cup.
The Peru match is the first home game in 2010 and also ends a two-year absence from the country’s largest market. Canada last played in Toronto on Aug. 20, 2008, when they drew Jamaica 1-1 in a FIFA 2010 World Cup Qualifier before a capacity crowd.
On Wednesday, Hart also put to rest questions surrounding the use of his troika of Toronto FC players. Midfielders Dwayne De Rosario and Julian de Guzman and defender Nana Attakora will face Peru then be released, pending no injuries, to rejoin struggling Toronto FC for their game at Chicago on Sept. 8.
On Sunday, No. 101-ranked Canada will travel to Montreal, where they’ll train ahead of their friendly against CONCACAF rivals Honduras.
