When taken in the context of World Cup qualifying, Canada's current pair of friendlies against Peru and Honduras seem so premature, at least on the surface.
After all, didn't the World Cup in South Africa end only yesterday? And isn't qualifying for the next cycle still a full two years away? Actually it's not all that simple.
There's every reason to believe that CONCACAF is putting the finishing touches on a brand new qualifying procedure for our region. I wrote about this several weeks ago. It's still unclear what the new format will look like, as the rumour mill has been churning full time on this one, but there are three key points.
First, there will be more matches and therefore less likelihood of getting knocked out early.
Second, CONCACAF is currently awarded 3.5 spots in the World Cup. They've been lobbying to make it four.
And third, whatever the new format turns out to be, qualifying could start as early as a year from now. It's more than likely the initial stages will be comprised of the tiniest of the confederation's countries but Canada will likely kick in as early as the first part of 2012, a full six months earlier than before.
In other words, there's no time to waste. When the CSA announced the 2010 campaign, which included the Argentina and Venezuela matches as well as the current two games, they also said they were working to ensure there would be plenty more to come in 2011. But before that, there's the Ukraine friendly next month.
Watch for several more friendlies in Europe and Canada during the international dates in the first part of next year, followed by the biannual Gold Cup in June and July. Add some more matches in the fall of 2011 and you have a pretty solid calendar of games leading up to qualification -- whenever it does kick in. Watch for CONCACAF to announce the new format by the end of this month.
We watched Canada train Monday at Saputo Stadium in advance of Tuesday night's match against Honduras. Conditions were perfect. Head coach Stephen Hart is figuring out how to plug in the hole at left back after the departure of Marcel De Jong due to injury. He has some interesting ideas there.
I also spoke with defender Paul Stalteri, who will become Canada's all-time cap leader, assuming he plays.
Stalteri laughed and said it never even crossed his mind early in his career that he would have himself in such a spot.
After the Honduras game, Stalteri and the others won't be separated for long. They'll get together once again less than a month from now to prepare for the Ukraine match.
Canada could sure use a couple wins to end 2010 on a high note.
