Summer fun for Canada

Canadian head coach Stephen Hart

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These three countries will provide stiffer competition compared to Canada's opponents from the previous round (Puerto Rico, St. Lucia and St. Kitts and Nevis). In the build-up for June, Canada will play international friendlies against Armenia on Feb. 29 (in Cyprus) and the United States on June 3 at Toronto's BMO Field.

Two exhibition matches over the course of four months hardly seems like sufficient preparation for what should be a challenging series of World Cup qualifying matches. But there's not much Canada can do, as pro clubs are only obligated to release players for national team duty on FIFA approved international dates.

Hart would like to arrange another friendly before June, but FIFA's rules means his hands are tied.

"If you look at when the (European) seasons finish for a lot of players and then (with) the MLS in full swing, you can only operate as per FIFA regulations. It's the best we can do in that situation," Hart told reporters during a Wednesday conference call.

Hart did say that Canada might potentially add a closed-door friendly ahead of the World Cup qualifiers in June.

"We have discussed as a staff potentially playing a closed-door game, but that's it," Hart revealed.

With this in mind, Hart has told those players based in Europe not to "plan on a long vacation" once their respective club seasons are completed, as he plans to convene a national team training camp that will lead directly into the qualifying matches.

Looking ahead to the games in June, Hart is pleased that more Canadian players are getting regular playing time with their pro clubs in Europe. He believes this will give Canada a better chance to be competitive in what should prove to be a tough World Cup qualifying group.

"It's no secret we've played our best when players are actually playing consistently. It's really been good to see Marcel de Jong and Simeon (Jackson) getting regular playing time," Hart said.

"(Kevin) McKenna is back in action and Atiba (Hutchinson) is back on the bench at PSV and hopefully he will be back in action as well. We really need the players playing and we really need the players at their best physically and mentally, so I'm monitoring that situation very closely."

Hart's immediate order of business is preparing for the Armenia encounter later this month. Because the game falls just before the start of Major League Soccer's regular season, the Canadian coach will rely on mostly European-based players for the match.

"I'm trying to avoid (selecting) any of the MLS players. They have only just begun their pre-season. It will be very difficult for them to fly all the way to Cyprus and play a game," Hart explained. "The only way I would utilize (anyone) from MLS is if I'm really stuck for players in certain positions."