This summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup could be Kenny Stamatopoulos’s time to shine for Canada.
With No. 1 goalkeeper Milan Borjan unavailable—he’s remained with Bulgarian club Ludogorets as it prepares to play in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League—Stamatopoulos could get the call to start for the Reds at the Gold Cup.
The CONCACAF tournament runs from July 7-26 in 14 cities across the United States and Canada. The Reds open group stage play against El Salvador on July 8, before taking on Jamaica (July 11) and Costa Rica (July 14).
Stamatopoulos, 35, has floated in and out of the national team, earning just 14 caps since making his debut in 2001. But Canada’s “forgotten man” has seen regular playing time for his country as of late—he’s made four appearances in 2015, and played in both World Cup qualifiers last month against Dominica.
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Coach Benito Floro has also called up veteran Lars Hirschfeld (46 caps) and youngster Quillan Roberts (one cap) into his 23-man roster. Stamatopoulos hasn’t seen regular first-team action with Swedish club AIK this season, but he believes he’s earned the right to start for Canada at the Gold Cup—although Floro has yet to tip his hand.
“It’s tough to say, to be honest with you. We usually don’t know who’s starting until game day. He’s never pulled me or Milan or Lars aside beforehand and told us we were starting,” Stamatopoulos told Sportsnet over the phone from Santa Barbara, California, site of Canada’s pre-tournament training camp.
“But I don’t see why I shouldn’t be starting after playing the last two games against Dominica… Maybe Benito knows but I guess he just wants to keep us on our toes.”
Stamatopoulos entered the first leg against Dominica as a substitute in the 82nd minute after Borjan was sent off. Canada won that game 2-0, and Stamatopoulos started the return match, backstopping Canada to a 4-0 win in Toronto.
“The first game, it happened so quickly that I didn’t have time to think about it—I just had to go in and do my thing. The second one, I got the shout from Benito and I felt comfortable in there. We did well and on a personal note I thought every time I was needed I was there. Overall, I feel more comfortable and relaxed under Benito,” he said.
Stamatopoulos has been getting more of a look by Floro than previous Canadian coaches—his four caps in 2015 mark the most appearances he’s made in a single year for the Reds.
“Benito has more trust in me than previous coaches. He believes in how I play and how I think as a goalkeeper. The last time I felt this way was with Frank Yallop (Canada coach from 2004-06). Benito believes more in me, and I’m so thankful for that,” Stamatopoulos stated.
The veteran goalkeeper has also been impressed with how the Spaniard has brought more structure to the national team, and has clearly communicated his ideas and expectations of the players.
“I think what Canada has been missing for a long time is discipline, and he’s brought that back into the program,” Stamatopoulos offered.
At No. 109 in the world, Canada enters the Gold Cup as the lowest-ranked country in its group, well behind Costa Rica (at No. 14 Los Ticos are the top-ranked team in CONCACAF), Jamaica (No. 65) and El Salvador (No. 89). Stamatopoulos believes that works to the Reds’ advantage.
“In terms of rankings, we’re the lowest one in the group, so the pressure is not on us. Other times we had a bit more pressure on us in that sense. The mentality of the players is that we can go out and win every game—Benito has put that mindset into us. We’re doing well, and we’re coming off some good results,” Stamatopoulos opined.
“The future looks promising.”
Not as promising is what’s going on in Greece, where Stamatopoulos was born before moving to Canada with his family. Greece is mired in an economic crisis and loaded with debt. Its citizens will decide in a national referendum on Sunday whether or not to accept harsh austerity measures demanded by international creditors so that Greece could receive more bailouts.
Critics argue that unless Greece votes “yes” that the EU likely wouldn’t continue its support, and it would lead to full-fledged default and bankruptcy, and possibly Greece’s exit from the Eurozone. The Greek government says a “no” vote would pressure the European Union to accept a deal with easier repayment terms
Stamatopoulos has family and friends who still live in Greece, so the situation in his birth nation is, understandably, on his mind ahead of the Gold Cup.
“It’s not a pretty situation or ideal. What comes out of it, I think Sunday will be the final draw and I personally believe they will decline and go their own way and vote ‘no’. I think they’ve had enough and I don’t think that they think it can get any worse, so why no start from scratch again?” Stamatopoulos said.
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