FOOTY FAIR

Celebrate Canada's Birthday With Some Amazing Moments in Canadian Soccer History

2016-07-01T07:13:00.000-04:00

To all of our Canadian readers, Canadian football fans and Canadian football players around the world, we wish you a very happy and safe Canada Day. Here are some great moments in the history of Canadian football.

Canada's 1924 squad that would go on to play the first (official) international match in Canada's history, against Australia

Canada's first World Cup qualifying match (1957)

The old Varsity Stadium in Toronto where Canada played their first World Cup qualifying fixture

Canada wins the CONCACAF championship and qualifies to the World Cup for the very first time in 1985 against Honduras.

Canada's squad at the 1986 World Cup

Canada versus France. World Cup 1986

Canada versus USSR. World Cup 1986

Canada's women win the CONCACAF Championship in 1998

Canada's men win the CONCACAF Championship in 2000

Canada women win the CONCACAF championship for the second time (2009)

Canada Women's National Team at the 2012 summer Olympics in London, England

Canada's women win the bronze medal at the 2012 summer Olympics in London, England

Christine Sinclair in 2012. Most caps and goals for the Canadian Women's National Team.

Dwayne de Rosario. Most goals scored for the Canadian Men's National Team

Julian De Guzman. Most Caps for Canadian National mens team.

HAPPY CANADA DAY ALL

3 Unlikely Heroes of Euro 2016 So Far

2016-06-21T08:00:00.000-04:00

The group stage of the 2016 UEFA European Championships, or simply Euro 2016 for short, is nearly complete and already a few unlikely heroes have emerged. Here are three unexpected stars and why they've grabbed the headlines

#3 Will Grigg's On Fire

Who the heck is Will Grigg and why is he on fire you might ask? Grigg is a journeyman striker currently plying his trade for Wigan Athletic whose sudden goal rush over the past year has seen him help the Latics to a League One title and prompted a recall to the Northern Ireland squad. The Northern Irish fans "Will Grigg's on Fire" chant, which they adopted from Wigan Athletic supporter Sean Kennedy, is a riff on the song Freed From Desire by Gala and has recently been released as a remix by house musician Blonde which has rocketed to number seven this week on the iTunes UK charts.

Everywhere the Green and White Army go, you're sure to hear about Will Grigg this summer.

#2 Gabor Kiraly's Sweatpants

Proving to be an inspiration for slightly chunky and balding middle-aged men everywhere, the 40 year old Hungarian keeper Gabor Kiraly and his baggy grey sweatpants have brought a pub league look to the uppity world of European International football. He's also played quite well in helping his side to four points, so far, and almost certain progression into the Round of 16.

#1 Granit Xhaka's Kit Troubles and Xherdan Shaqiri's Sense of Humour

The only highlight of France's dull 0-0 draw with Switzerland in Lille was the sight of four Puma kits sported by the Swiss being ripped to pieces during the match and having to be swapped out. New Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka (above) actually had two of his kits ripped during the match. While the German company was left red faced over the apparent failures of quality control of their kits, Xherdan Shaqiri offered up the following hilarious take on the matter: "I hope Puma does not produce condoms."

Simulating Euro 2016 (Group F)

2016-05-31T09:00:00.000-04:00

The last group of this stage of the competition, Group F features Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal side, former UEFA Euro co-hosts Austria, Hungary who will make their first appearance in the tournament since 1972 and surprising debutants Iceland. Will the simulator produce a few surprises in this group?

Austria vs. Hungary - Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux - June 14, 2016

Austria qualified to this summer's tournament without a loss, winning nine of their ten matches and drawing once, coming atop their group which included Russia and Sweden. Needless to say, they were pretty heavy favorites coming into their match with Hungary who had to go through a play-off against Norway to secure their spot at the 2016 Euros. And it all started as expected with Austria having the better of the scoring chances, taking the lead in the 27th minute with a goal from Bayern Munich's 23 year old David Alaba. The 1-0 scoreline held at the half, but the Austrians came out even stronger in the second, with Stoke City's Marko Arnautović and Basel's Marc Janko scoring in the 52nd and 67th respectively.

But just as the match seemed to be wrapped-up in Austria's favor Hungary's Ádám Szalai pulled one back just a minute after Austria's 3rd goal. Five minutes later Hungary was on the scoresheet once more when Tamás Priskin put one in the back of the net, providing hope for an unlikely Hungarian comeback. A minute later it was Priskin once again, meeting a cross into the box with his head to level the score, to the shock of the spectators.

Final Score: Austria 3-3 Hungary

Portugal vs. Iceland - Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne - June 14, 2016

Portugal got off to a great start in the tournament against debutants Iceland. After a flurry of chances early in the match, a Cristiano Ronaldo shot from outside the box was deflected by defender Ragnar Sigurðsson into his own net to give Portugal an early lead in the 15th minute. Ten minutes later it was Ronaldo again, this time his powerful shot went straight in. Iceland would get one back before the half when Nantes striker Kolbeinn Sigþórsson pounced on a ball inside the Portuguese box and scored from close-range. But an Icelandic comeback would not come true on this day as Portugal secured the 3 points with a third goal from Éder in the 88th minute.

Final Score: Portugal 3-1 Iceland

Iceland vs. Hungary - Stade Vélodrome, Marseille - June 18, 2016

After picking up an unlikely draw in huge comeback fashion in their first match, Hungary would have to settle for yet another 1 point final; Iceland's first point in a Euro tournament. Both goals came within the first 20 minutes of the match with the Hungarians taking a 1-0 lead in just the 5th minute when Tamás Priskin scored his third of the tournament, while Iceland's Kolbeinn Sigþórsson hit his second of the summer in the 19th.

Final Score: Iceland 1-1 Hungary

Portugal vs. Austria - Parc des Princes, Paris - June 18, 2016

While both played a pretty open style of football in their first match, the meeting between Portugal and Austria was anything but, as the two defended well to a scoreless draw.

Final Score: Portugal 0-0 Austria

Iceland vs. Austria - Stade de France, Saint-Denis - June 22, 2016

After a scoreless draw for the Austrians and a 1-1 final against Hungary for Iceland, Stade de France was home to the highest scoring match of the tournament, in a match that saw the two opponents combine for a total of eight goals. After going 2-0 and then 3-1 in front, the Austrians yet again gave up crucial goals to see Iceland tie the game at 3-3 with only 8 minutes remaining in the match. But this time around the Austrians had something left in the tank, as they would go on to score two more of their own to secure victory. Goals: (Iceland: Birkir Már Sævarsson, Gylfi Sigurðsson and Eiður Guðjohnsen), (Austria: Zlatko Junuzović, Marc Janko x2, Rubin Okotie and Aleksandar Dragović)

Final Score: Iceland 3-5 Austria

Hungary vs. Portugal - Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Lyon - June 22, 2016

Portugal were in a great spot to secure the top of Group F, but for a second match in a row were unable to get on the scoresheet, with Hungary's stubborn defence working tirelessly the entire match, which in fact was dominated by the Portuguese.

Final Score: Hungary 0-0 Portugal

Final Table

		Wins	Draws	Losses	Gls For	Gls Against	Goal Dif.	Pts
1	Austria	1	2	0	8	6	2	5
2	Portugal	1	2	0	3	1	2	5
3	Hungary	0	3	0	4	4	0	3
4	Iceland	0	1	2	5	9	-4	1

Review:

Austria were able to clinch the first place in Group F on the last day of play as Portugal were unable to secure the full 3 points against Hungary. This means the Austrians will play Belgium in the next round, while Portugal will be matched against the runner-ups of Group B, England. Hungary meanwhile does make the cut of a best 3rd place team spot in the next round and will face Group C winners Germany.

A Quick Recap of the Euro 2016 Playoff Matchups

2015-10-18T12:00:00.000-04:00

Eight more matches and football fans in Europe and around the world will know the identity of all twenty-four teams that have assured their spots in France next summer. Four matchups remain in the qualifying stages in the playoff edition of the competition and four of the eight teams will join the twenty that have already guaranteed their spots in the 2016 European Championships.

Here is a quick recap of the draw that took place this morning in Switzerland.

Ukraine vs Slovenia

Ukraine and Slovenia have met on four occasions previously with the Ukrainians never winning a single match. But the two previous draws and two Slovenia wins may not be as telling as one may think. Currently, Ukraine's national team sits sixteen spots higher in the FIFA rankings and are widely believed to have a stronger team. If the Slovenians manage to get past the Ukrainians, next summer's tournament will mark sixteen years since their last (and only as an independent nation) participation in the Euros. Ukraine hosted the last Euro tournament in 2012, but neither last tournament's hosts, nor the Slovenians have made it past the group stages in their only Euro appearances.

Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Rep. of Ireland

Perhaps not the favorites in their group that included now world #1 ranked Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina was nonetheless seen as a strong contender for one of the two automatic qualifying spots. But with Wales' emergence and Bosnia's surprising losses to Cyprus and Israel, the squad was unable to get back into the top two positions and only managed to secure a playoff spot on the last day of matches. The Irish on the other hand enjoyed quite a few impressive results, including a draw and a win against world champions Germany, but were unable to fend off Poland from claiming the second place in the group ahead of them. The two have met just once before with Ireland coming out 1-0 on top.

Norway vs Hungary

Drawn into a group with Bulgaria, Croatia and Italy, Norway was never a favorite to go straight through to France 2016. But a playoff spot is a pretty good achievement for a team who's last major tournament participation was the 2000 Euros in Belgium & Netherlands. The Hungarians, while full of history and football tradition on the global scale have not made a major tournament since their participation in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico and will look to end what will be a 30 year drought from major competition. Head-to-head the two have met 17 times in the past and the record is pretty close. Hungary have won 7 of those previous meetings, Norway enjoyed 5 wins of their own and the remaining 5 were concluded in draws.

Sweden vs Denmark

A highly anticipated matchup will see Sweden and Denmark play out yet another version of their Scandinavian rivalry which has been around for well over a century now. Denmark's win in the 1992 Euros which was hosted by the Swedes added fuel to the fire of this rivalry and there will be nothing more the two sets of fans would love more than to eliminate their rivals from next summer's European championships. The Swedes hold a slightly better record in their 103 meetings to date, but each meeting between the two takes on a new storyline and this one is sure to be a fiercely competed two-leg affair. Sweden has not missed a European championship tournament since they were unable to qualify for the competition in England in 1996, and a win over Denmark will mark their sixth straight Euro qualification.

5 Most Incredible Own Goals

2014-10-20T06:00:00.000-04:00

One of the funniest moment in football is the own goal. It doesn’t happen very often but when it does it always brings a smile to my face.

I looked around for the top 5 own goals scored around the world and I believe I found some really great own goals, so great that if they were own goals they would be considered for goal of the year.

Here are what I consider the 5 most incredible own goals in football.

Game: Partizan Belgrade vs Anderlecht (2010)

During the 2010 Champions League qualifier matches, Lecjaks scored one of the most incredible and memorable own goals of the competition history. Instead of clearing a dangerous attack and playing the ball into the stands, he smacked the ball into his own net. A goal he will probably never forget.

Game: Bastia vs RC Lens (2001)

When your team has a 3-0 lead, as a defender all you need to do is keep your concentration and ensure you see the game to the end, and if possible keep the clean sheet for your team. Queudrue had other plans, when he scored an own goal from 30 yards out. This was a goal that any forward would be proud off, even Queudrue would be proud of it, had it been in the opposite net.

Game: FC Fehervar vs Debrecen DVSC (2008)

The Hungarian league doesn’t get the same attention as some of the greatest leagues in Europe, but the own goal scored by Durica was good enough to be on any league’s highlight reel. Perhaps Durica’s goal is one of the most difficult own goals to score, considering it came off a penalty kick for the opposing team.

Game: Sun Hei vs Citizen Hong Kong (2005)

This goal would be something you would expect to see Zlatan Ibrahimovic score, but instead Festus Baise scored it in his own net. His team won the match 3-2 but he scored of one of the best and most incredible own goals I have ever seen, too bad it was in his own net, otherwise he would have a great story to tell his grandchildren.

Game: Oita Trinita vs Albirex Niigata (2013)

Shimizu and his opponent Tanaka were involved in an own goal that was sure to become the butt of all jokes involving own goals. Shimizu trying to get his team’s attack started quickly and kicks the ball into his opponent’s rear, which bounced the ball into the back of his net.

Germany Wins Again - 2014 UEFA European Under-19 Championship

2014-07-31T18:00:00.000-04:00

If you thought that the German national team’s World Cup win would be their last trophy of the year, well, you were wrong.

Obviously the U19 Euros are nowhere near the scale and prestige level of the FIFA World Cup, nonetheless, it is a competition that directly reflects on the country’s development of its youth system and therefore is always interesting to follow.

The 8 team tournament which was hosted in Hungary this year, saw Germany lift the trophy for the 3rd time in the competition’s history, last in 2008.

Drawn into group B with Bulgaria and previous tournament winners Ukraine and Serbia, the Germans had little in their way in terms of a challenge until the very final. A 2-2 draw against the eventual group runner-ups Serbia was the only fixture that will demote the German national team from the title of a perfect record, to that of an undefeated run instead.

In the other two group matches Germany would record two clean-sheets, defeating Bulgaria by three and Ukraine by two goals, qualifying to the semi-finals against the runner-up of group A, the Austrians.

One German footballer that was above all others in his skill level and was the obvious “game-changer” in this tournament was Werder Bremen’s Davie Selke, who scored in each of the three group matches, twice against Bulgaria, then one goal against the Serbs and both goals in the 2-0 victory over Ukraine.

Undoubtedly Selke is a footballer to watch for the future as the 19 year old had already feature for Werder Bremen’s senior team on a few occasions, while most of his time to date is spent with the reserves.

In the semi-final against Austria Selke was on the board again, scoring the first, and what would prove to be the only goal needed for his squad as Germany qualified to the final against the other semi-final winner Portugal, in easy fashion with a final score of 4-0.

Today’s final match against the Portuguese proved tougher than the rest, but even without the scoring touch of their star striker Davie Selke (who picks up the Golden Boot award with his 6 goals) the Germans managed to celebrate yet another tournament win after a goal from Hertha Berlin’s 19 year old midfielder Hany Mukhtar was just enough to secure a 1-0 victory.

The German football federation (DFB) will surely look back at 2014 as a very successful year with trophies at the oldest and youngest (professional) levels of football.

World Cup Heroes - Ferenc Puskas

2014-05-26T06:00:00.000-04:00

Ferenc Puskas is one of the top 25 footballers of all of time, and while his better performances came with the Real Madrid jersey, he also helped his Hungary national team to international glory.

He didn't have the look of most footballers at that time or even now, but his qualities on the field are undeniable and for what he has done for club and country he has carved his place in footballing history.

He made his debut for Hungary in 1945 at the age of 18, in a match against Austria. This was Hungary's first post war match.
Puskas also played in the incredible Hungary team that defeated England 6-3 at Wembley, becoming the first team outside of Britain to defeat England at home.

Hungary & Puskas were undefeated in 4 years when they arrived at the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland. That streak looked to continue when they defeated South Korea 9-0 in the groups opening game. Puskas scored 2 goals in the match, the first at the 12th minute to give Hungary a 1-0 lead and his 2nd goal made it 9-0 in the 89th minute.

During the second game of the group Hungary defeated a strong West German side 8-3 with Puskas scoring the 2nd goal for his team at the 17th minute mark. After two games and 4 years undefeated leading into this tournament, Puskas and Hungary looked set at making history.

Due to an injury that had been with him since the end of the club season and was aggravated during the first two games, he wasn't able to help his Hungary during the QF match against heavy favorites Brazil.
His team mates rallied around him and made of this weakness a strength and in a match commonly know as "Battle of Berne", Hungary defeated Brazil 4-2 and advanced to the semi-final.

The semi-final pinned Hungary against the defending champions Uruguay, still without Puskas, Hungary looked right for the picking, but in football sometimes the variables play a role. To many his presence with the team, and his willingness to win gave his team mates the strength to push on and try to overcome this massive obstacle. Uruguay was defeated 4-2 in AET, and the stage was set for a final between Hungary and West Germany whom they had defeated 8-3 earlier in the tournament.

Puskas forced the coaches hand and put his name on the lineup, despite not being fully fit. Hungary took an early lead with Puskas scoring the first goal only after 6 minutes of play. By the 8th minute of the game Hungary lead 2-0 and look to be set at winning the tournament. The West Germans weren't undone and made a remarkable comeback, and won the game 3-2. It was a shocking result, and one that ended Hungary's unbeaten streak of 4+ years.

This was Puskas only World Cup appearance, but in 84 caps for Hungary he scored 83 goals. Nobody in history has ever scored those many goals for a national team. The thoughts always linger, what would this 1954 World Cup have been, had Puskas been fully healthy for the duration of the tournament? That is something we will never know.

SEE THE OTHER HEROES IN THIS SERIES>

Throwback Thursdays - Wolves vs. Honved and the Birth of the European Cup

2014-05-22T12:00:00.000-04:00

On December 13, 1954, at a packed Molineux Stadium, the mighty Hungarian Champions, Honved, played a match against English Champions Wolverhampton Wanderers that many argue provided the final push towards the creation of a European Cup of Champions.

As the finalists Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid go through the final preparations for their 2014 Champions League Final clash on Saturday, this week in Throwback Thursday's we take a look back at the birth of the European Cup and a pivotal friendly that proceeded it.

The European Cup, the predecessor of the Champions League, was first contested in the 1955/1956 season and was won, incredibly, for the first five years by Real Madrid. Prior to the birth of this knockout tournament of champions, there had been no way to decisively determine the best side in Europe.

As early as 1897 though, a Challenge Cup had been contested by the top club sides from within the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Following World War 1, and the resulting political shifts across Europe, a new cup competition was created called the Mitropa Cup that included clubs from Central and Eastern Europe. The main countries, whose clubs featured in this tournament, were Austria, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Romania and Italy. The Mitropa Cup was first contested in 1927 and did much to develop the level of play in the countries involved.

In Western Europe however, clubs had to be content with high profile friendlies in order to test themselves against sides from other countries. Although a Latin Cup between clubs from Spain, Portugal, France, and Italy had started after World War 2, a need for a Europe wide tournament was still there. The European Cup just needed a final push to get it off the ground.

The Magical Magyars

In the early 1950's the strongest National side in Europe, and perhaps the world, was Ferenc Puskas' Hungary. The Magical Magyars, won Olympic Gold in 1952 and then went on to smash England 6-3 at Wembley, becoming the first side from outside the British Isles to triumph on the Empire Stadium's hallowed turf.

Deploying a deep lying centre-forward in Nándor Hidegkuti, and playing with a fluid formation that would heavily influence the Dutch "Total Football" of the 1970's, Hungary made the England defense look "like a fire brigade rushing to put out the wrong fire."

Hungary went into the 1954 World Cup as firm favourites, and only an injury to Puskas and a questionable offside call kept them from glory, as they fell 3-2 to West Germany in the Final.

In December of 1954, the Hungarian club side Honved, which contained the future Real Madrid star Puskas, along with future Barcelona ace Sándor Kocsis and most of the Hungarian National side, came to Wolverhampton to play in a high profile flood-light friendly against Wolves. The English Champions, managed by Stan Cullis, were known for their direct wing play and were thought to be no match for the sophisticated Hungarians.

Although, Wolves enjoyed a golden period in the 1950's matching Manchester United with three league titles, and playing several other high profile matches against top European sides, many like my Grandmother who were privileged to be there that night, have said that there's never been a match like it at the Molineux. The ground was bursting beyond capacity, with many only seeing the ball when it went up the air, but the atmosphere was electric as the West Midlands crowd strained to see what their side could do against mighty Honved. The match was also carried live on the BBC, which was extremely rare in those days.

Predictably, Honved took a two goal lead in the first half with goals from Sándor Kocsis and Ferenc Macho. But after what was no doubt a stirring halftime team talk by the volatile Cullis, Wolves got back into it with a goal from Johnny Hancocks early in the second half. With fifteen minutes to go, Roy Swinbourne headed an equalizer and then within 100 seconds he had scored the winner, sending the 55,000 strong crowd into raptures on what is arguably the most famous night in the clubs history.

After the match, the British press raved about Wolves brave comeback and said that they drew on the "Spirit of Lord Nelson" in order to overcome the Hungarians. Some papers went as far as to call Wolves the "Champions of the World".

Over in Europe, the British reaction to Wolves victory did not go down so well. Gabriel Hanot, the editor of L'Equipe had this to say:

"Before we declare that Wolverhampton are invincible, let them go to Moscow and Budapest. And there are other internationally renowned clubs: AC Milan and Real Madrid to name but two. A club world championship, or at least a European one – larger, more meaningful and more prestigious than the Mitropa Cup and more original than a competition for national teams – should be launched. "

Impressed by the success of the Campeonato Sudamericano de Campeones (South American Championship of Champions) in Chile in 1948, Hanot had already put forward a proposal to UEFA for a tournament between European football's Champions. Spurred on by the reaction to Wolves victory, Hanot pressed the issue further until UEFA agreed during their congress in March of 1955 to the formation of a European Cup.

The tournament would begin play in the fall of that year, eventually morphing into the Champions League in 1992, and has arguably become the greatest prize in club football.

This Saturday, as Real Madrid seek their tenth "Cup With the Big Ears", supporters of Wolves and Honved can be proud of the part their clubs played in prompting a determined French editor to get this great tournament off the ground all those years ago.