USA vs Canada for a Trip to the Olympics

It’s Guatemala vs Honduras and USA vs Canada tonight in the excellently titled 2008 CONCACAF U-23 Men’s Pre-Olympic Tournament, possibly the only tournament on earth where the semifinals are more important that the final. That’s because the two winners tonight qualify for the Men’s Olympic Football tournament at the 2008 Olympics this summer.

The US and Mexico U-23s were the two favourites before the tournament, but after all kinds of craziness in the group stages Mexico are out, Hugo Sanchez is in trouble and we’re down to these four.

Canada have nothing to lose, sort of. Coach Nick Dasovic is even worried that qualification for the first time since 1984 might not even be the best thing for Canadian soccer.

Qualification is “almost a worry,” he says. “We’ve done well with limited preparation and finances. It’s one of those things where are they’re going to look at it and say ‘They can do it again without spending the money or time.’ It’s like (when Canada won) the Gold Cup in 2000. Everyone went nuts, but what did we achieve from that? Nothing.”

Go team! But he’s got a point. Short term success followed by… nothing, probably isn’t what Canadian soccer needs. On the other hand, qualification could bring some much needed media attention to Dasovic’s team.

And if the young Canadians need any extra motivation, then they can just cast their minds back to the senior team’s most recent game against the US.

Meanwhile, the pressure is on the Americans. The team missed out on the 2004 Olympics in Athens, and with some big names on the roster they’re expected to make it this time. Even though the players haven’t really hit it off so far they’re still favourites, with Freddy Adu and Jozey Altidore in attack and the recently called up Jonathon Spector at the back.

After tonight, there’s just one spot left at the Olympics, and it will go to either Ghana or Nigeria, depending on what happens when Nigeria face South Africa on Wednesday March 26th. If Nigeria win, they go to the Olympics. If they lose or draw, then Ghana qualify instead. Either way, this time next week we’ll know the 16 teams who’ll compete in Beijing this summer.

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