Toronto FC: World Cup Edition - (no longer) featuring Team CANADA

[GoonieFace]

100% this. Belgium is very good but I think people just don't realize how good Canada is. I always say that the betting lines are a good starting point for discussion - not 100% accurate but usually pretty damn close and according to what they say, of course Belgium is the favorite but the odds of Canada getting at least a tie aren't bad at all. And not sure what the odds were this morning for Morocco vs Croatia but they were probably in the same ballpark and that ended in a tie. I like Canada's chances, we'll see what happens.

Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. ET in Al Rayyan, Qatar. Belgium are -210 favorites (risk $210 to win $100) in the latest Belgium vs. Canada odds from Caesars Sportsbook. Canada are +575 underdogs, a draw is priced at +325, and the over/under for total goals scored is 2.5.

I’m just worried about Canadas defence being able to defend against a team like Belgium. We have enough up front to scare them I think, but I just think we will have some breakdowns that will cost us. We drew a much tougher group than the USA and Mexico as well. We can beat Croatia and Morocco I believe, and might just sneak through

I was so tempted to keep the kids home from school today (at least my son is home sick). We're not much of a soccer watching household, but I understand the importance and significance of this. Particularly when I told them this is the first World Cup game for Canada in 36 years.

Can't wait for 2 pm!

Lol, I’m letting my kids come home early to watch

It's not like I had much choice lol

I was referring to this years team. Speaking to a lot of Canadian Croatians, they are all cheering for Croatia against Canada, which I find strange. These are people born here as well.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Belgium is a top 5 team in the world. I don't know what their FIFA ranking is and i don't usually put too much stock into that. (i just opened a new window and checked. They're number 2 LOL). Just check their roster... they are sooooo deep and have so many top players. A guy like Leandro Trossard... not exactly a household name, but he's a beast and scores regularly in the EPL.

We're in so tough with this one. Our qaulity just doesn't compare.

I'm hopeful because i like our team a lot as a fan. And upsets happen case in point Saudi Arabia, but something more realistic might be a repeat of france australia.

Either way I'm rooting hard for Canada, Come on you reds.

Belgium is a great team but we have a pretty good team as well and like you said, upsets happen. Our quality doesn't compare in terms of depth, but we have some elite talent as well. Don't forget that Lukaku won't be playing which doesn't help Belgium either.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I was referring to this years team. Speaking to a lot of Canadian Croatians, they are all cheering for Croatia against Canada, which I find strange. These are people born here as well.

Not strange at all. They've probably been cheering for Croatia all their lives, and it's just natural to continue. I've been cheering for Canada and Toronto all my life no matter where I lived and if I ever move again, I doubt that will ever change. Maybe I'd pick up "second teams" but that's about it.

Soccer is also so much bigger in Croatia than it is in Canada, so they need success in the cup more than Canada does if that makes sense. From a Croatian fan's viewpoint, I could at least see the logic in that but of course logic isn't a big factor, it's all based on emotion.

 

[GoonieFace]

Not strange at all. They've probably been cheering for Croatia all their lives, and it's just natural to continue. I've been cheering for Canada and Toronto all my life no matter where I lived and if I ever move again, I doubt that will ever change. Maybe I'd pick up "second teams" but that's about it.

Soccer is also so much bigger in Croatia than it is in Canada, so they need success in the cup more than Canada does if that makes sense. From a Croatian fan's viewpoint, I could at least see the logic in that but of course logic isn't a big factor, it's all based on emotion.

Interesting. As someone that moved to Canada in my teens, I would never dream of cheering against Canada, even though the country I was born in and lived a third of my life in, is in the World Cup as well.

Let’s hope they can pull off a stunner

 

[kevsh]

I don't know what panda's success rate has been but hope he/she is right today.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Interesting. As someone that moved to Canada in my teens, I would never dream of cheering against Canada, even though the country I was born in and lived a third of my life in, is in the World Cup as well.

Let’s hope they can pull off a stunner

I was born in Canada but my parents are both Estonian and I spent 11 years living in Estonia as an adult. When Estonia played Canada in a soccer friendly, I had to decide to root for. I was living in Estonia at the time (this maybe about 2002-2003) and I even wrote an article about my dilemma. I decided I would root for Estonia and the main reason was that the game simply meant so much more to Estonians. In Canada, hockey is number 1, number 2, number 3 and then we maybe start thinking about if it's hockey that's still number 4 or if it's maybe something else. That was what I said at the time anyway, basketball and soccer have both gained a lot of ground since then but I digress ... But in Estonia, soccer was number 1, then basketball and then probably cross country skiing or maybe track and field but yeah, soccer was the most important sport so I decided I should cheer for Estonia.

That was my thinking anyway. But what I don't understand is when people get upset at others cheering for whoever, Canada, not Canada, whatever. Everyone is allowed to decide who to cheer for and I wouldn't be upset at anyone for whoever they decide to support.

I'm not a big soccer fan. But I do pay attention when the World cup or the European championship is on and I am pumped for today's game. I'm so proud of these guys already, if they lose all 3 games that won't change but I do believe they can surprise us all. They seems like a team in the truest sense of the word and that counts for a lot, especially in soccer where 11 guys have to work together. Go Canada!

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Again little real knowledge of soccer outside being a TFC season ticket holder for 4 years .. but my uniformed take from watching Belgium in last ex game is they have a very slow D which won't be able to keep up with wide balls to our wingers .. but will David have skill to finish 1???????????? .. I hope so as I think we will get 2 or 3 good chances to score off of fast breaks ..

to me it looks like we will get massively out skilled in midfield where Belgium will hold a huge possession advantage .. will our D/G hold up???????????? ..

ok so we should lose game based on vet experience big time but speed/hustle can sometimes carry you .. ie Saudi ie Morocco .. all that said i think 2-2 draw where we get outplayed

 

[Woodman19]

I was born in Canada but my parents are both Estonian and I spent 11 years living in Estonia as an adult. When Estonia played Canada in a soccer friendly, I had to decide to root for. I was living in Estonia at the time (this maybe about 2002-2003) and I even wrote an article about my dilemma. I decided I would root for Estonia and the main reason was that the game simply meant so much more to Estonians. In Canada, hockey is number 1, number 2, number 3 and then we maybe start thinking about if it's hockey that's still number 4 or if it's maybe something else. That was what I said at the time anyway, basketball and soccer have both gained a lot of ground since then but I digress ... But in Estonia, soccer was number 1, then basketball and then probably cross country skiing or maybe track and field but yeah, soccer was the most important sport so I decided I should cheer for Estonia.

That was my thinking anyway. But what I don't understand is when people get upset at others cheering for whoever, Canada, not Canada, whatever. Everyone is allowed to decide who to cheer for and I wouldn't be upset at anyone for whoever they decide to support.

I'm not a big soccer fan. But I do pay attention when the World cup or the European championship is on and I am pumped for today's game. I'm so proud of these guys already, if they lose all 3 games that won't change but I do believe they can surprise us all. They seems like a team in the truest sense of the word and that counts for a lot, especially in soccer where 11 guys have to work together. Go Canada!

Its the world we live in now, its not enough to know who you root for but you have to police everyone else into having to like what you like or they are a bad person or something.

 

[Woodman19]

Germany with a huge loss to Japan to start the day.

 

[GoonieFace]

Again little real knowledge of soccer outside being a TFC season ticket holder for 4 years .. but my uniformed take from watching Belgium in last ex game is they have a very slow D which won't be able to keep up with wide balls to our wingers .. but will David have skill to finish 1???????????? .. I hope so as I think we will get 2 or 3 good chances to score off of fast breaks ..

to me it looks like we will get massively out skilled in midfield where Belgium will hold a huge possession advantage .. will our D/G hold up???????????? ..

ok so we should lose game based on vet experience big time but speed/hustle can sometimes carry you .. ie Saudi ie Morocco .. all that said i think 2-2 draw where we get outplayed

I’d say this is fairly accurate

Its the world we live in now, its not enough to know who you root for but you have to police everyone else into having to like what you like or they are a bad person or something.

I never said I cared who people cheer for, I just find it strange. Each to their own

 

[Gary Nylund]

Germany with a huge loss to Japan to start the day.

OMG. I had no idea, that's amazing. Makes me wish that these games didn't overlap with my work hours so much, that would have been something to see!

 

[Fogelhund]

Germany with a huge loss to Japan to start the day.

That second goal by Japan was something else... amazing effort on it, and drive.... not so good goaltending. Congrats to Japan.

 

[GoonieFace]

OMG. I had no idea, that's amazing. Makes me wish that these games didn't overlap with my work hours so much, that would have been something to see!

Such a good game. Japan deserved the win. Hopefully these upsets don’t wake up Belgium too much.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Such a good game. Japan deserved the win. Hopefully these upsets don’t wake up Belgium too much.

Indeed! Let's hope they're overconfident and cocky to the nth degree.

 

[rocketman588]

So far teams that we have beaten already have done pretty well great sign for us if we play to our potential

 

[Westlander]

I wasn’t born here and I would still cheer for Canada over anyone. It’s funny to see people cheering for other countries when they were not even born there or been there. Is it not cool to be a proud Canadian?

In fairness I think most of them would have roots in those other countries. I’m kind of in the same boat now but the other way around (grew up in Canada but now live in the Netherlands and am a dual citizen). For now I’m just happy to have two teams but if they played I’d just be sad that one had to lose.

 

[Eyedea]

Belgium is a top 5 team in the world. I don't know what their FIFA ranking is and i don't usually put too much stock into that. (i just opened a new window and checked. They're number 2 LOL). Just check their roster... they are sooooo deep and have so many top players. A guy like Leandro Trossard... not exactly a household name, but he's a beast and scores regularly in the EPL.

We're in so tough with this one. Our qaulity just doesn't compare.

I'm hopeful because i like our team a lot as a fan. And upsets happen case in point Saudi Arabia, but something more realistic might be a repeat of france australia.

Either way I'm rooting hard for Canada, Come on you reds.

They'll probably cruise through the group stage but if anyone knows how to perform below expectations its Belgium (and Argentina).

 

[TheDoldrums]

In fairness I think most of them would have roots in those other countries. I’m kind of in the same boat now but the other way around (grew up in Canada but now live in the Netherlands and am a dual citizen). For now I’m just happy to have two teams but if they played I’d just be sad that one had to lose.

Nice. As a Liverpool fan I'd like to see the Netherlands do well this year for VVD.

 

[TheTotalPackage]

It's subtle, but am I ever impressed how the games are timed perfectly that the anthems are played and timed so that kickoff is exactly at the time as advertised. The countdown from 10 to such is a nice touch as well.

 

[Clark4Ever]

Upsets galore! Hopefully Canada can keep that theme going this afternoon.

 

[sylejman]

I don't know if anyone has posted about this before, but I was wondering about something. Why does James duthie go to every major tournament. He's a hockey guy, but he's at the Superbowl, he's at the world cup and he's at the world series. Kind of annoying seeing his face talking about shit he has no knowledge about.

 

[Eyedea]

I wasn’t born here and I would still cheer for Canada over anyone. It’s funny to see people cheering for other countries when they were not even born there or been there. Is it not cool to be a proud Canadian?

If and when I'm ever faced with the possibility of choosing to cheer between Canada and Greece at the world cup, I'll just be happy that both my teams actually made it.

 

[GBLeaf]

All the best to you guys tonight, will be backing you for sure.

Belgium obviously have a lot of talent, but they're not unbeatable. I don't think it would be the biggest upset for Canada to take something from them. So long as your team don't get overawed.

Hopefully you keep compact and then seek to counter-attack, Belgium are vulnerable to that style. Yet also pose a big threat themselves on the break.

 

[Twine Tickler]

The dogs have been barking all tourny thus far. Today is the day we keep that trend alive!!!!

 

[Eyedea]

I don't know if anyone has posted about this before, but I was wondering about something. Why does James duthie go to every major tournament. He's a hockey guy, but he's at the Superbowl, he's at the world cup and he's at the world series. Kind of annoying seeing his face talking about shit he has no knowledge about.

He's a panel moderator more than anything. Keep to a script, and just feed questions/discussion topics to the "experts" on the panel.