Full-Time radio podcast - Sept 5, 2010

Here is the latest podcast from our radio show (Full-Time: Vancouver's Soccer Show) heard Sunday nights at 9pm on TEAM 1040 radio in Vancouver.

The September 5th version featured Whitecaps FC head coach Teitur Thordarson speaking about the 'Caps season to date, rotation of players, current form and his newest position as MLS coach in 2011 for Vancouver. Still with the Whitecaps, Director of Soccer Operations, Tom Soehn, chatted about what it'll take for the current crop of players have to do to impress him to make the MLS roster.

Canadian National Team coach Stephen Hart popped by to recap the loss to Peru and look ahead to Honduras. What Canada needs to do better as a team and an update on confirmed young Canadians and potential future Canadians.

Finally, Whitecaps CEO Paul Barber gave us an update on MLS ticket sales and told us when the fans will get to select their seats for the 2011 season at Empire Field.

To listen to the show click here.

iTunes users can access the link by subscribing to the podcast by clicking here.

Stephen Hart named Canada’s new men’s head coach

As expected, Stephen Hart was named Canada's new men's head coach. It has been expected for a while and the CSA finally does something right. The players all seem to like him (Will Johnson reiterated that fact when he joined us a few weeks ago), the fans seem to like him and it would also appear the CSA seems to like him. So that's one thing the CSA has officially gotten right. Can they get something else right and move in a forward direction? Can David Hoilett be tempted to lay for Canada? Will Canada play for friendlies? Will Canada make the World Cup in 2014? I guess we will wait and see. In the meantime, it looks like the CSA might actually be making moves in a positive, forward direction.



Here's the official release:

Stephen Hart named Canada’s new men’s head coach

The Canadian Soccer Association announced today that Stephen Hart has been appointed head coach of Canada’s national team. Hart will be in charge of Canada’s qualification efforts as Canada works toward the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™.

"Stephen Hart is the man in charge with the task to lead Canada to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil," said Canadian Soccer Association president Dr. Dominic Maestracci. "He delivers an exciting brand of football that has proven to be successful against our CONCACAF opponents. He will have full support of our country as he builds a winning team that will qualify us for Brazil in four years time."

“I am honoured to be chosen for this prestigious and very important position,” said national head coach Stephen Hart. “I am fully aware of the expectation and look forward to the challenge of building a team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ Qualifiers and beyond.”

Hart most recently served as Canada’s interim head coach for the 2009 season. He helped Canada compile a record of four wins, one draw and three losses, including a quarter-final finish at the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. In the group stage of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, Hart led Canada to a first-place finish in its group. In the quarter-final stage, Canada lost 0:1 to Honduras who scored on a penalty kick.

In 18 career games over two stints as Canada’s head coach (2006-07 and 2009), Hart has posted nine wins, two draws and seven losses. His 50% ratio of wins to games is the highest in Association history, ranking ahead of Barrie Clarke and Tony Taylor who each won six of 14 games for a 43% ratio. In those 18 games, Hart's teams have averaged 1.33 goals scored per game and 0.94 goals allowed per game – both the second-best totals behind Clarke’s teams from the early 1980s (1.57 goals scored and 0.93 goals allowed per game).

Hart has been the Canadian Soccer Association’s Technical Director since March 2008. In this role, he oversaw the Association’s long-term player development program (Wellness to World Cup presented by BMO) and was in charge of directing and monitoring the national development teams, the coaching education program, the National Training Centres, and the sports medicine program. This vacancy will be filled in the coming months.

CONCACAF’s next round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers™ is scheduled to begin in 2012, which will take place after the next CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2011. To date, Canada’s men’s national team has won two CONCACAF championships – the 1985 CONCACAF Men’s Championship (which qualified Canada for the 1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico™) and the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup (which qualified Canada for the FIFA Confederations Cup Korea/Japan 2001).

BEGOVIC: “I don’t want to switch...”

Portsmouth Goalkeeper Asmir Begovic joined us on Full-Time last night. It sounds like he wants what most fans want: some organization at the CSA and an idea of who (Stephen Hart) will be guiding the Canadian Men’s National Team to (hopefully) the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

You can listen to our conversation here and itunes users can sign up for the podcast here.

Below is a brief rundown of his comments:

On Canada v. Bosnia… “I’ve played for Canada for a long time. There’s no decision, I don’t want to switch… but there is a state of uncertainty with Canada soccer (next coach, etc). Get things in place and I’m happy to stay with Canada, that’s where I see my future… I’ve been approached by Bosnia. There were talks… but I have no intention on playing for Bosnia.”

On coaching situation / Stephen Hart… “Stephen Hart is a very likeable guy. He has a great respect from the players. But the uncertainty concerns many players. Hopefully he stays on… Hart told me I’m in his plans for the future… Which I’m happy with.”

A firm commitment to Canada when things get cleared up?... “Yes… this isn’t a threat or an ultimatum. Myself and some of the other guys just want to know what’s going on. We can really build on our squad and succeed.”

Any pressure from either side?... “The CSA has been really good… no pressure – I would never make a decision without speaking to the CSA. Bosnia – there’s been a lot of speculation, pressure/heat from them. If I was to make a decision, it can’t be made that quickly... I don’t want to change... it’s not really an issue right now.”

Other comments include… “I have never had a problem playing for Canada… there shouldn’t be a change”… and “I’ve been following the Gold Cup. This squad has a lot of potential. Hopefully they can go all the way and make a statement.”

Good.

BEGOVIC DECLARES INTERNATIONAL INTENTIONS ON FULL-TIME

In June of 2009, Bosnia and Herzegovina manager Mirolsav "Ciro" Blazevic told sportsport.ba that Asmir Begovic had committed to play for Bosnia.

Last week, on the July 5th edition of Full-Time: Vancouver's Soccer Show, Canada's interim head coach Stephen Hart said that he didn't believe Begovic had committed himself to the Bosnian national squad and when all was said and done, he would likely choose Canada.

We've all heard what each coach has to say, but what about Asmir Begovic? What are his intentions? Well, you can find out Sunday, July 12th at 9pm on Full-Time: Vancouver's Soccer Show as the Portsmouth goalkeeper joins Tyler Green and Mike Martignago for an exclusive interview where he answers all the questions about his international future.

Full-Time: Vancouver's Soccer Show can be heard live on the AM dial at 1040 or online here.

For more information on Full-Time: Vancouver's Soccer Show, visit the official TEAM 1040 Show page located here.

HART on BEGOVIC: “IN THE END, HE’LL PLAY FOR CANADA”

Canadian Men’s National Team Interim Coach and CSA Technical Director (longest title ever) Stephen Hart joined us on the July 5th edition of Full-Time. He had some rather interesting thoughts on what will happen with Canadian / Bosnian goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.

Various reports have indicated that Begovic will turn his back on the country he represented at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup and play for the Bosnia and Herzegovina senior squad.

However, Hart thinks that won’t happen. While he acknowledges that in the end it’s Begovic’s decision, Hart doesn’t believe that yet another fine talent will forget Canada and represent another nation.

“We chatted before the Gold Cup. I had invited him in… he had some situations that he had to deal with that would’ve made it very difficult to come in, he explained that to me.

… In his words, he was very happy to be called in and was more than willing to come in if these situations had not occurred. But at the end of the day, the decision is going to be his… I have a feeling he’s going to play for us, he’s played for us since U-17, and I think in the end he’ll play for Canada.”

Hart mentioned that he spoke with Begovic in late May when Canada met Cyprus in a friendly. At that time, Begovic was unable to play after having to fill-in for injured Portsmouth regular David James.

Hart also added that while it’s always been a rumour, Begovic has never said anything to him about playing for Bosnia and Herzegovina.