De Guzman Named to Canada MNT Squad for CONCACAF Gold Cup
June 23, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Ottawa Fury FC News Release
OTTAWA, ON - Ottawa Fury FC midfielder Julian De Guzman has been named to the Canadian Men's National Team that will compete in the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup in July.
Canadian Head Coach Benito Floro has named the 23 players that will assemble in California to prepare for their first game of the tournament against El Salvador on July 8 at StubHub Center in Carson, California.
Canada just wrapped up camp a few days ago after a pair of victories over Dominica in a home-and-away series in 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualification.
"It was a good qualifier and a good way to prepare for the Gold Cup," De Guzman said. "We know the importance and how crucial it is to do well in the Gold Cup. This is not just a tournament that happens every two years, but this gives us a chance to be part of other tournaments such as the Copa America for 2016."
"The main aim in this Gold Cup for us is to get as far as possible. We want to get to the final and every game that we get in the tournament will increase our level of play," said Benito Floro.
The team assembles in California on June 28 and will get just over a week to prepare for their tournament opener. After the match against El Salvador, Canada will head to Houston to take on Jamaica on Saturday July 11 before heading up to Toronto to take on Costa Rica in the first ever Gold Cup game in Canada on July 14.
"It's definitely a historical moment to play a Gold Cup match in Toronto in front of our home fans. Leading up to that game, it is important that we get the results that are needed in LA and in Houston," De Guzman added. "Those two games will define us, and if we can take advantage of those two games it will make our job easier against Costa Rica at BMO Field."
"Julian has been training well and he has very good for us in games," said Marc Dos Santos. "Hopefully what we have done here in the club has put him in a better position to represent our country in a good way. We are very happy for Julian and hope for him to have a big tournament."
Canada enters the competition riding a four-game winning streak and a five-game unbeaten run. But friendlies and early round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers are one thing; this challenge will be a big test for the Canadian progress under Floro.
"It is true that good results always help," said Floro. "But now we are going to play against three teams that are higher ranked than us so we need to show that we are growing and developing against those teams and show that we are doing things in the right way."
CANADA MNT SQUAD
GK- Lars Hirschfeld | NOR / Valerenga
GK- Quillan Roberts | CAN / Toronto FC
GK- Kenny Stamatopoulos | SWE / AIK
D- Marcel de Jong | USA / Sporting KC
D- David Edgar | ENG / Birmingham City
D- Andre Hainault | GER / VfR Aalen
D- Dejan Jakovic | JPN / Shimizu S-Pulse
D- Nik Ledgerwood | GER / Energie Cottbus
D- Ashtone Morgan | CAN / Toronto FC
D- Karl W. Ouimette | USA / New York Red Bulls
D- Adam Straith | NOR / Fredrikstad
M- Tesho Akindele | USA / FC Dallas
M- Kyle Bekker | USA / FC Dallas
M- Julian de Guzman | CAN / Ottawa Fury FC
M- Simeon Jackson | ENG / Coventry City
M- Jonathan Osorio | CAN / Toronto FC
M- Pedro Pacheco | POR / Santa Clara
M- Samuel Piette | ESP / Deportivo la Coruña
M- Tosaint Ricketts | ISR / Hapoel Haifa
M- Russell Teibert | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
M- Maxim Tissot | CAN / Impact de Montréal
F- Marcus Haber | ENG / Crewe Alexandra
F- Cyle Larin | USA / Orlando City SC
All of 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup matches will be broadcast live in Canada on Sportsnet World. Consult local listings for additional details.
Tickets for the 14 July CONCACAF Gold Cup double-header, including Canada v Costa Rica, are still available on ticketmaster.ca starting at $25 (plus applicable fees).
Ottawa Fury FC open the NASL Fall Season at TD Place on July 5 against the Jacksonville Armada. Tickets available at OttawaFuryFC.com.
North American Soccer League Stories from June 23, 2015
- Strikers' Marcelin Named to Haiti National Team Squad for 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Romuald Peiser Earns NASL Player of the Month Honour - Ottawa Fury FC
- Ottawa Fury FC Goalkeeper Romuald Peiser Earns NASL Player of the Month Honors - NASL
- De Guzman Named to Canada MNT Squad for CONCACAF Gold Cup - Ottawa Fury FC
- Tampa Bay Rowdies and Brazilian Powerhouse São Paulo FC Announce International Partnership - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- Patryk Misik Will Not Return for Fall Season - Ottawa Fury FC
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