De Guzman Named to Canada MNT Squad for FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
Published on June 2, 2015 under 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 commence their qualifying odyssey for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia later this month. Head Coach Benito Floro announced his 23-man squad earlier today that will face Dominica in a home-and-away series starting June 11 in Roseau before returning to Toronto for the home-leg at BMO Field on June 16.
"2015 isn't just the busiest year for the men's national team, but this kicks off the most important campaign under Benito," De Guzman.
"Getting the call up is always a wonderful feeling and everyone wants to be involved. Getting the results is what matters most."
De Guzman has featured in 7 games this season for Fury FC proving a vital component of the midfielder.
"We are honoured to see Julian represent our National Team in such an important period," said Ottawa Fury FC Head Coach Marc Dos Santos. "This is not only important for Ottawa Fury FC, but also for the player."
"Julian cares a lot about the Canadian program and is always ready when he's called up. We wish him a lot of success."
Fury FC will be without De Guzman's services for the final game of the NASL Spring Season, June 13 against San Antonio who will also be without the services of Nana Attakora who is the second NASL player named to the Canadian National Team.
As Canada enters the second CONCACAF Preliminary Round of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ against one of the smaller countries in the region, Floro has included plenty of familiar names for a Canada squad that isn't short on experience with the likes of Atiba Hutchinson, Julian de Guzman, and the return of midfielder Will Johnson.
"The players and the staff are ready for these official games," said Floro. "These first eliminatory games will be more important in regards to testing our capacity to remain concentrated on the opposition. It's very important."
The team convenes in Orlando on 7 June for a few days of training in Florida prior to flying to Roseau, Dominica, on 10 June. They play at Warner Park in Roseau on 11 June before flying to Toronto the next day to prepare for the second leg at BMO Field in Toronto on Tuesday 16 June (kick off 19.30 local).
The home-and-away series kick-starts a busy summer for the team as the FIFA World Cup qualifiers will lead into July's 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Should Canada win the series against Dominica, they'll go into the draw for the third and fourth rounds of qualifying. The draw for those rounds takes place on 25 July 2015, and would see another home-and-away series in the third round in September before entering the fourth round in a four-team round robin competition that would start in November.
"With qualifying starting, our objective now is to win games," said Floro. "So my objectives are always the same: win the games playing our style. This summer, we want to qualify for the next FIFA World Cup qualifying stage, we want to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup, and we want to qualify for the Olympics, which is very important for Canada Soccer as the Olympic team will look to form the base of the National Team in the future."
CANADA MNT SQUAD
GK- Milan Borjan | SRB / Radni?ki Nis
GK- Lars Hirschfeld | NOR / VÃ¥lerenga
GK- Kenny Stamatopoulos | SWE / AIK
D- Nana Attakora | USA / San Antonio Scorpions
D- Manjrekar James | HUN / Pécsi MFC
D- Dejan Jakovic | JPN / Shimizu S-Pulse
D- Ashtone Morgan | CAN / Toronto FC
D- Karl W. Ouimette | USA / New York Red Bulls
D/M- David Edgar | ENG / Birmingham City FC (on loan at Huddersfield Town)
D/M- Nik Ledgerwood | GER / Energie Cottbus
D/M- Adam Straith | NOR / Fredrikstad FK
D/M- Maxim Tissot | CAN / Impact de Montréal
M- Julian De Guzman | CAN / Ottawa Fury FC
M- Atiba Hutchinson | TUR / Besiktas
M- Will Johnson | USA / Portland Timbers
M- Jonathan Osorio | CAN / Toronto FC
M- Samuel Piette | ESP / Deportivo la Coruña
M- Russell Teibert | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
M/F-Tosaint Ricketts | ISR / Hapoel Haifa
F- Tesho Akindele | USA / FC Dallas
F- Randy Edwini-Bonsu | GER / Stuttgarter Kickers
F- Marcus Haber | ENG / Crewe Alexandra
F- Cyle Larin | USA / Orlando City SC
Tickets for the 16 June return leg of the series, to be played at BMO Field in Toronto, ON, are available on CanadaSoccer.com/canMNTvDMA.
Ottawa Fury FC close out their NASL Spring Season with a pair of road matches in Jacksonville (June 7) and San Antonio (June 13). Ottawa will 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 2, 2015
- New York Cosmos Win Historic Match over Cuban National Team in Havana - NASL
- New York Cosmos Beat Cuban National Team 4-1 in Friendly - New York Cosmos
- FC Edmonton Midfielder Laing Named to Final Jamaican Roster - FC Edmonton
- De Guzman Named to Canada MNT Squad for FIFA World Cup Qualifiers - Ottawa Fury FC
- Canada Calls up Scorpions Defender Nana Attakora - San Antonio Scorpions
- Tim Regan Takes over Indy Eleven Sideline as Interim Head Coach - Indy Eleven
- Tampa Bay Rowdies Midfielder Richard Menjivar Departs for El Salvador National Team Duty - Tampa Bay Rowdies
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