May 23, 2007 ON GUARD FOR CANADA Harmse and Jazic look to Gold Cup
By Andrea Canales, LASoccerNews.com Associate Editor
Kevin Harmse will represent Canada in the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup. Photo by Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
Besides the expected absence of Landon Donovan from the Galaxy to participate in the Gold Cup on behalf of the U.S. squad, other key Los Angeles players will miss games with their team to participate in the tournament.
Two who will report for duty with Canada are Ante Jazic and Kevin Harmse.
“I’d like to stay and help the Galaxy, but Fifa rules prohibit that,” said left-back Jazic. “Canada is calling me and other players I know like Dwayne DeRosario to come in. A few of the Toronto players are going as well. Obviously, I’d like to stay and help, but that’s out of my control.”
Harmse has been a pleasant surprise as a defensive midfielder this season for the club, and he expressed loyalty to the organization that gave him his start in Major League Soccer.
“I’m committed to the Galaxy,” Harmse explained“It’s going to be difficult, now, especially with Albright out.”
Still, Harmse was hopeful that Canada would advance to the later stages of the Gold Cup.
“I definitely think we should make it out of the group stage, but I don’t know what the final roster is.”
Jazic agreed that the team should advance.
“We’re not favored, but we’re professionals and we want to do as best as we can. Canada is the usually the underdog, no matter whoever we play. We want to get out of the group phase. Obviously, soccer’s not the number one sport in Canada, so we’re not under a lot of scrutiny, but every player puts pressure on himself to win. We’re no different.”
However, both players realized that the Canadian national team has lacked stability and direction since Frank Yallop left the team to coach the Galaxy last year.
“It’s a difficult time for the Canadian national team,” explained Harmse. “We haven’t had a coach; we’ve had an interim coach. Now we have Dale (Mitchell), but he won’t be in yet for the Gold Cup, so it’s very hectic. Plus, we haven’t been playing many games. It’s simple; we haven’t been together enough as a team. That’s something that’s going to change.”
Jazic was confident that the Canadians could overcome such obstacles.
“The process to hire a new coach took too long. But Stephen Hart, who was the interim coach, is now the national team assistant coach for Dale Mitchell, and he’ll be running the Gold Cup. I’m sure they’ll talk and Stephen will install a system that Dale will want eventually. It’s difficult because we don’t have a lot of time to prepare, but we have some good players, so hopefully we can gel quickly and try to do well at the Gold Cup.”
Harmse believed that the latest MLS team could be an asset to the Canadian side’s chances.
“I think Toronto will help with the national team, keeping the guys together in a more professional environment consistently.”
It might be good for the country, but not so much, perhaps, for the club. Toronto, the Galaxy and Houston may be the teams disproportionably affected by Canada’s participation in the Gold Cup, however long it lasts.
Canada actually tasted the fruits of victory in one Gold Cup, claiming the championship trophy in 2000.
“Way back in the day,” said Jazic of that title. “There are still two or three guys who are on the team from then, I think. It’s a tournament. Anything can happen. If we get hot, we could push our way to the final. Our group is not easy, but it’s not the toughest group. I like our chances to get through to the next phase.”
