International Games played in Toronto.

.

Voyageur Fans at Canada--Trinidad & Tobago game May 27th, 2000. I'm the guy on the left wearing the black belt.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

December 15, 2023 Rocket Robin's Soccer in 2023 Summary (by Rocket Robin)

Tuesday November 21, 2023.....Canada.........2..........Jamaica........3..........Men's CONCACAF Nations League Quarterfinal
game report (by Rocket Robin)
post game press conferences and mix zone interviews after Canada vs Jamaica game

Tuesday September 26, 2023.....Canada.........2.........Jamaica.........1..........Women's Olympic Qualifying
game report (by Rocket Robin)
post game press conferences and mix zone interviews after Canada vs Jamaica game

Tuesday June 27, 2023......Canada.......2.......Guadeloupe.......2........(CONCACAF Gold Cup Group D game)

Tuesday March 28, 2023.....Canada...4.....Honduras...1...(CONCACAF Nations League Group play)
postgame press conference after Canada vs Honduras game interviews with coaches and players

October 2, 2022...My thoughts on The Allstate Soccer Show 2022, International Centre in Mississauga (by Rocket Robin)
Of interest because there is a 56 minute panel discussion with five national team players on their way to Qatar.

A scheduling conflict kept me from attending the Sunday June 26, 2022 Women's Friendly between Canada and Korean Republic at BMO Field
in Toronto which ended in a 0-0 result. The Women's national team doesn't play in Toronto often but I was doing some reporting for
a CPL York United FC game at the other end of the city and couldn't make it.

Sunday March 27, 2022........Canada...4.....Jamaica.....0.......(World Cup Qualifier)
postgame press conference after Canada vs Jamaica game interviews with Canadian players

Thursday September 2, 2021........Canada.....1......Honduras......1.......(World Cup Qualifier)

Wednesday September 8, 2021........Canada.....3......El Salvador......0.......(World Cup Qualifier)

Wednesday October 13, 2021......Canada.....4.......Panama.......1........(World Cup Qualifier)

Tuesday October 15, 2019........Canada...2.....USA.....0.......(CONCACAF Nations League)
postgame press conference after Canada vs USA game and hallway interviews with Canadian players

Saturday September 7, 2019........Canada...6.....Cuba.....0.......(CONCACAF Nations League)
postgame press conference after Canada vs Cuba game and hallway interviews with Canadian players

Saturday May 18, 2019........Canada Women....3.....Mexico Women.....0.......(international friendly)
postgame press conference after Canada vs Mexico game and hallway interviews with Canadian players

Tuesday October 16, 2018........Canada....5.....Dominica.....0.......(Men's CONCACAF Nations League Qualifying game)
postgame press conference after Canada vs Dominica game and hallway interviews with Canadian players

Sunday June 10, 2018........Canada....2.....Germany.....3.......(Women's International Friendly) played in Hamilton
postgame press conference after Canada vs Germany game with hallway interviews with Canadian players

Saturday December 9, 2017....'United As One' press conference
my details of the joint bid for the Canada-USA-Mexico bid to cohost this tournament

Saturday September 2, 2017........Canada....2.....Jamaica.....0.......(Men's International Friendly)
postgame press conference after Canada vs Jamaica game with hallway interviews with Canadian players

Saturday June 11, 2017........Canada Women.....6.....Costa Rica Women........0....... (Women's International Friendly)
postgame press conference after Canada vs Costa Rica game

March 17, 2017--Press conference in Toronto to announce hiring of Canada Men's Head Coach Octavio Zambrano (by Rocket Robin)

November 4, 2016--Rocket Robin's Soccer in Toronto--2016 Year End editorial (by Rocket Robin)

Saturday June 4, 2016........Canada Women.....0.....Brazil Women........2....... (Women's International Friendly)
postgame press conference after Canada vs Brazil game

December 23, 2015--Rocket Robin's Soccer in Toronto--2015 year end editorial (by Rocket Robin)

Friday September 4, 2015........Canada.....3.....Belize........0.......(Men's World Cup qualifying)
postgame press conference after Canada vs Belize game

Tuesday July 14, 2015........Canada.....0.....Costa Rica........0.......(Gold Cup)
postgame press conference after Canada vs Costa Rica game

Tuesday June 16, 2015........Canada.....4.....Dominica........0.......(Men's World Cup Qualifying)
postgame press conference after Canada vs Dominica game

Tuesday September 9, 2014........Canada.....3.....Jamaica........1.......(Men's International friendly)
postgame press conference after Canada vs Jamaica game

December 18, 2014--Rocket Robin's Soccer in Toronto 2014 Year Review

Thursday January 23, 2014.....Press Conference...'Leading a Soccer Nation--Canadian Soccer Association Strategic Plan 2014-2018'

Sunday June 2, 2013.......pregame press conference announcing details of 2014 Women's U-20 World Cup held in Canada
Sunday June 2, 2013........Canada.....0.....USA........3.......(Women's International friendly)
postgame press conference after Canada vs USA game

Friday October 12, 2012.......Canada.........3.......Cuba..........0.......(Men's World Cup qualifying)
.....postgame press conference after the Canada vs Cuba game

Friday September 7, 2012......Canada........1.........Panama........0.......(Men's World Cup qualifying)
.....postgame press conference after the Canada vs Panama game

Tuesday June 12, 2012........Canada..........0.......Honduras......0......(Men's World Cup qualifying)
.....postgame press conference after the Canada vs Honduras game

Sunday June 3, 2012..........Canada.........0........United States.....0....(International friendly)
.....postgame press conference after the Canada vs United States game

Tuesday November 15, 2011 7:00pm......Canada.......4.....St Kitts and Nevis.........0.............. (Men's World Cup qualifying)
.....postgame press conference after the Canada vs St Kitts and Nevis game

Tuesday October 11, 2011 7:00pm......Canada.......0......Puerto Rico...........0......... (Men's World Cup qualifying)
.....postgame press conference after the Canada vs Puerto Rico game

Friday September 2, 2011 8:00pm......Canada........4.....St Lucia.......1......(Men's World Cup qualifying)
.....postgame press conference after the Canada vs St Lucia game

Wednesday August 31, 2011.......pregame press conference for the home game Men's World Cup qualifying)

Wednesday June 1, 2011......Canada........2........Ecuador..........2........
postgame press conference after the Canada vs Ecuador game
game details from Canadian Soccer Association

Thursday September 30, 2010......Canada.......3........PR China.......1......
.....postgame press conference after the Canada vs PR China game

Saturday September 4, 2010........Canada.......0.......Peru......2.......
.....postgame press conference after the Canada vs Peru game

Thursday September 2, 2010......pregame press conference for the home game friendlies against Peru and Honduras.

Monday May 25, 2009.......................Canada Women................0............. USA Women.............4...............(friendly)

Wednesday July 20, 2008........................Canada......1.............. Jamaica........1..............(Men's World Cup Qualifying)

Thursday July 10, 2008................Canada Women............1................ Brazil Women............1...........(friendly)

Sunday May 11, 2008............Canada U20s...........1............Argentina U20s ..........1............(friendly)

Wednesday September 12, 2007..............Canada.................1.................. Costa Rica...........1...............(men's international friendly)
game details from Canadian Soccer Association... from Canada Press ... from Sportsnet... from Sun Media
Fan protest at the game... from National Post... from Globe and Mail ... from Toronto Star
post game press conference (by Rocket Robin)

Wednesday June 27, 2007..........North York Astros (CSL).....1............ Mexico U20s.......9.............(friendly)....

Friday May 11, 2007...........Canada U20s..........1.............. Argentina U20s............2................
story from Toronto Star... from Canadian Press
pre-game stories... from Globe and Mail...story on Jaime Peters... from Toronto Star

Friday July 7, 2006............Canada U20s............1............... USA U20s..............2..................
CSA press release..... story from Canada Press..... alternate story from Canada Press..... from Ontario Soccer Web ..... from Sportsnet.ca News

Sunday June 25, 2006..........Canada...........2........... Italy.............1.............(women's international friendly)
details from Canadian Soccer Association...... story from Canada Press ...... story from Toronto Sun
my post game interview with various Canadian Women's national team players ...Christine Sinclair, (coach) Even Pellarud, Charmaine Hooper, Kara Lang, Amanda Cicchini, and Mel Booth on June 25, 2006.

April 2005 announcement of Canadian team

Thursday April 14th, 2005 7:00pm.........Canada Under 17s Men.............2..... .........Scotland Under 17s Men..............2.............
story from Canadian Soccer Association..................... story from Voyageurs message board

Saturday April 16th, 2005 3:00pm.........Canada Under 17s Men.......... ...........3..............Scotland Under 17s Men..........0..............
International Friendlies played at The Soccer Center in Vaughan.

pregame comments in Toronto Star..... pregame comments in Toronto Sun....... pregame comments in National Post....... pregame comments in The Guardian
Wednesday July 17th, 2002 7:00pm...........Canada............2..........Norway............2...............
International Friendly played at Etobicoke Centennial Stadium in Toronto between the Women's teams of Canada and Norway.
from Canada Soccer Association........ story from Toronto Star ...... story from Canada Press

Sunday June 2nd, 2002 2:00pm.........Canada Under 19s............3.......... Italy Under 19s.............1................
my interview with Candace Chapman................ game report from Canadian Soccer Association

Monday July 2nd, 2001 1:00pm.......Canada Under 19s............1.........United States Under 19s..........11........
International Friendly (I didn't find out the starting time until too late so missed this game).
"summary from unknown source">

Saturday June 30th, 2001 International Friendly at Varsity Stadium in Toronto between the Women's teams of Canada and the United States.
"4:30pm......Canada Under 19s...........0.......United States Under 19s.........1.......">
"my short report">........... "from SLAM Sports">
"7:00pm..........Canada Women's...........2............United States Women's.........2........">
"from SLAM Sports">......... "from Toronto Sun"> .......... "from Toronto Star"> ........ "from SportsVue site">........... "from Canada Kicks">

"Wednesday November 15th, 2000">....Canada........0..........Mexico..........0...........
World Cup Qualifying game played at Varsity Stadium.

"Saturday May 27th, 2000 4:00pm">.....Canada.........1........ Trinidad & Tobago...........0.........
Friendly to be played at Varsity Stadium before Canada's World Cup Qualifying campaign.

"September 26th, 1999 1:00pm">.....Canada's Development Team.......1...... CPSL All Stars.........2......
Friendly played at Etobicoke's Centennial Stadium prior to the CPSL League Final.

"September 2nd, 1999 7:30pm">.....Canada......1........Jamaica.......0.......
Friendly at Varsity Stadium before qualification for the Gold Cup.
"short report">....... "Report from Canada Kicks">

"June 12th, 1999 2:00pm">......Canada........2...........Australia........0........
Friendly at Varsity Stadium before the Women's World Cup in the USA.

June 9th, 1999 7:00pm...... "Canada......1...........Australia.........3.....">
"my short report">........."Report from Canada Kicks">
Friendly at Etobicoke Stadium before the Women's World Cup in the USA.

"May 29th, 1999 4:00pm">......Canada.........1.........Guatemala......0.....
Friendly at Varsity Stadium before the Canada Cup in Edmonton.
"Canada Kicks Story">...... "Canada Kicks alternate story">
"May 29th, 1999 6:30pm">........Canada's U-20s.....1.......(CPSL) Toronto Olympians.....3...
"short report">.

May 11th, 1999. Two scrimmages in Brampton Ontario.
........ "Canada (North American based players).......1......Toronto Lynx...........0...">
"Canadian Olympic team.......0..........Toronto Lynx......0...."> "overall comments on games">

"Women's World Cup qualifying tournament">CONCACAF Zone held in Toronto
I saw 13 games in the 11 days of the tourney between August 28th to September 6th, 1998!

"Old Editorial from 1995">

My December 1998 Editorial:

At last I've replaced my old editorial from 1995 when I recommended that the national teams not play in Toronto because the Canadians would be treated as the 'visitors' by the fans in attendance with their home country heritage loyalties. A more practical reason now is that Varsity Stadium is to be demolished by the end of 1999 and that is really Toronto's only large stadium with natural turf.

I watched the Women's World Cup CONCACAF region qualifying tournament in August/September 1998 and have partially changed my mind. The spectators were mostly pro-Canadian. Thousands of screaming teenage girls and their families. The Canadian players were cheered wildly when introduced as if they were singing idols like Backstreet Boys or Spice Girls. I don't know how these tickets were distributed but I'd certainly encourage making sure minor soccer associations throughout Ontario get an allotment of them.

One of the easiest ways to draw cheers and quiet the opposition fans is to score and win! The women's team did just that by scoring early in each game and limiting the other team's scoring chances. The Canadian women's team is ranked currently 10th to 12th in the world while the seldom playing men's team is now ranked 101st.

A new television team promises to get much more media coverage for both teams and hopefully build up recognition by kids and parents to creating their own national heroes instead of looking to players from other countries.

Archives:

There was to have been a three team 'Canada Cup' tourney between June 2nd and 8th, 1996 at Toronto's Varsity Stadium. First string national teams of Canada, Greece and Costa Rica were to take part. This time organizers were to try something new by distributing 4000 tickets per game to the Ontario Soccer League which would pass them along to local associations. The idea was that at least 4000 local kids would hopefully be cheering for Canada. Seemed worth a try.

Games:

FIFA banned Greece from playing internationals because of irregularities in its soccer association and Greece had to drop out of this tournament. This notice was given two weeks before the games were to be played. Of course the ban was lifted later in time for Greece to qualify for the 1998 World Cup. Another farce. Bolivia and Peru bailed out on Canada last autumn on the Canadian's South American tour and that left only Chile.

Result: Sunday July 14, 1996...Canada....1....Portugal Olympic Team....1
I didn't go to this game.

Friendly Sunday August 17, 1997... "Canada......0......Iran......1">

Friendly Monday May 18, 1998... "Canada.........1.......Macedonia.........0...">
...... "Canada U-20s......5......Ontario Soccer League All Stars......0">

Rocket Robin
robin.glover.1958@gmail.com

"back to soccer page">

.

.