Greetings from Toronto
Good afternoon all, I'm coming to you from Toronto, home of the 2008 MLS All-Star Game. There isn't that much evidence that the All-Star Game is here (well except for one sign and the fact that I was filling out my customs paperwork next to Stevie Nicol).
Yes, Nicol and the Revs coaches are here (and no, there were no naked passengers on their flight this time).
There's a treat tonight at BMO Field with Toronto FC squaring off against the Montreal Impact in a crucial CONCACAF Champions League qualifiying match. The winner advances to the Champions League, but if they tie, Montreal advances.
I'm headed to my hotel, where I'll start dropping some posts before heading to MLS All-Star team practice.
What do you think about tonight's TFC-Montreal Game? Share your thoughts on the game, and any other stories from today in the comments section below.
Ives Galarcep is an American soccer columnist for ESPNsoccernet.com and creator of SoccerByIves.net.
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I hope TFC embarrasses themselves and this joke of a "Champions" tourney and lose tonight...
Posted by: RK | July 22, 2008 at 01:16 PM
Pretty sure if they tie Montreal goes through.
Posted by: Spark | July 22, 2008 at 01:19 PM
Ives,
Vancouver is done. Basically TFC needs a win to advance. As a season ticket holder I thought this tourney was going to be a bit of a joke, but they have have the the drama for an interesting night!
Posted by: zoran | July 22, 2008 at 01:26 PM
Spark is correct. Montreal is through with a draw or win. Toronto is in if they win. Will this game be on any TV or perhaps Sopcast?
Posted by: tedhill | July 22, 2008 at 01:26 PM
Any updates on the potential protests by fans during the ASG ?
Posted by: A-man | July 22, 2008 at 01:35 PM
Any updates on the fans being more into themselves than the actual team?
Posted by: anotherbodymurdered | July 22, 2008 at 01:39 PM
Hands down the biggest game in TFC's short history. I think the fans will really be bringing it large tonight. Montreal needs a win or draw to go through and TFC needs to win outright. No penalties or anything will be happening so hopefully TFC can break their duck and SCORE!
Are you going to the game Ives?
Posted by: bgnewf | July 22, 2008 at 01:41 PM
Christ, i hope the boys do it.
Its supposed to be on CBC Bold (a pay station but im sure its streaming somewhere).
Dont have much faith in the boys as we still dont have a stable striker, godwilling it wont matter.
Posted by: Ossington Mental Youth | July 22, 2008 at 01:41 PM
Why is it a joke of a tournament?
How exciting if Montreal are only a draw away from representing Canada.
Posted by: paul Lorinczi | July 22, 2008 at 01:55 PM
The game is streaming here http://www.cbc.ca/sports/
Posted by: Skinn | July 22, 2008 at 01:57 PM
im sorry, im really trying to be a good soccer fan, but i just cannot take a champions league tournament seriously if a lower division team makes it. i am no tfc fan, but i really hope they win for the sake of the mls and the new champions league.
Posted by: cam | July 22, 2008 at 02:06 PM
Cam,
Don't take it seriously then because one USL side, the PR Islanders featuring Peter Villegas from the Metrostars way back when has already qualified.
Another USL side won't hurt the competition.
Posted by: Kartik | July 22, 2008 at 02:12 PM
Gretna from Scotland qualified for last year's UEFA Cup I believe, and they were in their country's third division at the time.
Silly mickey-mouse european tournaments.
Posted by: Ezra | July 22, 2008 at 02:18 PM
It's a joke because Toronto can qualify through MLS, yet get their own 3-team tournament for which they should dominate.
Posted by: RK | July 22, 2008 at 02:26 PM
Apologies for the incorrect info in the initial post. Montreal gets into the Champions League with a tie.
And yes, I will be at BMO Field tonight for the match. I may try to sneak down and watch the first half in the stands like I did last time.
Posted by: Ives | July 22, 2008 at 02:28 PM
Forgot to mention that a Champions league usually includes, well, Champions, or those close to it...
Posted by: RK | July 22, 2008 at 02:29 PM
RK - Toronto cannot qualify for the tournament through the MLS. They can only qualify through the Canada Cup. Sorry that we're trying to build soccer up in the country by featuring two successful clubs from a league filled with clubs that regularly beat MLS sides.
Posted by: Maple Leaf Red | July 22, 2008 at 02:40 PM
I think you guys are all being a little harsh calling it a joke.
The three largest markets in Canada getting a mini-tournament. You don't think there is a rivalry between Montreal and Toronto? Good for them that they can have it.
We have to start somewhere with a Champions League. In a couple of years, you could see Montreal and Vancouver in the MLS.
MLS teams need international competitions that mean something to truly gauge its progress. So far in the last 5 years, we really have not done much.
Aging International players alone will not legitimize the league. Winning rational trophies will.
Posted by: paul Lorinczi | July 22, 2008 at 02:43 PM
Any updates on opposition fans being bitter at the attention that real fans get?
Posted by: Maple Leaf Red | July 22, 2008 at 02:44 PM
As an inaugural tournament this is a first step for building true interest for soccer in Canada, it is a great step forward considering what we have had in the past and I am excited to see how big this competition can get in the coming years.
Posted by: Chris | July 22, 2008 at 02:44 PM
Gretna were in the 1st Division at time of qualification, and in the SPL when they actually played their matches.
Same thing with Queen of the South qualifying last year, and playing this year ...
Posted by: KingSnake | July 22, 2008 at 02:51 PM
Cam - I believe you are in the very small minority. The majority of people will cheer for the underdog in any sport, in any tourney as long as their own team isnt playing them.
There would be a lot less hype if there were no upsets in the NCAA's.
I will always cheer for the USL sides against MLS, especially when the MLS sides don't take games serious (bench players starting). Until then i will pull for the likes of crystal palace baltimore, the railhawks, and the battery
Posted by: Reid | July 22, 2008 at 02:54 PM
This pretty much sums up what I think about tonight's crucial game: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080722.WBsoccerblog20080722101722/WBStory/WBsoccerblog/#comment
Posted by: Denis | July 22, 2008 at 02:59 PM
RK, if Montreal makes the Champions League it will be because they are Canadian Champs regardless of what league they play in.
Posted by: seven | July 22, 2008 at 03:00 PM
Hey if the MLS teams in the Open Cup don't watch out there could be up to three USL teams in the Champions League - Puerto Rico, poss Montreal and either Charleston or Seattle (one of them will have their shot in the final of the US Open cupa against the Revs or DC).
Posted by: Betinho | July 22, 2008 at 03:02 PM
Maple Leaf Red - so if TFC manage to win the MLS cup, but fail to win their Canada Cup they cant make the CL???
Posted by: brett | July 22, 2008 at 03:10 PM
Go Montreal!
Posted by: M | July 22, 2008 at 03:14 PM
Brett - here's the qualifying process: http://www.concacaf.com/view_article.aspx?id=4171. It doesn't mention what happens if TFC does well in MLS competition but it seems it's more a country thing than a league thing. I guess they wanted to make sure ya'll Canadiens were included in the party as well.
Posted by: betinho | July 22, 2008 at 03:17 PM
Hey folks, lay off Cam, OK? If Cam isn't allowed to tell you over and over how tonight's Canadian championship is below his standards and how he would never find a "champions" tournament featuring a second division team legitimate, then how else will he be able to convey that he feels superior to you all? Have a little heart, will ya? Jeez.
Posted by: Barry Jive and His Uptown Five | July 22, 2008 at 03:19 PM
Brett- That is correct.
The CL spots are awarded to the country's federation which then award them to teams. Same as in europe. US soccer federation is not going to award a canadian team with one of its spots.
Very unlikely but - IF TFC won the MLS cup but didn't qualify through the canadian championship, Concacaf in theory could do something similar to what Uefa did in the cardiff situtation
Uefa awarded Cardiff a spot in european competition as they won the FA cup but the english FA did not award them an english european spot.
Uefa stepped in and gave them another way in.
I suspect this tournment will be our only way into the CL. Hence the importance of the game.
TFC are in the same situation as the welsh teams that play in the english league, as far as anyone can tell at the moment.
Posted by: Mike | July 22, 2008 at 03:25 PM
Portsmouth won the FA cup.
Posted by: anotherbodymurdered | July 22, 2008 at 03:33 PM
RK, TFC qualifying through MLS is no different than US based MLS teams qualifying through the US Open Cup.
Posted by: CACuzcatlan | July 22, 2008 at 03:37 PM
In both cases (Canadian Cup and US Open Cup), the MLS teams have two paths to the CONCACAF CL.
Posted by: CACuzcatlan | July 22, 2008 at 03:40 PM
alrighty... despite inter-league trash talk id much rather see a MLS team move on then a USL... nothing against the USL teams and their fans, but as the MLS looks to obtain a dominance in the US they need to beat any team not in their respected leage...
Posted by: brett | July 22, 2008 at 03:41 PM
anotherbodymurdered - you are correct, my mistake.
I was reading the story in the build up to the final.
Uefa was going to step in in the event Cardiff won.
TFC are in the same situation.
Posted by: Mike | July 22, 2008 at 03:41 PM
CACuzcatlan - I'm pretty sure that it is only american MLS teams that have two ways in.
It is not 100% clear but every indication is that the US soccer federation will not award TFC an american CL spot, if they win the Supporters shield or the MLS cup.
Posted by: Mike | July 22, 2008 at 03:44 PM
Well, if it is true that Toronto cannot qualify through MLS, I apologize. I certainly read the rules and thought they could. Still, a 3-team tournament should not get them an automatic berth, but perhaps to some other qualifying rounds (where I'd fully expect them to beat Joe Public et al, but who knows).
Posted by: RK | July 22, 2008 at 03:55 PM
RK- The winner doesn't have an automatic birth.
They will have to play a qualifier.
The winner this year has to play a Nicaraguan team (Home and Away) to qualify.
Posted by: Mike | July 22, 2008 at 04:10 PM
RK- The winner doesn't have an automatic birth.
They will have to play a qualifier.
The winner this year has to play a Nicaraguan team (Home and Away) to qualify.
Posted by: Mike | July 22, 2008 at 04:10 PM
Allez l'Impact!!!
Allez Montreal!!!
Posted by: Al17 | July 22, 2008 at 04:22 PM
Mike's right.
TFC has to play a home and away with Real Esteli from Nicaragua to move on to the group stages.
Posted by: Maple Leaf Red | July 22, 2008 at 04:23 PM
You know what -- I knew that, looked for it in those rules, and didn't see it (that's why I mentioned it). Guess I'll go home now and let my brain wake up.
Posted by: RK | July 22, 2008 at 04:53 PM
As a yank I have to say this tourney sounds like its ending with some great drama - TFC in a must win situation. We'll get the game down in here in Buffalo, so I'll be tivoing it and watching it tomorrow. I'm not sure what RK's problem is with a Canadian team making it to the champions league, should only US teams be allowed in :)
Here's wishing for a hat trick for Ibee!!!
Posted by: Scott C | July 22, 2008 at 04:58 PM