Canada announced today the 23 man roster that they will be taking to a week long training camp from March 13th to 20th. That roster will then be whittled down to 20 players who'll take part in the 2012 Concacaf Men'sOlympic Qualifying Tournament in the US from March 22nd to April 2nd. The full roster's after the jump, but includes two players each from Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps and Montreal Impact. Players who've seen time with the full mens squad include striker Marcus Haber and Nana Attakora, as well as Samuel Piette who was in the squad for the game against Armenia but didn't actually play.
The two TFC players are Doneil Henry and Matt Stinson. Ashtone Morgan's absence is a bit of a surprise, but presumably a compromise had to be reached with TFC as to which players would be released. With Jeremy Hall currently injured, there's really no obvious replacement for Morgan at Left Back, who's looked very good against L.A and in preseason.
Doneil Henry's call-up, when combined with Geovanny Caicedo's release and Adrian Cann and Dicoy Williams' continuing injuries means things are now thin at Centre Back as well, with just Aaron Maund backing up Ty Harden and Miguel Aceval. I guess that means we shouldn't be looking for Torsten Frings to be moving back into midfield any time soon. Henry's absence shouldn't make that much difference though as he wouldn't have been planned as a starter at all in any games while he's gone, and it's the same for Matt Stinson, though his absence means there'll be precious little coverage for Richard Eckersley at Right Back either.
Though I'd like to say country should always take precedent over club, it seems a good compromise to allow the back up players to go, while keeping the one of the three who is a definite first team player with no backup.
More than likely Henry and Stinson will be back with the club for the March 31st home game against Columbus, as Canada will have it's work cut out qualifying for the semi final round, much less making one of the two qualifying spots. Canada is in a group with the United States, El Salvador and Cuba, and this week long camp is the only preparation the team will have had, which is particularly weak when compared to the U.S team which has been getting together and playing actual games regularly since November.
CANADA
GK- Adam Janssen | USA / Minnesota Stars
GK- Michal Misiewicz | CAN / FC Edmonton
GK- Simon Thomas | ENG / Huddersfield Town
D- Nana Attakora | USA / San Jose Earthquakes
D- Drew Beckie | USA / University of Denver
D- Sherif El-Masri | SIN / Courts Young Lions
D- Andrés Fresenga | URU / Racing Club de Montevideo
D- Tristan Grant | URU / Club Nacional
D- Doneil Henry | CAN / Toronto FC
D- Matt Stinson | CAN / Toronto FC
M- Bryce Alderson | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
M- Kyle Bekker | USA / Boston College
M- Philippe Davies | Unattached / sans club
M- Mozesh Gyorio | USA / Sporting Kansas City
M- Evan James | CAN / Impact Montréal
M- Samuel Piette | FRA / FC Metz
M- Shaun Saiko | CAN / FC Edmonton
M- Russell Teibert | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
F- Lucas Cavallini | URU / Club Nacional
F- Marcus Haber | SCO / St. Johnstone FC
F- Carl Haworth | CAN / Impact Montréal
F- Kyle Porter | CAN / FC Edmonton
F- Babayele Sodade | USA / Seattle Sounders