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Canadian national men's soccer team hopes to pick up the pieces

Now the games really matter.

It has been 1,117 days since Canada's 2014 World Cup qualifying run came to an end, leading to current men's national team bench boss Benito Floro taking the reins.

The Spaniard's job? To right the ship. To pick up the pieces following Canada's disastrous 8-1 loss to Honduras in October 2012.

Ahead of next Friday night's World Cup qualifying rematch against Honduras at Vancouver's BC Place, Floro revealed his 23-man roster for a pair of fourth-round matches.

Canada will travel to San Salvador, El Salvador next weekend for its second of six fourth-round games on Nov. 17.

"We believe in this group of players," Floro said. "We want our best roster, so we are always in review of the performances of our players with their professional clubs and make our selection in consideration of the matches we will play."

Following games this month against Honduras and El Salvador, Canada will play back-to-back games against Mexico in March.

Les Rouges will close out fourth-round qualifying next September in Honduras and at home to El Salvador. The top two nations in Canada's four-team group advance to CONCACAF's final round of Russia 2018 qualifying.

"At home, it is very important to play in the stadiums supported by professional soccer clubs," Floro said.

"Along with the national feeling that our home supporters can bring, they also bring an understanding of the game and how important they can be as our 12th man on the Road to Russia 2018."

As with every roster, there is controversy surrounding player omissions.

Toronto FC's midfielder Jonathan Osorio was snubbed yet again, with Floro electing to got with the Ottawa Fury's Julian de Guzman and Vancouver's Russell Teibert and Kianz Froese instead.

That decision prompted current and former TFC players to weigh in.

"Canada must have a brilliant team if (Osorio) doesn't make it. Brilliant player," former TFC midfielder Hogan Ephraim said on Twitter.

This after both Jozy Altidore and Herculez Gomez have spoken out in support of Osorio in recent weeks.

Other notable omissions included TFC fullback Ashtone Morgan, who has fallen out of favour at every level, and striker Marcus Haber, who has been pushed aside by the emergence of Orlando's Cyle Larin and Dallas' Tesho Akindele.

Veteran goalkeeper Lars Hirschfeld -- Canada's starting goalkeeper through the previous World Cup cycle -- was left off in favour of Simon Thomas, who plays with Norwegian side Strommen.

Milan Borjan or Kenny Stamatopoulos will vie for the starting job in net at BC Place next Friday.

"We want the stadium to be full of Canadian supporters who understand how important they can be to help the team," Floro added. "We need that Canadian support to help guide the team to victory."

The Canadian Soccer Association confirmed this week they've sold 15,000 tickets for its fourth-round opener. That number should swell to at least 20,000 by kick off.

With difficult fixtures against Mexico looming early next year, Canada must collect a minimum of three points from its first two games if it's to have a chance at advancing to the final round for the first time since 1998.

If Canada successfully navigates this fourth-round group it will enter CONCACAF's six-team "Hexagonal" late next year.

From there, the top three finishers automatically advance to the 2018 World Cup while the fourth-place finisher will play-off against the Oceania champion (likely New Zealand).

kurtis.larson@sunmedia.ca

@KurtLarSUN

CANADA'S WORLD CUP QUALIFYING ROSTER

GK-Simon Thomas, NOR, Strommen IF

FB-Fraser Aird, SCO, Glasgow Rangers FC

FB-Samuel Adekugbe, CAN, Vancouver Whitecaps FC

CB-André Hainault, GER, 1. FC Magdeburg

CB-David Edgar, ENG, Sheffield United

M-Julian de Guzman, CAN, Ottawa Fury FC

M-Russell Teibert, CAN, Vancouver Whitecaps FC

M-Will Johnson, USA, Portland Timbers

F-Lucas Cavallini, URU, CA Fénix

M-David Hoilett, ENG, Queens Park Rangers

M-Tosaint Ricketts, TUR, Boluspor FC

CB-Dejan Jakovi, JPN, Shimizu S-Pulse

M-Atiba Hutchinson, TUR, Besiktas JK

M-Samuel Piette, ESP, Deportivo La Coruña

M/CB-Adam Straith, NOR, Fredrikstad FK

M-Kianz Froese, CAN, Vancouver Whitecaps FC

FB/M-Marcel De Jong, USA, Sporting Kansas City

GK-Milan Borjan, BUL, PFK Ludogorets Razgrad

CB-Wandrille Lefèvre, CAN, Impact Montréal

FB-Karl W. Ouimette, USA, New York Red Bulls

F-Cyle Larin, USA, Orlando City SC

GK-Kenny Stamatopoulos, SWE, AIK Fotbol

M-Tesho Akindele, USA, FC Dallas

Massive day of MLS playoff action on tap

Oh, so you’re just a casual Major League Soccer fan? The kind of North American soccer guru who’s overloaded with footy and can’t find time to catch MLS matches outside your city?

All that should change Sunday afternoon when the league lines up a quadruple-header of conference semifinals to determine Major League Soccer’s final four.

Each of the ties are separated by no more than a goal, meaning there’s all to play for when the return legs kick off on day normally reserved for the NFL.

Two Canadian teams remain — the Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps — meaning the possibility of an all-Canadian MLS Cup still exists.

Furthermore, there’s a good chance MLS will crown a new champion, a club that has never before lifted the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy.

Of the eight remaining teams, just two — D.C. United and Columbus — have won league titles.

Here’s the skinny on each conference semifinal heading into the most action-packed weekend of the MLS seasons.

EAST

(1) NEW YORK RED BULLS VS. (4) D.C. UNITED

Red Bull Arena, Harrison, New Jersey — 3 p.m.

First Leg: New York 1, D.C. United 0

SKINNY: The Red Bulls continued their Eastern Conference dominance to take a massive away goal — the first tie-breaker in these playoffs — back to Red Bull Arena, where they’ve lost just three times (12-3-2) this season.

United, meanwhile, were lopsided losers in New Jersey twice already, dropping 2-0 and 3-0 games early and late in the season.

All things point to the Red Bulls continuing their stunning run through the East following an offseason full of turmoil. Just 11 months ago Red Bull fans protested a controversial coaching change. Not anymore.

The Red Bulls are undoubtedly one of the most balanced sides in the league, with pace up front via Bradley Wright-Phillips and quality in wide positions through Lloyd Sam and Mike Grella.

Midfield engine Dax McCarty is having a career year and was a shock omission from the United States’ World Cup qualifying roster.

At the back, centre-back Matt Miazga looks like he could be a top U.S. national team prospect for years to come.

Add it all up and United — a club that lost six of nine to close out the season — isn’t likely to advance from Sunday’s second leg, despite New York losing defensive stalwart Damien Perrinelle to a knee injury.

LARSON SAYS: New York 3, D.C. United 1 (New York advances 4-1 on aggregate)

(2) COLUMBUS CREW VS. (3) MONTREAL IMPACT

MAPFRE Stadium, Columbus, Ohio — 5 p.m.

First Leg: Montreal 2, Columbus 1

SKINNY: The Columbus Crew like there chances against an Impact side that’s far less intimidating away from Saputo Stadium, where the Quebecers easily dispatched Toronto FC in the first round of these playoffs.

On the road, though, the Impact are just 4-9-4 this season although they are unbeaten against Columbus this year — including a 2-1 win in Ohio.

Still, you get the sense that Montreal’s magical run could come to an end despite Didier Drogba’s best efforts. The Ivorian has been sensational since arriving mid-summer, scoring 12 goals to lead the Impact in scoring.

On Sunday, though, it’s going to be less about goals for the Impact, a side that doesn’t have to score to advance.

Look for Montreal bench boss Mauro Biello to keep his side organized in a deep-lying 4-2-3-1, with Patrice Bernier, Marco Donadel and Nigel Reo-Coker clogging up the middle of the park, where the Columbus Crew’s Federico Higuain operates.

For the Impact, it’s about not leaving yourself open until you have to. It’s up to the home side to chase the game.

The Impact will simply let the game come to them, defend well and then break out through Ignacio Piatti, Dominic Oduro and Drogba.

The first goal in this game will steal the momentum. Whoever scores it will go on to win.

LARSON SAYS: Columbus 2, Montreal 0 (Columbus advances 3-2 on aggregate).

WEST

(1) FC DALLAS VS. (4) SEATTLE SOUNDERS

Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas — 7:30 p.m.

First Leg: Seattle Sounders 2, FC Dallas 1

SKINNY: The aging Seattle Sounders haven’t been convincing all season, suffering multiple setbacks through injury and at one point being in jeopardy of missing out on the playoffs completely.

If Clint Dempsey and Co. can’t takes care of business this time around the Sounders might need to blow things up within the next year.

Sunday night’s return leg could be one of the most open matches of this post-season.

Both teams realize the current aggregate scoreline isn’t going to hold up. There are going to be goals in this game.

Dallas winger Fabian Castillo is the player to watch. The Colombian loves to flirt with the offside line and has the pace to torch Seattle centre-backs Zach Scott and Chad Marshall.

The home side’s front six is filled with South American flair and will have no problem producing chances against a Seattle back four whose average age is plus-30.

For Seattle, this one could come down to how good guys like Obafemi Martins and Dempsey are.

Will we see the care-free, lazy Dempsey?

Or will we see the Dempsey who combines with Martins to create some of the most jaw-dropping highlights in the league?

If a lower seed is going to advance from these playoffs, it’s going to be Seattle.

The question is whether experience will hold up against a side with young, attacking flair.

LARSON SAYS: Dallas 1, Seattle 1 (Seattle advances 3-2 on aggregate)

(2) VANCOUVER WHITECAPS VS. (3) PORTLAND TIMBERS

BC Place, Vancouver, B.C. — 10 p.m.

First Leg: Portland 0, Vancouver 0

SKINNY: It’s simple for the Vancouver Whitecaps: Win and they’re in.

The Timbers, meanwhile, need just a draw involving goals to advance.

Both clubs will fancy their chances, especially since neither side seems to have the upper hand. These rivals have drawn each of the past three times they’ve faced off.

Of the four conference semifinal meetings, this one’s the most difficult to weight.

Here’s what we know: If Vancouver goalkeeper David Ousted puts in a repeat performance that held the Timbers goalless at home, the Whitecaps will win their first ever playoff fixture.

Ousted was sensational seven days ago, denying a Diego Valeri free kick that appeared destined for goal.

And had former TFC man Max Urruti not been denied by the post late in the game, the Timbers would have the upper hand in this one.

A lot could hinge on Vancouver head coach Carl Robinson, who didn’t start playmakers Pedro Morales or Mauro Rosales last week.

The Timbers, on the other hand, appear to be in sync. They were unfortunate not to be leading following a dominant home performance.

This one could go either way — and very likely will be the best match on the day.

LARSON SAYS: Portland 1, Vancouver 1 (Portland advances due to away goal)