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#CANMNT DOWN DOUBLES DEVIL WAY
Montreal’s Hosting & Lifting Canada’s Soccer Culture Danny Smiles @ his Doubles Dive Bar #CanMNT v SA Gathering Sunday Lunchtime in LA is now forever more enshrined in #CanMNT Folklore. For the vast majority it be our most significant moment. From Fall 2024 when the CANUSMEX 2026 kicked off there was more nations participating than there are member states of the United Nations. Well in excess off 200. Then by midnight Sunday, there will be but a Sweet16 remaining. Now add t

Noel Butler
Jul 26 min read


A GAME OF A LIFETIME UNTIL THE NEXT ONE?
#CanMNT players individually and collectively will need to be at their very best versus a World Cup dreaming Morocco. Canada's Believer-In-Chief's performances are just an act. As Marsch's disruptive and distractive ways soak up pressure and take away the spotlight.
Dave Trentadue
Jun 301 min read


WILL WORLD CUP HISTORY BE KIND?
90 minutes away potentially from a dream Round of 16 When the #CanMNT Believer-In-Chief met the media Thursday he talked of an ‘LA calm’ in preference to more of that Vancouver ‘Circus.’ Heaven forbid there must be a World Cup going on. Apparently. Getting proper sleep the evening before a Honduras v Canada match in one of the world’s most dangerous spots; San Pedro Sula is murder. Excuse the pun. Jesse Marsch is channeling his very best Rudyard Kipling 19th century self ther

Noel Butler
Jun 284 min read


WHO DO YOU CALL? GHOSTBUSTERS…
The Switzerland match was a masterclass in World Cup and Tactical Naivety. Now don’t anyone jump to the incorrect conclusion nor accuse me of not joining in the celebration of reaching the knock-out stages of the Greatest Show on Earth. The beautiful game across Canada has turned its most significant corner, one that will only become more apparent in the immediate years and decades to come. As soccer cements itself firmly, just like those shooting boots on display against B

Noel Butler
Jun 264 min read


MARSCH TO ROLL HIS DAVIES DICE?
Vital Canada avoid defeat to reset, recover ahead of opening their knockout campaign in Vancouver July 2nd. Otherwise the #CanMNT will have to play that historical encounter a mere 4-days later down in Los Angeles
Dave Trentadue
Jun 241 min read


CANADA, COVID & COHEN
Now look where we are In Safe Hands JD’s Qatar Hattrick Ball The origins of what the Men’s National Team is on the cusp of achieving in Vancouver Wednesday afternoon could be traced back to CONCACAF’S 2021/22 qualification cycle for Qatar 2022. Or more to the point owing to Covid CONCACAF’S usual qualification cycle had to be revised. In doing so the HEX, the World Cup Qualification Achilles Heel for the #CanMNT, was expanded to 8 nations and rebranded to the OCTAGONAL. Some

Noel Butler
Jun 244 min read


CHAMPAGNE FOOTBALL SUPERNOVA
It’s come home Canada’s Believer-In-Chief getting his champagne football order in Shakespeare could not have scripted what happened. Attwood neither. Maybe Nostradamus predicted it. Allez les Rouges? Allez les Prophéties more like. Now. Not a coincidence what occurred in Matchday 2 comes as the nation is gripped by Grad Season. After many false starts the beautiful game in Canada has come of age. Graduating into the hearts, veins and minds of a nation. From the Rock and rig

Noel Butler
Jun 204 min read


22 HOST Vs 26 CO-HOST
Place in the knockout stage[s] on the line So the biggest ever match in the 100 plus year history of the #CanMNT takes place in the rather tranquil surroundings of Vancouver Thursday afternoon. When two nations who’ve never managed to win a game between them in the almost 100-year history of World Cup Finals go at it hammer and tongs for a pulsating, blood boiling 90-minutes. Plus Hydration Breaks d’accord. On offer at, don’t dare call it, BC Place Thursday 18h 00 MTL is pla

Noel Butler
Jun 184 min read


IT’S THE WORLD CUP OF SWEARING
Potty Mouths R Us During FOX TV’s pre-game show of Canada versus Bosnia USA94 Legend Alexi Lalas -- who built his entire Serie A career on that outrageous ginger mop and goatee ensemble – went for everyone’s favourite luvvy by referring to James Corden as a “Full Kit Wanker” on live TV. Lalas of course is part of FOX TV’s star studded celebrity football talent pool. The Ginge was standing shoulder to shoulder at the time with Zlatan - with Tito on the panel as well. Reactions

Noel Butler
Jun 133 min read


BRING OUT YOUR INJURED
Unfit & Unfancied
‘The most talented group in Canada’s history.’ That moniker is now tattooed on our 2026 World Cup squad thanks to #CanMNT Believer-In-Chief; Jesse Marsch.
Undoubtedly one of the most affable and likeable chaps I’ve ever had
the pleasure to encounter in all my days, evenings and blue moons
over at Stade Saputo. Or Claude-Robillard for that matter. Very esteemed company there Jesse.
One of those football esteemed is Mike Moretto.

Noel Butler
Jun 115 min read
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