Defensive organization and tactics:

Like the other teams in the group, Canada employed a flat back four, but by the end of the group phase they enjoyed the best defensive record, having conceded no goals. This was the product of excellent individual and collective play.

Center backs Kevin McKENNA (No. 5) and Dejan JAKOVIC (No. 14) read the game and marked well, and were absolutely dominant in the air, while wing backs STALTERI (No. 7) and Mike KLUKOWSKI (No. 3) were quick to close space on opposing attackers and tenacious in the tackle. In midfield, Will JOHNSON (No. 10), Josh SIMPSON (No. 15) and Marcel DE JONG (No. 8) rotated on the wings, working very hard to support the outside backs and defend the flanks, while central areas were protected by the tireless running and ball-winning of the team's three-man core of Julian DE GUZMAN (No. 6), Atiba HUTCHINSON (No. 13) and Patrice BERNIER (No. 20).

While the players clearly understood how to defend and were good in duels, it was their collective game that frustrated opponents. Canada maintained excellent contact between the lines and had a quick transition to defense after the ball was lost, with the player nearest to the attacker in possession applying immediate pressure in order to allow the team to retreat to the middle third and to adopt a defensive posture. Marking on a zonal basis, and with good cover and support, the Canadians applied intense pressure on the ball in the midfield and defensive thirds of the field. Their aggressive pressing was undoubtedly aided by the players' athleticism and physical conditioning. Even so, the central midfield trio, with Julian DE GUZMAN (No. 6) providing cover to Atiba HUTCHINSON (No. 13) and Patrice BERNIER (No. 20), did an extraordinary amount of defensive running. The team's lone forward, Ali GERBA (No. 9), while he did attempt to apply immediate pressure on the opposing back four, did not retreat into a deep defensive position once the ball had been played into midfield.

Attacking organization and tactics:

Its defense may have provided the platform for their qualification to the tournament's second phase, but it was Canada's attack that allowed them to dominate the group. Improving with every match, the team's core strength was the midfielders' ability to handle the ball under pressure and to maintain patient possession. This sometimes resulted in a slow transition to attack, which prevented the team from exploiting attacking space -- and space behind the opposing defense in particular. Nonetheless, Canada's attacking improved from match to match and was very much a collective enterprise based on ball possession and managed by the central midfield trio.

The leader in this regard was Julian DE GUZMAN (No. 6), an excellent ball handler and possessor of very subtle skills, who usually relieved the defenders of possession and initiated the attack. This often included a long diagonal pass to the opposite side if the field. In this he was ably supported by the other central midfielders, also very skillful players and comfortable in possession. This trio collaborated well in a continuous exchange of positions intended to create, and exploit, attacking space and options.

The team demonstrated good balance in its flank play, which was the focus of the attack. Left back Mike KLUKOWSKI (No. 3) was more active in this regard than right back Paul STALTERI (No. 7), but both wing backs and wide midfielders were very much involved in the attack. Two of the team's winning goals resulted from crosses. When attacking through central areas of the field the lone forward Ali GERBA (No. 9) was used as an outlet for the defenders and as a foil for the midfielders, Patrice BERNIER (No. 20) in particular, with whom he linked well in combination play. For his part, Ali GERBA (No. 9) may lack the skills of his midfield players but, being a penalty area opportunist, he presented a very real scoring threat to Canada's opponents as his two goals in three matches demonstrated.

Still, for all its good organization in attack, Canada did not generate many goals - only four in three matches heading into the quarterfinals against Honduras. In the end, despite dominating the second half in particular, it lost 0:1 against the Honduras counterattack, but more so because the Catrachos were able to thwart Canada's best efforts to create a chance for Ali GERBA (No. 9) or one of the midfielders.

Perhaps, Patrice BERNIER (No. 20) best described the Canadian Gold Cup campaign when he stated prior to the Honduras match that the 2009 Gold Cup campaign was "phase one for 2014". Indeed, Canada's performance signaled to all that they have discovered a new approach to the game, and the likelihood that they will be serious contenders in any future CONCACAF competition.

Key Points: Canada

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