Dasovic named men's Olympic soccer coach
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Nick Dasovic has been handed the challenge of trying to lead Canada to its first men's Olympic soccer berth since 1984.
"I know it's not going to be easy for any Canadian team to qualify for any tournament," Dasovic said in a conference call Thursday after being named head coach of the Canadian men's under-23 team. "But with only two spots up for grabs, I know it's going to be hard task."
The Olympic soccer tournament features the top under-23 teams from around the world. To qualify, Canada must finish in the top two at the CONCACAF championships in the United States in March.
Canada is in a group with Mexico, Guatemala and Haiti. The top two teams will advance to the semifinals.
Dasovic expects Mexico to be the class of the group, but he believes a semifinal berth is possible.
"Between us, Haiti and Guatemala, without being disrespectful to those teams, I think we have a decent draw," Dasovic said.
The United States, Cuba, Honduras and Panama are in the other group.
Dasovic, 39, played in 63 games as a defender with Canada's senior national team. His professional career included a six-year stint with St. Johnstone of the Scottish Premier League.
He knows most of Canada's top young players through his time as an assistant with former Canadian under-20 head coach Dale Mitchell. He was on the sidelines for Canada at the past three Under-20 World Cups.
"That's definitely a plus I have. As an assistant coach I think you have a role (as a liaison) in between the players and the head coach," Dasovic said. "So I got to know them very much on a personal level."
He wants to select an experienced team for the Olympic qualifier, assuming he can secure the release of players from their European club teams.
"We've actually looked at it and there's quite a few players from the 2005 (under-20) team in Holland who have gone on to play professionally," Dasovic said. "We have a good little nucleus there of guys who gone on."
Canada's biggest challenge will be trying to score goals. At the Under-20 World Cup in the summer, the host Canadian team went scoreless in their three games.
"There are players who can score, what we are missing is that proven goal scorer who scores every second player who is on the pitch," Dasovic said.
He doesn't expect a repeat of the under-20 team's struggles.
"There was a lot of high expectations put on our team and our players," Dasovic said. "People were talking of winning it or making the final four. I think there was a lot of pressure put on the kids and I think a few of them cracked up."
New version coming up
Upcoming Events for the Next 3 Day(s) Private calendar events are seen only by member who owns calendar
Dasovic named men's Olympic soccer coach
Linear Mode
