The Vancouver Whitecaps may need to stock up on maple syrup now that there are so many Canadians on the roster.
Head coach Marc Dos Santos said he didnB次元官网网址檛 plan on filling the team with homegrown talent, but 11 of the clubB次元官网网址檚 19 players are Canadian.
Seven Canucks were on the squad at the same time last year.
The WhitecapsB次元官网网址� lineup is full of new faces after the organization parted ways with 18 players over the off-season.
The newly revamped roster includes more Canadians simply because theyB次元官网网址檙e talented athletes, Dos Santos said.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 good for Canada, because if it was an intention, like IB次元官网网址檓 doing a favour for somebody or the country, it would be sometimes bad,B次元官网网址� said the coach, whoB次元官网网址檚 from Montreal.
Rain and the beep test...
B次元官网网址� Vancouver Whitecaps (@WhitecapsFC)
Yep, itB次元官网网址檚 officially preseason.
Many of the Canadians have suited up for the national team in recent years, either at the senior or youth levels.
Four current B次元官网网址楥aps donned the maple leaf in November when Canada beat St. Kitts and Nevis 1-0 in a CONCACAF Nations League qualifier.
The squad also included Alphonso Davies, the dazzling teenage midfielder who the Whitecaps transferred to German soccer giant Bayern Munich in a blockbuster deal in July.
Having familiar faces around helps create chemistry and cohesion, said midfielder Russell Teibert, who suits up from both the Whitecaps and Team Canada.
B次元官网网址淚f youB次元官网网址檙e around that person, around that player, around that team day in and day out, youB次元官网网址檒l understand their tendencies on and off the field,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淚 think the guys that have been a part of (coach) John HerdmanB次元官网网址檚 Canadian squad, we really do feel like weB次元官网网址檙e on to something special there. So itB次元官网网址檚 nice to bring what weB次元官网网址檙e doing with the Canadian national team back to our club this year.B次元官网网址�
The national team comradery is part of what influenced 21-year-old Derek Cornelius to sign with Vancouver last week. He had been playing overseas for years, most recently with the Serbian club FK Javor Ivanjica.
Cornelius said he knew a lot of Whitecaps players from Team Canada.
B次元官网网址淪peaking with them, they said (VancouverB次元官网网址檚) a good place to play and itB次元官网网址檚 something I wanted to be a part of,B次元官网网址� the centre back said.
It will be good for Cornelius to be around so many national team players on a daily basis, said Doneil Henry, who played with the young defender twice in international play last year.
Going into his eighth Major League Soccer season, Henry believes he has experience to share with Cornelius.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a young centre half and he has all the tools to be really great,B次元官网网址� said the 25-year-old.
B次元官网网址淎nd me being a little bit more experienced, I can help him along the way. ThatB次元官网网址檚 what I wish I had when I was growing up, coming through the youth levels and even in Europe, that I had an older centre back who wanted to see me do well and kind of put me under his shoulder and teach me the ropes.B次元官网网址�
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There may be a point during this season where Dos Santos temporarily loses a large part of his Canadian contingent to national team duty.
Canada is vying for a spot in this yearB次元官网网址檚 CONCACAF Gold Cup, which is being held across the U.S. in June and July.
But Dos Santos isnB次元官网网址檛 worried.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 so tough to build the roster while at the same time thinking about all of that. ItB次元官网网址檚 going to drive you crazy,B次元官网网址� the coach said.
B次元官网网址淚f all of our team go to their national team, the first sign is itB次元官网网址檚 because theyB次元官网网址檙e good. You have to have some quality to be an international. And if that makes some of the academy kids have to step up and take opportunities, thatB次元官网网址檚 good for the club too. We want to make sure that we have in our club the best players possible.B次元官网网址�
Meanwhile, the Whitecaps acquired Spanish midfielder Jon Erice with targeted allocation money on Tuesday.
The 32-year-old has spent the majority of his career in Spain, including more than 200 matches in La Liga 2.
B次元官网网址淛on brings a wealth of experience to our club and has played consistently in highly competitive environments,B次元官网网址� Dos Santos said in a statement. B次元官网网址淗e has a strong understanding of the demands we require in the defensive midfielder position. HeB次元官网网址檚 an excellent distributor of the ball, technical, tenacious, and another important piece as we continue to build our roster.B次元官网网址�
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
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