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Youth will be served
The failure of Canada in the final World Cup qualifying round and the absence of three prominent players - Paul Peschisolido, Tomasz Radzinski and now Colin Miller - has inspired coach Bob Lenarduzzi to bring on the future.
Garrett Kusch and Marty Nash, who you watched here last year with Canada's Olympic qualifying team, won their way into the lineup prior to this point.
Three others - all from Canada's Under-20 World Cup team - have been promoted for this game.
"If we had Pesch, Tomasz and Colin, they wouldn't be here,'' said coach Bobby Lenarduzzi. "This gives them a chance.''
Midfielder Jason Bent made a name for himself in a 2-1 loss to Argentina at the Under-20 World Cup when he scored Canada's goal and was named man of the match against the team that ended up winning it all.
Striker Dwayne DeRosario also starred with the team. Together they were recruited by German second division FSV Zwickau where Bent is already a 90-minute man.
Defender Jeff Clarke, headed for a tryout with Antwerp in Belgium, was captain of the team coached by former Edmonton Driller Bruce Twamley.
The three also played on the Under-17 team that went to a world championship with coach Bert Goldberger of Edmonton.
"This is very exciting for me,'' said Bent of being flown here from Germany to join the team for the game against Mexico.
"For me to play for my country is a dream come true. Hopefully I'll get into the game Sunday.
"I think giving the young players a chance can only help Canada's future. The nucleus of the Under-17 team which became the Under-20 team is going to be the nucleus of our next Olympic team. It's a great group with great chemistry and good character.''
The Argentina game inspired Bent to shoot for the moon.
"That was definitely the highlight for me. But not just me. Everybody on that team. We shocked them. We played with them. We competed.''
Clarke, 19, says it's the same for him: "Ever since I started playing, being on this team has been my dream. I set myself this goal and I think I'm ready. I've been itching for a chance to prove to myself and to others that I can play for Canada.
"That said, I understand our time has yet to come.''
NEXT ROUNDS: Round of 16 || Quarter-finals || Semi-finals
GROUP A: Brazil, Morocco, Norway, Scotland
GROUP B: Austria, Cameroon, Chile, Italy
GROUP C: Denmark, France, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
GROUP D: Bulgaria, Nigeria, Paraguay, Spain
GROUP E: Belgium, Holland, Mexico, South Korea
GROUP F: Germany, Iran, United States, Yugoslavia
GROUP G: Colombia, England, Romania, Tunisia
GROUP H: Argentina, Croatia, Jamaica, Japan