Posted by

Stuart Mactaggart ,

March 7, 2016 Email

Stuart Mactaggart



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@FuryFanatic

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The beginning of the 2016 NASL Season is just under a month away, and Canadian Men’s National Team captain Julian De Guzman is with his club Ottawa Fury FC training in Arizona. However, before De Guzman dives into his second season with Fury FC he will be focusing on Canada’s 2018 World Cup Qualifying bid.



De Guzman talked with RNO recently and looked ahead to the upcoming match in Vancouver between Canada and Mexico, followed by an away match in Mexico four days later.



“It’s probably the biggest match in most of our careers [at the international level] and I think the expectations have continued to increase” said the Toronto native.



De Guzman is happy with the direction the Men’s National Team is going, saying “We have a couple new faces on board whose qualities have been on demand for quite some time, and it’s good to see the commitment.”



Getting to the fifth round of qualifying, or the final six, would take Canada one step closer to the World Cup stage, and De Guzman feels this could be Canada’s chance.



“We couldn’t ask for a better time to play against a team like Mexico. They’re probably the best team in CONCACAF at the moment, but I think with the type of mentality we have been able to present at home on the big stage we definitely have something to prove, and it’s great to see the support we have been getting [from The Voyageurs].”



Canadian currently sits second in their group with four points from two games, with Mexico, El Salvador and Honduras round out the group of four. Mexico sits in first place with six points and are favourite to top the group, leaving Canada to battle the two Central American teams for the remaining qualifying spot. Any points Canada can steal off of Mexico will certainly give them an advantage in their battle for second.



De Guzman will be joined by fellow Canadian Internationals Kyle Porter and Marcel De Jong in Ottawa this season, where he continues to be a leader in the squad and one of the favourites to be named the next Fury FC captain.



“I was always one of the older guys in the squad from last season, as well as this season. It’s just important that we continue to bring that leadership role to the table. It’s always good to see fresh legs and faces come in with the energy they have, it’s always needed for a team with this kind of experience,” De Guzman said reflecting on the 2016 Fury squad.



Canada faces Mexico in Vancouver for World Cup Qualifying on March 25th, followed by an away match vs Mexico on March 29th.



Ottawa Fury kick off their 2016 NASL Season in New York on April 3rd where they look to avenge their loss in the 2015 NASL Championship Final vs the New York Cosmos.