In the first of the knockouts, Canada took on Colombia. The game started quick for the Canadians who dominated the opening 20 minutes, with the most energy that Columbia managed to generate coming from their megaphone wielding fans. Despite moving the ball well, the first half was ultimately cagey and ended nil nil. There were a number of firm challenges, and more than one argument over whether Colombia was spelled with a U or an O.

 

The second half started similar with both teams trading possession far from the opposing goals, before a broken play led to a free Colombian 20 yards from goal who curled one inside the post. Immediately Canada stepped up the pressure, feeding crosses into the box, and their hard work paid off as a loose ball fell too Omar Zaher who sent one goalwards only to have the Colombians borrow from their neighbor Uruguayans and Luiz Suarez away an obvious goal with a sneaky arm. Unlike the Ghanaians in 2006, co-man of the match Mike Arnold sent the keeper the wrong way to even the score.

 

With 5 minutes left after the Canadian goal, the lads had an Arabica inspired push but could not find a final breakdown despite dangerous corners and free kicks in the Colombian half.

 

With the match set for penalties, the Canadians showed they were the True North, Strong, and Free (of anxiety). Mike Arnold scored his second penalty of the game, audaciously nutmegging the keeper from 12 yards, Andrew Kim blasted into the top netting, and Joshua Belle kept a cool head and sent the keeper the wrong way. Roman Tulis, the other Canadian MotM, saved two, and forced another onto the post for a Canadian win. Come on you boys in red!

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Canada's final group stage game saw them face up against the swedes, giants both on paper based on results in previous tournaments, and in general, with more than one Canadian starter wishing that one of their parents had decided on a Scandinavian adventure 9 months before they were born to make life a little easier. 

 

Canada came out strong and took the game to the swedes early. Our midfield trio dominated the ball in possession and gave Sweden little time to counter. The Kim brothers were effervescent on the wings, full of energy - suggesting that Mike Kim had indeed stolen all the kimchi in Dublin from the South Korean national team. 

 

The first half ended scoreless despite a number of beautiful dead ball deliveries from Pawan, but early in the second half all of Canada's pressure finally told after a ball whipped into the box from Ous caused confusion amongst the swedes and resulted in an own goal. Sweden then started piling on the pressure to try and pull one back and salvage a draw with the canadians, presumably for national pride given the degree to which they are owned by Sidney Crosby on the ice, however nothing they could cook up in their Ikea workshop caused trouble for the Canadian back four, especially with their keeper Jeff turning in a man of the match performance and ensuring the goal was always protected from a lightning Viking raid. The game ended 1-nil to Canada, which left them joint top of the group with 6 points. Come on you boys in red!