The trick, says Dale Mitchell, is to use home-field advantage for all it is worth in Canada 2007.
And that could be a little tricky, adds the coach of Canada's team in the FIFAU-20 World Championships.
"One of the concerns in Canadian soccer is if we can score and if we can create. But we think we have some of that. We want to show people we can go forward. If we can do some of that, without getting burned going the other way, we think the fans here will really throw themselves behind us.''
"We already know we're going to have the environment. I'm real pleased the way the ticket sales have gone. It is not a surprise to us,'' said Mitchell of the 182,000 sold to date for the Edmonton games which will include all of Canada's games except the opener in Toronto.
The sales total equals 65% of the tickets sold for Canada 2007's six venues which also include Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver and Victoria.
Mitchell was in town yesterday on a scouting mission. He says he thinks he's going to have a good team.
"We have 14 players, the most we've ever had, playing in Europe.''
He said it's going to take some work to get them enough time together, but hopes to play a pre-tournament game in each venue in which the event will be held.
"You're always a bit worried that you could get a dud age group,'' he said of the crop of junior-aged players, a phenomenon Canadians are familiar with from junior hockey.
"But there's every evidence so far that this is far from being a dud age group.''
