First unknown, worked hisself up to be one of the most important players for Feyenoord, Jonathan de Guzman, the talent just drips of him, he's fast he has got pace, an excellent shot and a great pass, what a Super talent, Chelsea is already scouting him.

To bad for Canada they are almost losing a great player like him again, first Hargreaves and De Guzman is already in a conflict if he will play for Holland or Canada, I wouldn't mind if he plays for Holland though he should play for Canada couse he has a very very great future and will be playing at one of the top clubs in the future!(this is ofcourse never sure but he got the talent for it)

So they have more than one important player then?

I hope he plays for Canada, this is a similar situation to Saloman Kalou. His older brother Julian De Guzman who previously played for Hannover in the Bundesliga and now plays for Deportivo La Coruna in La Liga is probably Canada's best player, Julian and their father has already urged him to play for Canada and a midfield pairing of the two brothers would be awesome for Canada. Canadian soccer has already been screwed too many times(Concacrap refs..) not too mention Landon Donovan and Owen Hargreaves.

Does he have 2 passports or something? I mean yeah he must have 2 passports cause he lived in netherland since he was 11 but just to make sure does he?

I dunno, but I know he has the choice to play for Holland OR Canada so I guess he has!

Cool he has my last name.. I wonder if he is related..

How you know? Who told you that?

Hey carlos guzman sounds a bit swiss/german or turkish. Am I right?

Voetbal International if I remember correctly!

I hope we get him

It's spanish.

And de Guzman should play for Canada, where he will be almost sure to get onto the national squad (not much competition) . Who's to say he could make it into the dutch side.

And since when could Landon Donovan have played for Canada, that's news to me?

I'd think that any player would rather try his best to get in the Dutch National Team, then being sure of a call up for a much lesser side though. As long as he feels dutch, and wants to represent the country himself, I can't see him taking the "easy route" (playing for Canada).

His dad is from Nova Scotia, moved to California where Landon was born. Of course he's probably more American then Canadian but whatever just brought it up as an example. Owen Hargreaves now.....I don't even know the full situation, I think he got cut from the national team when he was around 14 and decided not to play for Canada. I question how someone from Calgary could go into the Bayern youth setup when he wasn't even the best player for his age group in Canada.

Hey the Canadian team is not that bad, at least on paper its not, and it sure doesn't help when we get a damn central American ref, reffing a game between us and Honduras, they screwed us...

Check out our players

Thomas Radzinski - Fulham(EPL)
Paul Stalteri - Tottenham(EPL)
Julian De Guzman - Deportivo La Coruna(La Liga)
Pat Onstad - San Jose(MLS) voted best goalkeeper this year
Jason De Vos - Ipswich Town(The Championship)
Mike Klukowski - Club Brugge - played in CL game against Milan
Jaime Peters - Ipswich Town(The Championship) - immensely talented youngster @ just 18 years of age
Ian Hume - Leceister City(The Championship) - another talented youngster, Sunderland and Wigan were looking to sign him this year.

There's a bunch more, that play in first division leagues in Europe, I think we do have the talent to be the 4th best team in Concacaf but we just don't have the NT setup that well at the moment so team chemistry in pretty terrible.

I know dude I'm Canadian. I watched that match and it was so horrible i was so pissed off. It was funny to hear Craig Forrest on sports net slagging the ref for about 10 minutes, he really seems like a calm guy most of the time.

As for the National Team I agree, I don't think we're all that horrible, I mean loook at Trinidad & Tobago, I'm sure they aren't any better than us yet they made it to the WC. I think the soccer culture has to grow here a little more and the CSA needs some more funding and stuff, cause the infrastructure and stuff in Canada is pretty crap. The guys rarely have enough time to play together and get comfortable as a team and the youth systems still need a lot of polishing, but we're getting there. Hopefully an MLS franchise or two will help.

Now back on topic.

I think de Guzman will probably choose to play for Canada because he will be 95% sure to get some international games in while it will be very hard for him to crack a star-studded Dutch squad. I'm sure he'd also like to play alongside his brother. Sure I think he'd like to challenge himself and try to make it into the Oranje, but if Canada start trying to call him up while the Dutch don't, how long will he able to be kept waiting?

I see what you're saying snoop. But the guy has only just turned 18, if he'd choose to play for Canada right now just because he hasn't been given a call up for Oranje yet sounds pretty dumb. Plus, i'm 100% sure he'll be playing for Holland -20 if he wants to himself. The guy has definetly got more than enough talent.

Well if he gets called up to the Dutch u21's I say definitely go for it, because for a player that is a very flattering and important call-up. As well if he performs well in that team, then his chances to at least get a few caps for the Netherlands will be increased, and it'll have been worth it for him. I guess time will tell.

God I hope he goes for Canada. I agree with the others, Canada actually doesn't have a pretty bad group. I would like to see him with his brother and playing with Peters ( who I think is very talented )

Carlos de Guzman would be the correct spelling

Yeah, I have German, Italian, Dutch, and Spanish roots.

I'm what you may call a Euro Mutt.

We have a lot of Canadians in the Norwegian league. Most of them doing very well.
Lars Hirschfeld, Patrice Bernier, Sandro Grande, Olivier Occean, Rob Friend and Stephen Ademolu.

Friend comes from a good season where he scored 10 goals.

Occean has had several good seasons - now joined Lillestrom, a much better team than he used to play for.

Hirschfeld was amazing in his short stay at Tromso, convinced the best club in Scandinavia (Rosenborg) that he was worth signing.

Bernier, probably been the best of the lot.

Hirschfeld signed for Rosenborg?

I always thought that Hirschfeld was a good GK, he was backup for Kasey Keller at Tottenham.

He scored again against AZ, not the smallest team in the competition... .

I hope De Guzman suits up for Canada, along with his brother. He will be a key part of 2010 qualification. Canadian soccer is looking up with promising new players and three new stadiums to be built.

^ Promising new players? Who? Most of them leave...

you live in canada? where?

well i agree we aren't that bad in terms of player quality, regarding the hargraves situation not totally sure but he was cut or something at a young age and overlooked-guess he held that animosity into his days at bayern-progressed as a player and later suited up for a well rounded english side. Now in regard to a post where someone said surprising he got into the bayern system when he wasn't even the best player for his age in Canada-well our system is such if you are a later developer you aren't given that same shot osa and csa seem to pick up kids at abotu roughly the u14 level and want to develop them and really disregard everyone else unless they are playing and destroying all competition. The politics in Canadian soccer dont get me started....anyway thats all De Guzman would be great to have but really he should try all out to get into that star studded dutch side- if things dont work out haha theres always canada

You can try both once you play a official game for one your theirs...
Maby a friendly would be a good try out of De Guzman...

i would chose for netherland if i was him. Although I do feel for the canadians if he really did.

well, promising new players like Peters, Hume, and a couple of players in the Norwiegan League. Promising in Canadian standards I guess.

I live in Kingston, Ontario

Most of them leave? Who? Hargreves and who else?

But yes with Peters, Guzman and Friend Canada has a chance at something.

^ Alot of players who immigrated to Canada from latin countries, who had citizenship here but went back to play for their original country. Also Landon Donovan (i think) was born in Canada.

Well thats the right move, they went back to play for their original countires. And I beleive Landons father is Canadian but I think he was born in the US.

First time I've watched him is today n the re-run of Feyenoord - AZ.

Great talent and a nice goal. He's really quick with great close control. He's using the ball well and is looking to get forward all the time. He looks like a great player potentially hope he can develop to his full potential

EDIT: Finished watching the game now. Wow. Great skills. Could easily play as a second striker IMO because he has so much dribbling ability. He's also a decent defensive midfield player as well looking at some tackles. He's a bit of an all rounder really and will be a player Feyenoord may struggle to keep hold of

I think he will play for Holland. He spend a big part of his life here, speaks Dutch fluently and plays for Feyenoord. Maybe Canada will someday make it to the World Cup, but will they go as favourites?? Never. Holland is always among the favourites. Also, suppose Marco van Basten gives you a call...who could say no to him? The opportunity to learn from him and all the other players in the Dutch NT, such as Arjen Robben, RVN, RVP, Cocu etc.

But why do Holland need him? If Canada wants to make the worldcup then we can't afford to lose our top talents like this. Holland already has the likes of Sneijder, VDV, Maduro, De Jong in his position. He is a Canadian born and bred player, just because he lived in Holland does not make him Dutch.

But for Canada, he's guarenteed a starting spot with the country he was born in. In Holland, he may not get to many good opportunities.

I've actually seen him before when he was back here in toronto canada.
When he was young he was way better than everyone else dominating his youth soccer and school soccer etc, everyone talked about him. He always had major talent, recent clips ive seen of him at Feyenoord are amazing. Hope him all the best.

I think he will be a household name before you know it.

He came here at the age of 12, of course he still feels Canadian but Holland is definiatly in his heart as well. And if you live in Holland for a long time, it CAN make you Dutch. He said in an interview with VI he feels half a Dutchman.
I am not saying he has to pick Holland, just saying that I think that is what he will do.
To make it into the first team is hard, but with van Basten pretty much everybody who plays well get's their chance. Only 4 players have a guaranteed starting place and that's Arjen Robben, Edwin van der Sar, Philip Cocu and Ruud van Nistelrooy. De Guzman is way better then Sneijder and de Jong.

Bit early to tell, wouldn't you agree?

Anyway, it's all about what his feeling tells him. IF he decideds to pick Canada then it would be because he 'feels' Canadian, and definetly not because he could get a starting spot for his country at an early age or anything like that. If he isn't sure about his choice and feels 'half dutch' like JN said, then I'm pretty sure he'll eventually pick Holland, purely because he'll get the chance to play on a much higher level.

If he want to win international prices: he got to be with Holland. If he keeps playing like this, Im sure he'll make it. But if he gets a fall-back it will turn out as a very bad desicion.

His dad said in a interview that the orange shirt would fit him nicely!

the reason canadian soccer is so bad is because we always get screwed over and most of the CSA doens't know its ass from a hole in the ground, so good players really dont want to make a commitment like Hargreaves, Radzinski (He played for Canada but it's a stuggle, really doesn't care) and now De Guzman. Just when Canadian soccer is on some sort of uprise (new stadiums, MLS franchise) this guy decides he feels Dutch because he is a plays for Feyenoord. Now, I support Holland and all, but I am a Canadian and while I can respect his decision and see his logic, it pisses me off completely that being a Canadian citizen he wants to play for Holland, is he not Canadian? Where is his national pride? While Canadian soccer is the Chevy and Holland the Porsche, he is not really helping the situation. His own brother plays for Canada, why not him? Julian De Guzman didn't suddenly feel German while playing for Hannover, or feel Spanish in Deportivo.

I totally agree. The country where you are born, who gave you the opportunity to grow, have education, etc should be the country you give back to and represent. Does he have dutch roots himself?

Feyenoord gave him that Here in Holland, he got his diploma and gets the opportunity to play alongside great players like Kuyt and Kalou. Feyenoord helped him to get this far, so Holland should be the country to give back to.
Just saying this because you can look at it from 2 perspectives, and both have good arguments.

I'm hoping that his brother gets him to Canada. this may be the only time they will play alongside each other.

What style of player is this kid? What position will be his best position and just how good can he be? Is he anything like current English phenom Theo Walcott? Anyone that can give me a rundown of the kids skills would be appreciated.

If Jonathan De Guzman decides to play for Holland he will regret it. Right now he may feel 'Dutch' and would love nothing more than to put on the Oranje jersey, but honestly how long will he last in the Dutch league before the big clubs come with offers. Sooner or later he will leave Holland, commiting to a country he isn't even a citizen of is really not a good move.

The World Cup is about the worlds best players coming home and representing their countries on an international scene. Its about pride and honour.

P.S. This is really an amazing board.

I'm fairly certain that Canada losing the opportunity to get a hold of Jonathan de Guzman is due to Canada's current status as a footballing country. At the moment the CSA is in a state of shambles and the national side, regardless of what might happen in the Gold Cup, will likely have to make a run for its money to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. I believe that Jonathan de Guzman has committed himself to the Dutch national side because he feels that the Netherlands has the most potential, plain and simple. I think this decision will likely cost him a potentially long Canadian international career because its entirely possible that he won't become a Dutch NT regular, or even alternate. By committing himself to his adoptive country in the Netherlands, he has made a decision at the age of 18 and even without Dutch citizenship, which will affect him for the rest of his footballing career.

I don't blame Jonathan de Guzman however, because the Canadian Soccer Association seriously dropped the ball on this one. Their utter uselessness and inability to put forward a national program with any direction at all has only encouraged de Guzman's decision, and run Canada into 21 years of disappointing results and failures to capitalize on the few successes. I'm tired of watching Canada "play for the clean sheet" against Guadeloupe and Honduras when we should be World Cup regulars, and challenging every four years for spots in the round of 16. I don't blame de Guzman for choosing the Dutch NT over the Canadian one, the CSA is an embarrassment to Canadian football fans. If he goes on to a great Dutch NT career then good for him, but if his only international appearance is a 81st minute substitution against Uzbekistan, then he should have seriously thought out his teenage decision.

Sorry for the rant, Canada's doing well at the moment in the Gold Cup, but this just ticks me off.

nothing would make me happier then to see him play alongside his brother Julian for Canada...

hope to God he does

Well he just sounds out of Canadas league tbh. no disrespect intended but Holland are far better.

And De Guzman may of been born in Canada but his real futball was taught to him in Holland, the style, formation, decision making ect ect.

He has been molded as a Dutch play tought the dutch way, It will be a hard decisionm for him but not many players make it abroad at 12yo, I think he will choose Holland i know i would personaly if i was as talented as him.

Just cos of the International competitions Holland will reacj far more than Canada.

Someone might have said it, but the de Guzman brothers are Canadian and of Jamaican/Filipino decent. Both brothers have caught the attention of the Europe and from what I have heard several times, Jonathan was told that he wouldn't get much playing time or exposure in Europe if he didn't play in Europe domestically or play for a national team over seas. What has been said in the past is that when he started playing in Netherlands and moved there for football, they told him that he "should" consider playing for Netherlands and not Canada as it "could effect his career." Technically speaking, The Netherlands is his "adoptive" country.


You read between the lines.


Personally, for his career, he should continue in Europe. As for his own self-worth, pride, whatever and the development of Canadian football, he needs to apply his national trade here. If all of these players go over and play for Europe, we'll never get the hell out of the stone-age, football wise. He'll have a lot more playing time for our NT than he will for the Dutch.

I won't lie here, as I would be torn as well. I am a citizen of two countries and if I had to choose, I don't think I'd play for the country I live in, only because football isn't as big here. It's a very tough decision, especially for a young guy.

So because the Netherlands is a better footballing country, De Guzman should play for the Netherlands instead of Canada?



Again, why does this matter? He played in the Netherlands more then in Canada, but so has several Canadian national side players and the majority of the rest have played in other European leagues. The style of play may differ but it isn't like the Dutch style varies wildly from the British-style that the Canadians have played in the past, and somehow that should effect what is in essence an emotional decision? Jonathan de Guzman is kidding himself if he thinks he's gonna play a lot in the massively deep Dutch pool of depth in midfield. If he truly wants to have a "successful" international career then picking up potentially 100 caps for Canada and maybe being the piece that pushes them into the World Cup, making him essentially the footballing god of Canadian supporters would likely be better then winning 20 caps coming off the bench in Dutch friendlies.

guy should play for canada obv

100% agree.