Things are starting to get exciting on the international stage for the Bleu-blanc-noir. Canada’s U21 team was in France for the 46th edition of the Festival International Espoirs Provence – Tournoi Maurice Revello, and a few Impact players – and Academy players – were invited to be a part of the experience.
The Finn Jukka Raitala was also selected by his national team for an upcoming friendly. The 29-year-old versatile defender is a veteran with Finland, having featured in its U17, U19 and U21 teams as well, before making his debut with the senior side at age 20.
James Pantemis, Daniel Kinumbe, Clément Bayiha, Shamit Shome and Mathieu Choinière – Canada U21
Tournoi de Toulon – May 26 to June 9
May 28 – Canada 0-0 Portugal
May 31 – Canada 1-0 Turkey
June 3 – Canada 1-1 Japan
June 7 – Canada 1-2 France
Five Impact players took part in the Festival international espoirs – Tournoi Maurice-Revello, more commonly referred to as the tournoi de Toulon. This is Canada’s first ever appearance in this historic tournament and represented a big opportunity for some of the Bleu-blanc-noir’s younger players chosen by the national team.
The tournament’s format was simple; three groups of four teams were created from the 12 teams taking part in the tournament. The best of each go through to the semifinals, along with the best second-place team.
Finishing second in its group, Canada took on France in the fifth-place game on Thursday, June 7. The Reds went down 2-0, before Matthieu Choinière scored in the 75th minute to make it a one-goal game. But it was too little too late for the national team, who officially exits the tournament in sixth.
Previous games
Canada played its third and final game of the group stage on June 3 against Japan, with all five Impact players (James Pantemis, Clément Bahiya, Shamit Shome, Matthieu Choinière and Daniel Kinumbe) featuring in the starting line-up. A win, and the Reds moved on to the semi-final, a draw, and they would have to wait for Turkey and Portugal to exchange blows.
Canada started well, with Theo Blair opening the scoring in the ninth minute. But Japan, desperate to stay alive in this tournament as well, picked up the pace and was rewarded late in the game, in the 60th minute, when substitute Kaoru Mitoma found himself alone in front of net, giving Pantemis no chance.
In its second game of the tournament, Thursday against Turkey, Canada came out with a 1-0 win, thanks to a goal from Verhoevenm assisted by Impact player Shamit Shome. This tournament also marks the first international selection for Daniel Kinumbe, from the Impact’s U19 team.
Canada kicked off its tournament on May 28 with a game against Portugal. Goalkeeper James Pantemis started for Canada U21, behind Shamit Shome and Daniel Kinumbe, while Mathieu Choinière came on as a sub in the second half. Clément Bayiha didn’t play in Canada’s first game in which Pantemis earned the shutout in a 0-0 draw.
Jukka Raitala - Finland
International friendly
June 9 - Finland 2-0 Belarus
Jukka Raitala was selected by the Finland national team for an upcoming friendly against Belarus on June 9.
With Raitala in the starting 11, the Finns wasted no time getting on the board, scoring in the eighth minute after Jere Uronen was sent in alone behind the defense. Playing as a left-back, Raitala contributed to the team’s shutout until the 64th minute, when he was subbed off. Finland would add the insurance goal ten minutes after the change, thanks to a lovely buildup play from the back that was coolly finished by Moshtagh Yaghoubi.
The team also had a friendly on June 5 against Romania, losing 2-0, although Jukka Raitala wasn’t yet with the group for that one.
Raitala made his debut with the national team in 2009 in a friendly against Japan and has collected 38 caps for his national team since then, including playing an important role in numerous World Cup and Euro qualifying games.
