It might not be Brazil, but the World Class Players (WCP) World Cup in Regina this month is giving 18 members of Yorkton United FC a chance to experience what it's like to represent a soccer nation in an international tournament.
That's because members of the Yorkton United under-12 and under-10 teams have joined forces to represent Germany in the WCP World Cup U-12 boys division that started on Thursday, April third.
The WCP World Cup is a soccer tournament held in larger cities that enables Canadian soccer players to represent countries other than their own on the 'international stage' in a month-long tournament in the style of the FIFA World Cup; something that Team Germany coach Andy Wyatt feels is a great experience for the players. "The kids are really enjoying representing the country of Germany and learning a little bit about the German culture," said Wyatt. "They are also enjoying the atmosphere and everything involved with this one-of-a-kind tournament such as the cheers that we do in German."
First three games
The tournament got off to a rocky start for the German squad as they faced off against defending champion Argentina in U-12 action.
The veteran Argentina side exploited a German team intimidated by the large crowd and atmosphere to rally for five goals while keeping the dangerous German offence off the board for a 5-0 whitewashing.
"They were intimidated a little bit by the crowd. There was quite a few people there," offered head coach Wyatt. "The atmosphere, which is something that is completely different from anything soccer wise in Saskatchewan, got to them a bit as well as it's a real loud atmosphere. There is music going and it's a lot bigger field that the kids have to play on as well."
However the Germans rebounded well handing India a 5-2 defeat in game two on Sunday, April Sixth thanks to a pair of goals by Austin Andres. Zachary Wasylyshen, Nicholas Nesseth and Jairus Pellatt also found the back of the Indian net while India could only muster two goals in reply, one each by Luke Washenfelder and Rohin Kapila.
The Yorkton-based German club upped their record to 2-1 on Sunday, April 13 when they trounced Â鶹´«Ã½AV Africa 7-0. Tegean Werner led the German charge with a pair of goals while singles came from Brett Switzer, Noah Schneider, Brayden Wasylyniuk, Justin Adam and Wasylyshen.
The 2-1 record after the weekend leaves Germany in a three-way tie for second overall with Argentina and India with three games to go in group play.
The next action for Germany will be this Wednesday when they take on undefeated England (3-0).
The Germans will then take on Bosnia (1-2) before finishing off their round-robin play against Canada (0-1). All games will take place at Regina's Credit Union EventPlex.
