On Tuesday, just as we should be celebrating the kickoff of a third FIFA tournament on Canadian soil in just over a decade (how many have you hosted in this same period, England?), the age-old argument popped up yet again. Cheap Nike Air Force 1 From China . You know the one. Canada plays a home game and the supporters of our opponent out-sing, out-chant and outright embarrass our soccer humble selves. Or do they? The latest case in point was Tuesday evening and - depending on which newspaper you read or website your frequent - there was either 500 or as many as 1,000 Ghanaians doing their level best to recreate the scenes of the 40,000 seat capacity national soccer stadium in Accra as they cheered on their Black Princesses to the 1-0 victory over the host nation. Lets be clear here - no manner of moaning and laying blame with the Canadian Soccer Association will change this. Football has endured in the hearts, minds and pulsating veins of most, if not all the 200-plus nations which make up planet FIFA, for generations. The beautiful game is a birthright. A lifestyle. Then factor in our splendidly diverse population - comprised of people from these very same FIFA nations. This holds especially true for all our major cities and urban areas, most of which are located by the border. Its why back in 2008, Saputo Stadium was overwhelmed by the unfamiliar blue of Honduras. A country whose citizens flocked in multitudes in support of their nation at no less a football event than a crucial World Cup qualifier. Not so much a travelling support from Tegucigalpa or the murder capital of the world San Pedro Sula. The car parks told the story as you saw license plates from numerous provinces and from as far away as those unfashionable states made famous by the Coen brothers. As some obsessively do the CSA, do we also blame with the Canadian Border Services Agency for this? Personally, I much prefer to take the read of our U-20 head coach Andrew Olivieri who spoke with TSN 690 Thursday evening. Olivieri didnt think there was any issue on Tuesday. "I dont think it was much of a problem at all, I think thats expected," he stated. "Anywhere you go there will always be visiting fans." Olivieri was spot on with his assessment of how things are slowly, but surely, improving soccer culture-wise - as Canadians in higher numbers and increasing decibels become emotionally connected to the worlds game. "You know what a few years ago there may be would have been more Ghanaians than Canadian fans," he added. "The progress our game has made has been fantastic, and the support we have been getting has been fantastic." This was clearly evidenced, in that very same stadium as Tuesdays game versus Ghana, on so many occasions during the Brazil 2014 qualification. It was a watershed moment off the pitch for the sport in Canada. Even the players at times seemed overwhelmed with the support. The scenes and sounds were unprecedented. Fever Pitch indeed. Last springs encounter between the London 2012 semi-final foes was much more memorable for what was happening on the terraces than on the pitch. Irony is a huge force for football supporters. My, how the 22,000 plus who packed into BMO Field let the 2011 World Cup runners up know this was anything but a friendly! Those days have been over since Old Trafford. Long gone are those days the CSA would look to pack the stands with the supporters of our opponents. Or organize half-time entertainment that was more in keeping with the traditions of the visiting nation. If the locals werent rushing to the box office and if having Ziggy Marley scrimmage with the mens national team during a media event 48 hours before 2006s Labour Day friendly versus Jamaica in Montreal would help inflate numbers then so be it. Im no CSA apologist, but what needs to be factored in to those less than halcyon days was the fact the governing body was so utterly dependent on ticket sales. Whilst across the hallways of Soccer House on Metcalfe Street, the phones in the sponsorship and partner departments werent exactly ringing off the hook. Although I would have preferred to have seen ex-pat Canadians in the same number and beer drinking volume as our Australian cousins during last falls MNT game in London we cant deny the fact our soccer culture is maturing. We are a developing soccer nation that will always hit bumps in the road on and off the pitch. And just like when a member of the family, a friend or close work colleague hits experiences adversity our job is simply to support and encourage. The same holds true for our football fandom. Its why were referred to as loyal supporters. None more so in the Canadian national team sense, than that truly inspiring football collective, The Voyageurs. Not sure the American Outlaws or for that matter many other supporter groups across planet FIFA can lay claim that their national domestic cup competition is named for them. My, how much I look forward to a World Cup Finals for Canada, when - just like in 1967 - the travelling Celtic support descended on Lisbon for the European Cup Final. So much did they enjoy their visit many Celtic supporters stayed on to take up residency in the Portuguese capital. Football culture at its most supreme. Makes you wonder how many eight-year old kids are running round the streets of Istanbul with John Lennon accents. In the meantime, our Under 20s are back on the pitch this evening. Heres to a packed and frenzied house as we go in search of a much needed three points. Ill sure to be wearing red and be rather loud in the stands, along with Baby Bear when we play our final group game in Montreal next Tuesday evening. As will most of her club teammates. Not confirmed at this point if North Korea has been given its own supporters section. Noel.Butler@BellMedia.ca @TheSoccerNoel on Twitter Nike Air Force 1 Sale . -- Damian Lillard couldnt believe when he got a clear look at the rim. Wholesale Nike Air Force 1 For Sale . This week they discuss Russias mens hockey team, the ineptitude of the IOC handling the Nicklas Backstrom situation, John Tortorellas many apologies, and Canadas strong showing in curling. http://www.airforce1wholesale.com/ .com) - Guard Greivis Vasquez and forward Patrick Patterson, two key pieces to the Toronto Raptors run to an Atlantic Division title in 2013-14, were both given qualifying offers by the team on Saturday.SAN DIEGO -- Andrew Cashner was back on the mound for the San Diego Padres, who found just enough offence late in the game to beat the Washington Nationals. Yonder Alonso homered with two outs in the ninth inning to tie the game and Cameron Maybin hit an RBI bloop single with two outs in the 11th to give the Padres a 4-3 victory Saturday night. Chase Headley started the winning rally when he singled to left with two outs off Craig Stammen (0-2). Alonso walked before Maybin singled in front of right-fielder Jayson Werth. Headley easily beat the throw home. "I managed to get just enough bat on it," Maybin said. "It feels real great. Were grinding, man. It was bigger to get a win tonight. Weve been scuffling but weve been battling every night. For me it was huge because we have a chance to win the series tomorrow." Joaquin Benoit (2-0) pitched a perfect 11th for the win. Alonso tied the game at 3 in the ninth when he homered into the Jack Daniels party deck atop the right-field wall on a 1-1 pitch from Rafael Soriano. It was Alonsos fifth homer and Sorianos second blown save in 14 opportunities. Alonsos shot denied Washington rookie Blake Treinen his first big league win. Treinen was on track for the win after Ian Desmond hit a 432-foot, two-run home run with two outs in the seventh inning to give the Nationals a 3-2 lead. Cashner left with a 2-0 lead after six innings in his return from the disabled list. The tall Texan allowed only two hits, struck out five and walked one on 70 pitches. Out since mid-May with a sore right elbow, Cashner retired his final 16 batters and lowered his ERA to 2.13. "Its good having him back out there," Maybin said. "Hes a bulldog. Were confident whenever that guys out there." Cashner got in trouble in the first inning when the Nationals had runners on second and third with one out. But catcher Rene Rivera threw out Kevin Frandsen when he strayed too far off third and Ryan Zimmerman forced Adam LaRoche at second to end the inning. "It was fun to get back," Cashner said. "First inning there was a little trouble, buut it was a big throw by Rene getting that out there. Cheap Nike Air Force 1. I think my fastball had the most movement Ive had in a long time." Nick Vincent replaced Cashner and surrendered the lead in a span of five batters. LaRoche doubled with one out and scored on Ryan Zimmermans double to right. With two outs, Desmond homered well over the 396 sign in centre field. The Padres had the potential winning run on second after Rivera doubled off the left-field wall with one out in the 10th. Chris Denorfia struck out and Everth Cabrera flied out to left. Rivera was stranded at third in the eighth after he doubled to left and was sacrificed by pinch-hitter Denorfia. Cabrera flied out to centre and Carlos Quentin, pinch-hitting for left-hander Will Venable against righty Tyler Clippard, struck out. Treinen was making his third career start. He allowed two runs and five hits in six innings, struck out one and walked one. After his last start on May 22 his spot was skipped due to two days off. San Diego took a 2-0 lead against the rookie in the fourth on RBI doubles by Headley and Maybin. "I felt good physically," Treinen said. "I felt like I was getting myself in trouble by getting behind in counts. But I made pitches when I needed to and then in that one inning I threw some pitches out over the plate." NOTES: The Padres drafted Johnny Manziel, the Cleveland Browns quarterback and 2012 Heisman Trophy winner while at Texas A&M, in the 28th round of the MLB draft, the 837th player taken. ... The Nationals drafted Ryan Ripken, the son of Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., in the 15th round. ... Nationals 3B Anthony Rendon sat out with a sore right hand. He was struck trying to field Carlos Quentins smash in the fourth inning and committed a throwing error. He committed a fielding error the next inning. Manager Matt Williams said Rendons hand was swollen and "pretty sore." ... To make room for Cashner, LHP Jason Lane was designated for assignment. ... The series concludes Sunday when RHP Jordan Zimmermann (4-2, 3.59) is scheduled to start against lefty Eric Stults (2-6, 5.03). ' ' '