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When Toronto FC first started playing, it helped create a fanbase of the Canadian men's national team. Games have more and more fans in the red and white of their home soil instead of the colors of the away team. Players like Jim Brennan helped the national team profile in bringing fans. It's far from where it was in 1997 when Canada played Turkey in Montreal and Iran in Toronto where away fans and players felt right at home. However, the game has turned a corner, it's easier to get Canada fans thanks to Toronto FC, even though work is not done yet. 4 years ago, Canadians were ole'd at home after losing 1-2 in Montreal against Honduras. However, time is quickly changing. A local boy is shining while playing for his local team and people are talking about his call-up to the senior team and a francophone network will pick the next game of the national team.
Patrice Bernier's inclusion in the latest 21-men squad for the home and away against Panama has brought interest to the national squad. Even though there were many Impact players who were called before by the national team like Adam Braz Gabriel Gervais, Nevio Pizzolitto and Greg Sutton, media didn't cover it as much even when the national team was in Montreal. The fact that Montreal has a MLS team has put the Impact on par and even in front of the Alouettes. Bernier has been one of the best players if not the best on a team that is exceeding expectations of an expansion team. Some people in Montreal are interested what their local boy will do for the national team for the first time because of is inclusion. It will only help to grow interest in the national team in la Belle Province. It's hard to see the home country supported less than it was on that September night at Stade Saputo. It will only get better and if Bernier performs with the national team the way he is doing right now with his club, it could bring the national team support to a level that could rival Toronto in a few years.
It's always nice to talk about it, but work needed to be done to reach more the francophone fans. One thing that needed to be a done is that the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) needs to have a French national broadcaster which would raise it even more. For the first time since I can even remember, the game will be available in French on TVA Sports. A local broadcaster does wonders because people see it and they'll know more about the team. Gerry Dobson and Craig Forrest have done it for a long time and you need that French voice of Canadian soccer. Frederic Lord and Olivier Brett have done a great job with few resources for Impact games, especially the games away from Montreal. They will be able to help the cause of les Rouges for French speaking people.
Now that Patrice Bernier is back in the national fold, the profile of the senior men's team has been raised and it will hopefully continue. The Impact's ascension to MLS has given the club more exposure and will help in bringing fans who know a player like Bernier. Also, the inclusion of a French broadcast will grow the game in la Belle Province. TVA Sports has given more exposure to local soccer. The burning question is whether if the interest would stand if there was an absence of Impact players on the senior team. Perhaps they'll discover other players from the province like Olivier Occéan, who has never played for the Impact, and maybe his name will be known by more soccer people in Québec.
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