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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. 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 Tuukka Rask Jersey . - Their offence is underperforming. 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What do you think of DeMar DeRozans face after he hits a big shot, he was asked moments earlier.GREEN BAY, Wis. - Offensive lineman Josh Sitton could use a break.Unfortunately for him, the NFL schedule calls for Green Bay and its standout left guard to play the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night a€” just five days after the Packers last game.This didnt make him happy on Tuesday.I hate it, Sitton said.Life in the trenches can be enough of a grind with the pounding that occurs in the running game. That part of the Packers offence has been a problem, so far, ranking just 28th in the league at 73 yards per game.Tuesdays are when offensive linemen really feel the pounding. Its usually a day off in a normal work week in Green Bay.This is no normal week.I think its stupid. I think its all about money for the NFL, obviously, Sitton said regarding Thursday night games. Thats what this league is about, is about making money a€” which is fine. I like to make money, as well.But, yeah, its tough on your body, tough on your head, Sitton said.Every team has to go through it. In one area, this might be an opportune time for a Thursday game for the Packers given that their passing attack is on a roll.Aaron Rodgers threw for 302 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-17 win last week over Chicago. Receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb had two scoring catches apiece. Nelson leads the NFL with 33 catches for 459 yards.But running back Eddie Lacy, last years offensive rookie of the year, had another subpar day a€” and his 48 yards were still a season high. Lacy at least scored his first rushing touchdown of the year on one of his 17 carries.Yeah, I think we did some good things, but the offence is still not where we want it, Rodgers said. Obviously, wed like to have some more balance. We didnt run the ball real effectively.Sometimes its going to happen when you throw it so well, but weve got to be able to close out games running it a little more effectively.Lacy is averaging 3.0 yards per carry. Backup running back James Starks didnt get a carry, though coach Mike McCarthy said Tuesday that was the result of poor game management and that Starks should touchh the ball every game.ddddddddddddBut in the Packers hurry-up offence, in which tempo is key, sometimes the opportunities for clock-eating drives marked by grinding runs just arent there.When the Packers are in shotgun, Lacy is standing next to Rodgers. The bruising back isnt getting a head start of a few steps to build up momentum against oncoming defenders. Its an adjustment for Lacy. Last year, the Packers were more reliant on him with Rodgers out nearly half the season with a collarbone injury.Its not that I dont like running from out of shotgun or I dont like running from (the quarterback being) under centre, you have to do what you have to do. And this is just part of what you have to do, Lacy said.The easygoing Lacy would love to have more yards, but remains patient.The pass game has been crazy good the past few games so why mess with it? At the same time, youre going to need to be able to run the ball just to create balance and make sure the defence cant concentrate on stopping one thing, Lacy said.McCarthy sees the low production as a result of lack of volume. Green Bay had 18 running plays against Chicago, and hasnt had more than 22 in a game in the first four weeks.There are opportunities to both run effectively and maintain tempo, the Packers maintain.Well, the biggest thing within our run game is weve got to get the attempts up, so we need to keep generating first downs, McCarthy said. Anytime you have a successful run game, youre definitely pushing 30 attempts.Sitton, looking a bit worn while sitting at his locker, offered his unique view about the lack of production on the ground.It was simple and to the point. He sounded tired.Were not blocking good enough. The running backs arent running good enough. The quarterback is not making the right check all the time. Receivers arent making their blocks good enough, Sitton said. 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