MADRID, Spain - Canadian midfielder Julian de Guzman blasted the Canadian Soccer Association on Thursday, saying the organization does not take the game seriously, and that led the team to play like "a bunch of amateurs" in its failed bid to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

De Guzman, a midfielder with Spanish club Deportivo La Coruna, told The Associated Press that Canada's national team would never succeed internationally until major changes are made. He noted that the federation has only scheduled one friendly -- against Cyprus on May 30 -- in preparation for this July's Gold Cup, the CONCACAF region's championship tournament.

"They're not going in to win it. We're going to play one game in May to prepare for the Gold Cup? How real are you being trying to compete at a high level internationally?" De Guzman said. "It feels like we're taking a step backwards. That's the feeling in the whole association. They lack knowledge about the present game."

CSA spokesman Richard Scott told The Canadian Press he preferred not to comment, although he did say the team will play more than one friendly before the Gold Cup. Peter Montopoli, the CSA's general secretary, did not immediately return a phone message.

When contacted by The Associated Press, Canadian team manager Morgan Quarry said he had no comment.

De Guzman is the most recent Canadian player that has been vocal in asking for a change in the way the sport is run in Canada. Veterans Jim Brennan and Dwayne DeRosario and goalie Greg Sutton have already spoken out about their dissatisfaction with the men's program.

Some of the criticism was aimed at a lack of funding. The CSA spent $2.4 million on the men's team in 2008, up from $1.3 million the previous year.

Canada, ranked No. 9 in the region and 86th overall, has already been eliminated from qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa after a dismal performance left it last in its group behind Honduras, Mexico and Jamaica. It failed to win a match, earning only two draws in six matches.

"The players we have were good enough to make the World Cup, I don't care what anyone says," said De Guzman, who was selected as Canada's best player in 2008. "I heard statements from the coach where he said the team wasn't good enough ... but this team for me was the best team, but it was just the way he went about it, we went about it like a bunch of amateurs."

The team is coached by Dale Mitchell, a former international who represented Canada at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico -- the country's only appearance at football's top tournament. He also played in the North American Soccer League.

CONCACAF said the conflict is between De Guzman and the Canadian Soccer Association.

"This matter is an internal affair within the Canadian federation and CONCACAF has no place commenting on it," CONCACAF spokesman Brian Trusdell said.

De Guzman, who has made 35 appearances for Canada and led the team to the Gold Cup semifinals in 2007, said he would never refuse a call-up -- even during his off-season break from playing in Europe -- and took great pride in playing for his country, although he feared that motivation would be absent at the Gold Cup unless some changes were made.

"You're not going to make everyone happy if you don't have a proper plan about going about it," the 27-year-old Toronto native said. "But if they're going to just go about it like amateurs and waste our time then it doesn't really make it interesting for all the guys. We're not playing a provincial tournament here, this is a different level of football and they're taking it like a provincial tournament."

De Guzman said he has voiced his concerns to the CSA but hasn't heard any response.

"They should bring everything down and start again. They know what needs to be done but it's like, 'Uh, it might cost a bit too much,' or they don't want to make too much effort," De Guzman said. "I don't know. I'm lost for ideas right now. I already gave all my ideas out and they put them in their back pocket and sat on it."

De Guzman's younger brother, Jonathan, ditched a chance to pursue his international career with Canada, opting instead for the Netherlands after coming up through Feyenoord's academy.

The 21-year-old Jonathan De Guzman plays for Netherlands' under-21 team and featured at last year's Beijing Olympics.

De Guzman's contract with Deportivo runs out at the end of this season and, despite listing Toronto FC as one of his favourite clubs on the CSA's website, he has no intention of returning to North America for at least another five years.

"It's too early. I'm in my prime right now," De Guzman said. "I don't know how many Canadians have been able to experience this at this level. I need to continue to do it as long as I can."

De Guzman said he was not surprised by David Beckham's reluctance to leave AC Milan to return to Major League Soccer, either.

"It's not surprising at all," the Canadian said. "That's his level of football to be honest, his bread and butter. He's got a dilemma."

-- With files from The Canadian Press.