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Melissa Tancredi is a two-time Olympian and proud of it, no doubt. The forward from Ancaster, Ontario has scored some pretty great goals during her National Team career, like the recent bullet past Hope Solo, but none have been more important than the one four years ago. It was Tancredi's decisive goal against Mexico that qualified Canada for Beijing 2008, finally making their dreams come true.
After plying her trade as a forward and converted defender at the University of Notre Dame (2001-2004), Tancredi's professional career has taken her to the United States and Sweden, most recently to Dalsjöfors GoIF of Sweden's top-tier Damallsvenskan. If you've ever doubted her psychical presence on the field, then you haven't heard about the seven times she's broken her nose. (Seriously… seriously!)
As one of twelve Canadians making their second Olympic appearances, a member of the 2007 and 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup squads and an eight-year veteran with 18 international goals (the second highest among active Canadian Women), Tancredi is among the pillars of the National Team. During his recent media call, although head coach John Herdman wouldn't specify who's taken up leadership roles on the team, Tancredi's words about players taking responsibility for their performances and becoming a more dynamic team demonstrate her growth as a player as well as the sports psychology of Dr. Ceri Evans that Herdman's introduced to the program.
RedNationOnline recently caught up with Tancredi during the CanWNT's final stage of Olympic preparations before they headed off to England.
RedNationOnline: How have the Swiss Alps been treating you guys?
Melissa Tancredi: Oh, it's pretty difficult being here. No, it's absolutely gorgeous. It's a pretty cool time. It's one of my dreams [to visit the Swiss Alps], so I'm happy to be here.
RNO: And congratulations on making the Olympic team once again.
MT: Thank you. Thank you very much.
RNO: Coming up you've got your Olympic opponents: Japan, South Africa and Sweden. What's the scouting report on them?
MT: With Japan, it's difficult not to know anything about them. They're one of the best in the world. I think they're a smart, quick and very organized team. Defensively, we need to put up a really, really good performance and take any opportunities we have [to score] and, hopefully, finish them.
South Africa, we don't know much about them. They'll likely be a very athletic team. You never know what you're going to get with South Africa, but I'd guess they're like Colombia in that they're really quick, skillful on the ball and they're dangerous in transition. I think we need to establish our attack on them.
Sweden is one of the most organized teams we've played in a while. Their midfield is very, very strong and I think whoever wins the midfield in that game is going to win, whoever dominates the centre. It's going to be hard for us to stop [striker] Lotta [Schelin]; she's world class. If we play well and win the middle, take our opportunities, we'll do fine against Sweden.
RNO: What's going on in your mind right now? It's your second Olympics. How are you feeling, how's the team feeling?
MT: Honestly, it's a totally different feeling for me [compared to the first Olympics]; I'm very comfortable right now. Maybe it's the fact that I'm in the Alps? My mind right now is on the [Match World Women's Cup]: we've got New Zealand and Brazil and these are huge tests for us. We have a lot of tweaking or refining of our performance. It's just getting the small things, the details just right and perfecting those before we head to the Olympics.
But I'm very excited to be a two-time Olympian. It's pretty cool to say that. I'm looking forward to London and looking forward to putting on a good show for Canada.
RNO: You mentioned some of the tweaking that the team might have to do. With the last few friendlies that you've had - China, USA and Colombia - they all ended up as one goal games. Is that a point of concern or anything?
MT: I wouldn't say it's a concern. I think we have different goals [to achieve] in every single game. It wasn't about the outcomes. John [Herdman] made that clear to us about trying new things and getting other things down pat. We're in and out of different formations defensively and offensively and it's nice to have those formations. It's honestly just about learning how to play together and being on the same page no matter what [formation] we're playing, how we're playing. Every single game is a different game. I think the results were there; we had good results in every single one of those games and I think that's what we need to take away from that.
RNO: The team lined up in a 4-4-2 in the friendly against the US, while it was more of a 4-2-3-1 during CONCACAF Olympic Qualifiers with you as one of the strikers and Christine Sinclair as the attacking mid. Is that what we'll be expecting in future games?
MT: We honestly don't know what to expect. That's one of our strengths right now- that we aren't just a one dimensional team. We're working on different formations and the game plan changes right before the game, so the key to having these preparation games is to practice everything and work out all the kinks.
I don't think we can expect anything in particular with our team. I can't speak about the specifics. But that's been a part of our growth process; it's about learning different formations, playing new positions and accepting what the game needs. Maybe I'm not on the field, maybe someone else is on the field. It's a brand new way of looking at football.
RNO: Now with John as a coach, do you think your role on the team has changed in any way?
MT: I don't think my role has changed. It's the same role, but it's just me getting better at it and learning. It's still a learning experience for me. I'm 30 years-old, but I'm taking away a lot from this staff. I've brought a lot more depth to my game.
It's the type of environment where you're supported and allowed to just play. It's proven to be such a beneficial aspect to our game. We're very dangerous right now no matter who's on the field. Defensively, we're pretty sound.
John's got a way of bringing out the best in everyone and the details and putting it on us; we're responsible for our game. Every practice we go over film in order to get better. He's done a great job putting the responsibility on us and helping us grow in that manner.
RNO: On the point of having great performances, you scored a heck of a goal against Hope Solo in that US friendly. Can you walk us through that goal?
MT: Absolutely. It was probably in an untimely part of the game. The momentum wasn't really shifting our way. Sincy [Sinclair] had a give-and-go in the middle with Dee [Diana Matheson]. I was running at their back four to the right of Mittsy [Heather Mitts]. I knew that Sincy was going to cut it through, but I just didn't know how well she'd be looking to do it. She gave a little snazzy ball with the outside of her foot and I made a run and cut in towards Hope. I saw her then- she kind of hesitated- she wanted to come out but then she planted. I knew I had her beat right there. I don't think she really knew where she was relative to the net. I just hit it as hard as I could with my left foot and just smoked the crossbar and it went in.
RNO: I've seen your family out at some of the friendlies. You have quite the large contingent led by your Dad in his construction hat and flag.
MT: Embarrassing! They're all coming.
RNO: They're joining you in England soon?
MT: Yeah, I'm having about a group of 10 people coming. That will be pretty crazy.
RNO: It must have been nice being at home this time around during training camp, relatively at home since it was in Canada, in Vancouver.
MT: Absolutely. I wasn't there for most of the time [because of club commitments], but just having our family be able to come to a friendly within Canada is a huge treat for them. Usually they're travelling all over the world and they don't mind doing it, but it was nice to be in Moncton.
It'll even be nice to be in London, which is only a 5 hour flight away for them. It'll be great to have them and I love their support they always give me. I think they'd fly anywhere, but London is probably a great place for them. I don't think they've been there, so it'll be nice to go somewhere new for them.
RNO: Please tell me you eventually got Silken Laumann's autograph.
MT: Oh, yeah, I did! Finally, I did out of all that harassment. I think if Erin [McLeod] didn't do it then Candace [Chapman] would have had me covered.
RNO: If not then you probably would have tackled Drake [Editor's note: they were on the same flight] as a second choice.
MT: Exactly! I would have made the headlines somehow!
While pursuing a career in non-profit event planning and fundraising, Lissa provides in depth coverage of the CanWNT for All White Kit and RedNation.
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