Head coach John Herdman announced the 20-player squad that will compete for one of two berths to the 2012 London Olympics at the CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifiers in Vancouver.
The roster features a core group of 16 players who represented Canada at this summer's FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany, as well as 14 who won Canada's first gold in Women's Football in October's Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Canada opens their group stage of play against Haiti (January 19), Cuba (January 21) and Costa Rica (January 23). Group B features the United States, Mexico, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic. The top two teams from each group will move on to the semi-finals (January 27) with the respective winners of those games advancing to the finals (January 29) and the Olympics. All matches will be played at BC Place Stadium and broadcasted by Rogers Sportsnet.
Herdman is confident that he's selected the best group of players who will take Canada to next year's Olympics, "it’s certainly an event that we have to go and win – and with that, we had to pick a squad that we felt would deliver us that outcome."
Herdman also believes that the team will rebound from the disappointing WWC. With the past behind them, all players are making great strides towards CONCACAF Qualifiers. In his four month tenure, he's "been able to watch some senior players develop and add new things to their games. A lot of that has come down to the fact that [the players] looked at what they have done, recognized what they have done in the past probably hasn’t been good enough and shed an old skin to move towards something new."
Leading the team is long-time captain Christine Sinclair, who holds CanWNT records in appearances (168) and goals (120). It was Sinclair's 88th minute equalizer at the Pan Am Finals against Brazil that sent the game into over-time and eventually PKs. She also struck the game winning goal (2-1 final score) in last month's internationally friendly against Sweden in the 91st minute.
The contingent of veterans also includes goalkeepers Karina LeBlanc (31 years-old, 91 caps) and Erin McLeod (28 years-old, 65 caps). Herdman notes that he has yet to pick his #1 for Olympic Qualifiers and that the decision will be circumstantial. LeBlanc and McLeod have shared the starting spot since the early 2000s, although McLeod has claimed the role in major tournaments as of late (2007 and 2011 WWC and 2008 Olympics).
No major tournament roster announcements would be complete without a few surprises. Emily Zurrer (24 years old, 50 caps), one-half of Canada's starting centre-back pairing, was left off the team. Herdman described it as a "tough decision", but he expects Zurrer to compete for a spot on the Olympic roster should the team qualify.
Injuries have plagued a few players. Left-back Marie-Eve Nault made her Herdman era camp debut in early December after returning from surgery in the fall. Striker Jonelle Filigno strained her right Achilles’ tendon during her college season at Rutgers University and underwent surgery last week. Both players have not been rostered for Qualifiers.
On the other hand, Diana Matheson (27 years-old, 130 caps) is returning from injury in time to be named to the final squad. The midfield stalwart had surgery in November to deal with a nagging injury that worsened over the year. "It's left her recovery tight through to the Qualifiers," said Herdman, "but we're still working hard behind the scenes so the medical team can get her fit and right for the opening game."
Although Herdman noted that Qualifiers isn't "one of those events where you can start testing and developing players," he's still willing to give a few young players an opportunity. With only 4 caps under her belt, 21 year-old Chelsea Buckland managed to impress the coaching staff in November's camp. "She moves well, the timing of her movement is good and she reads the game well," said Herdman. Above all, he feels that Buckland fits into the team's style of play, "with two centre forwards, she really understands how to work with and for another forward." In last month's international friendly against Sweden, Buckland entered the match in the 73rd minute and proceeded to score just two minutes later, a crucial equalizer in a game that Canada eventually went on to win.
One hurdle that Herdman hopes the team will overcome is "not falling into a default of the ball being sent down the pitch quite aimlessly." Herdman points to players in more defensive roles as having "a shift in mindset" to becoming more patient on the ball.
The importance of qualifying for the Olympics is magnified by the fact that the CONCACAF tournament is being played at home. (Six members of the roster hail from British Columbia). Herdman recognizes the pressure of playing on home soil, but he also sees this as motivation for the team, "these players know they have to achieve something big and they would love to do it in their home country. I think that is a real benefit in terms of the excitement that will drive them to work even harder."
2012 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Roster
GK- Karina LeBlanc | USA / Sky Blue FC
GK- Erin McLeod | SWE / Dalsjöfors G.o.I.F.
CB- Candace Chapman | USA / Sky Blue FC
CB- Carmelina Moscato | SWE / Piteå IF
CB- Shannon Woeller | USA / Rutgers University
FB- Melanie Booth | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
FB- Robyn Gayle | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
FB- Lauren Sesselmann | USA / Atlanta Beat
FB- Chelsea Stewart | USA / UCLA
FB- Rhian Wilkinson | NOR / Lillestrøm SK Kvinner
M- Kaylyn Kyle | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
M- Diana Matheson | NOR / Lillestrøm SK Kvinner
M- Kelly Parker | USA / Atlanta Beat
M- Sophie Schmidt | USA / magicJack
M- Desiree Scott | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
M- Brittany Timko | Unattached / sans club
F- Chelsea Buckland | USA / Oregon State University
F- Christina Julien | CAN / Ottawa Fury
F- Christine Sinclair | USA / Western New York Flash
F- Melissa Tancredi | SWE / Piteå IF
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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