Canada’s time to shine

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This article was published 29/05/2015 (4097 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup could not have come at a better time.

Twelve months prior, the men had contested a well-near unwatchable tournament in South Africa, and the exercise in tedium that was the Copa America had just kicked off in Argentina.

But the same day La Albiceleste and Bolivia opened the South American championship with a dreadful 1-1 draw, an imperious Homare Sawa struck a hat-trick for Japan against Mexico, and a few hours later Jessica Clark scored an 81st-minute winner to complete England’s comeback against New Zealand.

It was the Germany World Cup that reminded soccer fans of the international game’s appeal, and it just happened to be women who put on the show.

At another time it might have been a men’s competition, such as the European Championship or Asian Cup — not that it matters.

But let’s address gender from the get-go before quickly and permanently washing our hands of the matter.

Women’s sport is no more or less sport than men’s sport is sport, and vice versa. The intricacies of one are what makes it unique to the other, and there is enjoyment to be found in those differences. Sport, in this as much as anything else, mimics life.

(And it’s worth pointing out both girls and boys are playing soccer in record numbers in Canada, to the detriment of more costly and dangerous youth activities such as hockey and football.)

What we have, then, is an event of considerable magnitude on our doorstep — physically and temporally. The 2015 World Cup is taking place right here, in six Canadian cities including Winnipeg, and begins June 6 with Canada’s match against China in Edmonton.

With the exceptions of the Olympic Games of 1976, 1988 and 2010 — and perhaps including them — the eyes of the sporting world will be fixed on this country like never before.

It’s a tremendously exciting prospect, and one that carries with it no small amount of responsibility.

To that end, our primary obligation is to our cities — to project them, and the people who live in them, in the best light possible, welcoming visitors to our neighbourhoods and helping the travelling teams feel at home.

Given the manner in which Manitobans embraced and supported Kazakhstan’s short-supplied world junior hockey team in 1999, stories of Winnipeg hospitality will likely be criss-crossing the globe by August.

Then there is our own, Canadian national team — one that will need all the support in can get over the next few weeks. After facing China the Canadians will play 2012 Olympic quarter-finalists New Zealand before wrapping up their Group A schedule against an excellent Netherlands side that bested Scotland and Italy in qualifying.

The road will only get tougher from there, with the likes of Norway, England and Switzerland perhaps awaiting in the round of 16. And we’ve yet to mention the favourites: true contenders such as Brazil, Germany, Japan and the United States.

For Canada to experience success on home soil — and success for this team would be a semifinal berth — they need our goodwill, our attention and our voices. They need us pushing them to excellence from our homes, our local pubs and our stadiums. Because without us they’re simply not good enough to win the title. That’s just a fact.

But here’s the good news: We can be part of something special — actually a part of it. We can help create those next, memorable moments that will live on well past the trophy presentation. And we can give the world something inimitably Canadian, something Winnipeg.

This World Cup could not have come at a better time. And it’s our time. All of ours.

jerradpeters@gmail.com

Twitter: @JerradPeters

 

Team Canada – Where they’re from

Team Canada – Where they’ve been

Group A:

Canada
China
Netherlands
New Zealand

Simmering beneath the surface of this Women’s World Cup will be the subtextual narrative of… the surface. While a players’ complaint filed with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario was withdrawn in January the matter of this tournament being contested on turf, as opposed to the grass-laid men’s World Cup, just won’t go away, and injuries or major incidents that result from the artificial playing field will doubtless overshadow whatever else transpires on the pitch. Next Saturday Canada and China will kick off the competition on the newly-installed turf at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium, and if the score is the dominant story from the match it will be because the pitch held up.

The favourite:

Canada is the host nation and are the top-ranked team in Group A. In captain Christine Sinclair they have one of the most prolific scorers in history leading the line, and both Melissa Tancredi and Jonelle Filigno will threaten the opposition net as well. Nineteen-year-old defender Kadeisha Buchanan starred for her country in the May 2014 friendly against the United States here in Winnipeg, and another teenager — midfielder Jessie Fleming, who recently turned 17 — scored in a March encounter with Scotland.

The pack:

Each of China, The Netherlands and New Zealand will challenge for a spot in the round of 16, and one will likely progress among the group stages’ best third-placed sides as well. China ­— finalists in 1999 (they lost to the United States on penalties) — finished third at the 2014 Asian Cup, where striker Yang Li led the field with six goals. The up-and-coming Dutch needed a playoff to punch their ticket to Canada, although in Vivianne Miedema they have one of the more exciting prospects in the game. New Zealand, meanwhile, is where Canada manager John Herdman cut his teeth. The Football Ferns were quarter-finalists at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Don’t be surprised if:

The Netherlands are World Cup newbies, but they’re trending in the right direction and are likely to be one of the better teams to watch over the next few weeks. Their opening match against New Zealand will be vital to their momentum, but if they can take even a point they’ll surely get out of the bracket, and maybe even win it.

Winnipeg connection:

Canada midfielder Desiree Scott, known as “The Destroyer,” will be looking to halt opposition attacks before they reach the back four.

Projection:

Canada, The Netherlands and New Zealand progress.

 

Group B:

Germany
Ivory Coast
Norway
Thailand

Germany hosted the 2011 World Cup and went into it as defending, back-to-back champions. But after finishing atop their group with a perfect record they went out at the quarter-final stage to Japan, who eventually lifted the trophy. Because of the early exit they failed to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games. This tournament is about redemption, and having undergone a generational change in recent years they’ll not be short of the hunger required to attain it.

The favourite:

Germany’s Bundesliga is the best league in the world, and its clubs have dominated the Champions League, winning four of a possible six titles. The past two winners of the FIFA World Player of the Year award are also German, although Nadine Kessler, who won the gong for 2014, will miss the World Cup with a knee injury. In the 27-year-old’s absence the attention will fall on Frankfurt striker Celia Sasic, who led both the Bundesliga and Champions League in scoring last season.

The pack:

Ivory Coast are one of eight teams making their World Cup debut in Canada. They’ve also contested a pair of African Championships, finishing third at the 2014 instalment. Thailand slipped into the tournament after coming in fifth at last year’s Asian Cup where they were shellacked by both China and South Korea before edging Myanmar and Vietnam. Norway — world champions in 1995 — are easily the second-best team in this section and will be showcasing 19-year-old striker Ada Hegerberg, who is coming off a breakout season at Lyon.

Don’t be surprised if:

The Hegerberg sister act provides a fascinating subtext to Group B. While Ada is the in-form goal scorer, Andrine, who was a runner-up at the Under-19 European Championship in 2011, keeps things ticking in the centre of the park. They should help Norway give Germany a run for its money on June 11 in Ottawa.

Winnipeg connection:

Two time world champions Germany will face Thailand at Winnipeg’s Investors Group Field on June 15.

Projection:

Germany and Norway progress.

 

Group C:

Cameroon
Ecuador
Japan
Switzerland

This is Homare Sawa’s swan song. The 36-year-old midfielder — FIFA World Player of the Year for 2011 — came out of international retirement to help Japan win the 2014 Asian Cup, and she arrives in Canada as her country’s most-capped player and top goal scorer. Already a member of the Asian Football Hall of Fame, she has a flair for the dramatic and scored in both the semifinal and final of the 2011 World Cup. Her latter goal, in the 117th minute against the United States, forced the penalty shootout her side would end up winning.

The favourite:

This is the holders’ group to lose. None of their Group C opponents has near the international experience of the Nadeshiko Japan, never mind the culture of winning. Within a four-year period Japan have lifted the World Cup, won the Asian Cup and claimed an Olympic silver medal. And the success is all wrapped up in the person of Sawa, who will be gracing the big stage for the final time in Canada.

The pack:

Cameroon, Ecuador and Switzerland have exactly zero World Cup appearances between them, but of the three, it’s the Swiss who look the most likely to finish runners-up to Japan in the bracket. Switzerland went unbeaten in qualifying — conceding just once in 10 matches — and captain Caroline Abbe won the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich this spring. Midfielder Fabienne Humm also had a notable season with Zurich and finished among the top goal scorers in the Champions League. Cameroon booked their place in the World Cup after coming in second at the African Championship, while Ecuador needed a stoppage-time winner to edge Trinidad and Tobago in a two-legged, intercontinental playoff.

Don’t be surprised if:

The June 8 showdown between Japan and Switzerland in Vancouver will set the tone in Group C. A Swiss win would constitute an upset — albeit a minor one — but topping the bracket would see them face one of the third-place finishers in the round of 16. From there, who knows?

Winnipeg connection:

Sawa and Japan will take on Ecuador at Winnipeg’s Investors Group Field on June 16.

Projection:

Japan and Switzerland progress.

 

Group D:

Australia
Nigeria
Sweden
United States

This is perhaps the most fascinating of the World Cup groups. Sweden manager Pia Sundhage won a pair of Olympic gold medals during a four-year spell as the United States boss, and the June 12 meeting between the two sides will generate no shortage of storylines. One of the most decorated managers at the international level, the 55-year-old is missing a World Cup from her trophy cabinet and will be looking to add it in Canada.

The favourite

Of the five gold medals on offer since women’s soccer debuted at the 1996 Olympic Games, the United States have claimed four. They’ve also won seven of nine CONCACAF tournaments and are two-time World Cup champions, although they haven’t lifted the trophy since 1999. A seemingly continuous production line of players keeps the Team USA talent cupboard well-stocked, but with key internationals Abby Wambach, Carli Lloyd, Christie Rampone and Hope Solo older than 30 years of age, there is a sense of urgency with this group.

The pack:

Sweden have progressed as far as the semifinals on three occasions and in 2003 advanced all the way to the final, where they lost to Germany on a Nia Kunzer golden goal. Lotta Schelin and Nilla Fischer finished ninth and 10th in Women’s World Player of the Year voting for 2014, and Schelin — her country’s top, all-time goal scorer — recently won a seventh Ligue 1 title with Lyon. African heavyweights Nigeria are coming off a record ninth continental championship, and tournament MVP Azizat Oshoala also claimed African Women’s Footballer of the Year honours for 2014. Australia have progressed as far as the quarter-finals in each of the last two World Cups and lost a close Asian Cup final to Japan in 2014.

Don’t be surprised if:

Sweden have been rather unpredictable of late and could find themselves with their hands full when they face Nigeria on June 8. That said, one of the competition’s best third-place finishers will surely come out of Group D.

Winnipeg connection:

The much-anticipated showdown between the United States and Sweden will take place on June 12 at Investors Group Field, which will host a total of four Group D matches.

Projection:

United States, Sweden and Nigeria progress.

 

Group E:

Brazil
Costa Rica
South Korea
Spain

Brazil has blazed the trail for women’s soccer in South America and remains the continent’s only nation to have made a meaningful impact at the highest level of the sport. But they have yet to win a World Cup or Olympic gold medal, and with generational players Marta, Cristiane, Rosana and Formiga getting on in years, the next few weeks could represent a last chance to finally make that long-expected breakthrough.

The favourite:

Marta is a five-time FIFA World Player of the Year and four-time runner-up. Cristiane has come third in the voting on two occasions. Together they represent one of the dominant attacking duos of the last decade, and for Brazil to have any chance of winning a World Cup they’ll have to be at their very best in Canada. Encouragingly, 22-year-old Boston Breakers midfielder Andressa provided important, supplementary goal scoring at the 2014 Copa America Femenina, which Brazil won for a record sixth time.

The pack:

Spain are making their World Cup debut in Canada, but they took four of a possible six points off Italy in qualifying and didn’t concede a single goal against the Azzurri. Captain Veronica Boquete — a Champions League winner with Frankfurt — has been a leading voice in the campaign to persuade EA Sports to include female players in its FIFA series of games. Fellow debutantes Costa Rica finished runners-up to the United States at the 2014 CONCACAF Championship, where they edged Mexico 1-0. South Korea playmaker Ji So-Yun won the 2015 PFA Women’s Player of the Year award after a first season at second-place Chelsea.

Don’t be surprised if:

Spain lose so rarely these days they may have forgotten how. They’ll face Brazil on June 13 in Montreal and, with even a point from the match, could well end up topping Group E.

Winnipeg connection:

Costa Rica beat Canada on penalties to secure the bronze medal at the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg.

Projection:

Brazil, Spain and Costa Rica progress.

 

Group F:

Colombia
England
France
Mexico

There isn’t a World Cup bracket as wide open as Group F. Granted, both England and France are ranked inside FIFA’s Top Six and their June 9 encounter in Moncton will produce plenty of talking points. But Colombia and Mexico are contending nations within their respective confederations, and it would hardly come as a shock if one or both picked up three points or more against their European rivals. This will surely be one of the four sections that advances a third-place finisher into the round of 16.

The favourite:

France have made the quarter-finals in each of the last two European Championships. In 2011 they came in fourth at the World Cup and a year later achieved the same position at the Olympic Games where they lost the bronze medal match to Canada. In September they completed a perfect qualification campaign, paced by the lethal goal scoring of Juvisy striker Gaetane Thiney, and Lyon midfielder Louisa Necib was voted the sixth-best player in the world for 2014. Les Bleues are on the rise, and in Canada they’ll look to contest a first major final.

The pack:

Kelly Smith — England’s all-time leading goal scorer — retired from international soccer in February. She’ll be missed, but Chelsea forward Eniola Aluko led the Three Lionesses with 13 goals in World Cup qualifying and Manchester City attacker Toni Duggan can also fill the back of the net. That said, they could struggle to breach a stingy Colombia outfit that nearly upset Brazil at the 2014 Copa America Femenina. Mexico, finally, are the sort of side that beats up on inferior opposition, but have yet to leave a mark at either the World Cup or Olympic Games.

Don’t be surprised if:

Colombia could cause a problem or two in Group F, and finishing in either first or second place would likely set up a winnable match in the round of 16. To that end their June 17 clash with England could be a sort of early playoff.

Winnipeg connection:

Canada midfielder and Winnipeg-born Desiree Scott plays her club soccer in England for Notts County.

Projection:

France, England and Colombia progress.

 

jerradpeters@gmail.com
Twitter: @JerradPeters