In Vancouver at the Olympic qualifying tournament the Canadian women talked a great deal about redemption.
The idea was that beating up on CONCACAF minnows would absolve them of a shocking performance in Germany at the World Cup. It was a nice narrative, but it was premature.
Doing what they were supposed to do – and that’s all Canada accomplished in Vancouver – does not redeem the national team for the World Cup. Only a good result at the Olympics can.
The women have two more days to wait before they can start down the path of redemption. In women’s football the Olympic tournament is clearly the second most important event on their calendar. It’s not quite the World Cup, but it’s damn close.
Canadian Soccer News will provide exhaustive coverage of the tournament. Daniel Squizzato, likely the most informed soccer journalist in Canada on the Canadian women’s team, will be using his talents to cover each of Canada’s games. He’ll have reaction and analysis in his unique and spectacularly partisan voice.
I will turn my attention to the rest of the field, with particular attention given to our southern neighbours (who make up about 25% of our readership). I will also provide previews of each of Canada’s games and some peripheral coverage of the men’s tournament.
If you read our coverage during the Olympic qualifying tournament this will look similar.
If you haven’t done so already, please take a moment to read Squizz’ excellent preview of Canada, which was published earlier today. Then come back and read my summary of the rest of the field.
You’ll find that below the jump:
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Group E
Great Britain
The hosts are mostly England with the addition of two Scots -- Ifeoma Dieke and Kim Little. Like England, Team GB are perennial dark horses that sit just outside the elite. Some will say that they are the best bet of the tier 2 teams to break into the medals because of the home advantage.
They will be playing in front of big crowds – 40,000 are expected for their opener against New Zealand – and there will likely never be a better opportunity for the women to break into the public conversation of Britain, a country that still does tend to dismiss the women’s game.
The biggest question facing the hosts will be the fitness of Kelly Smith. The 33-year-old battled an injury all winter and was touch and go to make the squad. If she’s fit, Team GB has an outside shot at a medal. If not, the hosts will likely be solid, but off the podium.
New Zealand
New Zealand is a young and scrappy team that performed above expectations in Germany. Their performance there helped coach John Herdman nail down a bigger job here in Canada – and a 3-0 loss to Canada in the build up demonstrates that it was a promotion – but his legacy continues. This is Herdman’s program, having led it from the fringes to...
That’s the question. What is New Zealand? Depending on the day they are either the best tier 3 side, or the worst tier 2. Regardless, a medal is not close to being on the cards, but if Team GB or Brazil doesn’t show up on the day the Kiwis can nick a result.
Realistically, one of the best third place finishers is New Zealand’s best hope.
Cameroon
They are there for experience. They are only in the tournament because Equatorial Guinea fielded an ineligible player in its qualifying tie against Cameroon. On the pitch the EQ won 2-0. In the boardroom Cameroon advanced to the final round of qualifying where it defeated Nigeria on penalties.
Nigeria is a traditional power in Africa women’s football so you’d be foolish to dismiss them outright, but any result at the Games will be considered a success for Cameroon.
Brazil
Maybe the biggest enigma in the women’s game, Brazil looks to have all the talent but has yet to capture a major event.
Reports of Marta being the best women’s player in the world are likely slightly exaggerated (or, at least, slightly less definitive), but she is very good. Along with Christine, Brazil has a great offensive punch and is always dangerous.
However, they are also a cultural stereotype – all Latin flare, less stuck-in-ness. Without a great deal of support from the federation, Brazil plays an occasionally naive tactical game and relies on street (beach?) learned instincts.
Canadian fans saw the best and worst of Brazil within seconds of each other last week, when the two teams exchanged stoppage time goals. Sloppy at the back; dangerous going forward.
A gold medal isn’t out of the question, but going home empty handed isn’t either.
Group F
Japan
The defending World Cup champions. It says it all.
Or does it?
It’s pretty much the same team – including Golden Ball winner Homare Sawa – that got hot at the right time and played above expectations in Germany. Heading into Germany, Japan was a borderline tier 1 side that tier 2 teams could step up and beat from time to time. Some seem to forget that.
Can they repeat the performance of Germany? Lightening rarely strikes twice, but, obviously, a medal favourite.
Canada
Squizz has already talked in more detail about the Canucks. I’ll just add that that how Canada reacts psychologically to the Japan game – especially if it doesn’t go well – will tell us a hundred times more than any preview will. This team has struggled with the mental side of the game in the past. Until they get past that they will never truly break through.
Sweden
The third place finishers in Germany, Sweden is going through a bit of a re-build. Several stars of last summer are off the roster now, with the team working some new talent through.
They still have some damn good old talent though. Lotta Schelin and Caroline Seger most notably, which provide a great 1-2 attacking punch.
Sweden is one of those teams that is always right there. Likely not a gold medal favourite (although it wouldn’t be fall-down-on-the-floor shocking if they did win), they will be in the lesser medal mix.
South Africa
Very little is known about South Africa. The team is in its first major tournament and is fielding an almost entirely domestic-based squad.
They didn’t exactly get by powers to qualify either. Tunisia on penalties and Ethiopia in the final round.
You have to play the games, but this appears to be, by far, the weakest team in the tournament. With the No 3, No 4 and No 7 ranked teams in its groups -- and all needing to pile on goals to make sure they have a shot at the best third place finish -- it could get ugly.
Group G
United States
They’ve won it three of four times. It’s silly to call the Americans anything other than favourites.
There are questions though. The collapse of the WPS has likely hurt the Americans more than any other team. Will the lack of club football hurt this team?
Age? This is a veteran team. Traditionally the American program has relied on older players with a sparkling in of the next generation. This is no difference, with London likely a last chance at glory for warrior Christie Rampone. Is it one tournament too many, or will the emergence of Alex Morgan and former Canadian youth star Sydney Leroux be enough of a counter to that?
The biggest loss Ali Krieger, who blew out her knee in January. The Americans have the best depth in the competition, but Krieger’s leadership is not replaceable.
Anything less than gold will be a major disappointment.
France
The sexiest darkhorse pick at the tournament.
For good reason. France plays a pretty game that’s highly technical. Most of the squad plays for the Barcelona of women’s club football, Olympique Lyonnais.
They are arguably the best team in the world in the middle and up front. Eugenie Le Sommer and Camille Abily are probably the best 1-2 scoring pair in the tournament. This is a very, very dangerous team.
Except at the back. As much excitement as there is up top, there are questions at the back.
If France can step up its defensive game then they are a legitimate gold medal contender. They are already a podium contender.
Colombia
There is a big drop in quality in South America between Brazil and the rest. Colombia is the best of that rest.
They lost to Brazil 5-0 in qualifying.
Still, they have shown that they can play competitively with some of the tier 2 sides – notably they held Canada to just a 1-0 win earlier this month.
Still, this is a team that is playing for a single result and not much more.
North Korea
Who the hell knows? The most secretive country in the world has thrown a lot of money at women’s football and the result has been success at the youth ranks. Canadian fans will find out first hand just how strong they are at the youth events next month in the FIFA u-20s when the two teams share a group.
That success has not yet translated to the senior side. It seems likely that it will in time.
Based on the results in Germany (which is about all we can go on) it seems like Canada 2015 is the more likely breakout.