At last, we're set to see Mission Moncton come to fruition, as a Canadian senior national team will make its debut at the still-has-that-new-stadium-smell Moncton Stadium on Wednesday.
The women's team's friendly against a fading Chinese squad doesn't have massive international ramifications; like most friendlies, this one will be most useful as a way of gauging the effectiveness of players and tactics. But given the circumstances, this game could tell us an awful lot about things are going to look for Big Red in 2012 and beyond.
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First of all, the list of the ladies in red (well, unless China wears red and Canada wears white... but whatever, you know what I mean):
1- GK- Karina LeBlanc
2- CB- Emily Zurrer
3- FB- Melanie Booth
4- M- Carmelina Moscato
5- FB- Robyn Gayle
6- M- Kaylyn Kyle
7- FB- Rhian Wilkinson
8- M- Diana Matheson
9- CB- Candace Chapman
10- F- Christina Julien
11- M- Desiree Scott
12- F- Christine Sinclair
13- M- Sophie Schmidt
14- F- Melissa Tancredi
15- M- Kelly Parker
16- F- Jonelle Filigno
17- M- Brittany Timko
18- GK- Erin McLeod
19- M- Chelsea Stewart
20- FB- Marie-Eve Nault
22- F- Chelsea Buckland
23- FB- Lauren Sesselmann
It's been a tumultuous year for many female players -- including a number of Canadians -- amidst the shutdown of Women's Professional Soccer. But that situation could be a mild blessing in disguise, as it prompted the CSA to organize a weeks-long training camp for the women's national team in Vancouver (which culminated in a friendly against the Whitecaps women's team last Thursday).
This pre-Olympic camp represents the longest period that head coach John Herdman has had to work with most of his roster. We'll see the outcome of this extended period of solidarity-building and adjustment-making out on the pitch on Wednesday night.
Of course, the team will have plenty of motivation to perform, with the chance to impress a hometown crowd in a brand-new facility they've never seen before. With Moncton having been named a host city for the 2015 Women's World Cup, that crowd will have also have plenty of motivation to put on a good show, in the hopes of increasing their chances of landing marquee games three years from now.
And as for the Canadian roster, there will hopefully be answers to some lingering questions. Diana Matheson is expected to make her long-awaited return to the team after surgery, and will instantly provide the already-strong midfield with an additional spark. Striker Jonelle Filigno is on the roster, but further away from full recovery. Herdman has preached caution with the 21-year-old, but her potential return to the lineup is another source of excitement.
In goal, we'll likely see Erin McLeod get the start as Karina LeBlanc continues to recover from a minor ankle injury. This could be an area of concern since, without a third keeper, a knock or red card to McLeod would force either a less-than-100% LeBlanc, or someone else entirely, into the Canadian goal. Now, I knocked on wood as I typed that, so as not to jinx anything, but this situation shines a brighter light on the absence of a third keeper (Stephanie Labbe, anyone?) from the Canadian setup.
(Update: The Canadian Press has reported that 20-year-old goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo has been brought into the team as cover for the China game.)
One way or another, the game is one of our last, best chances to see the Canadian team in action prior to the Olympics. The game is live on Sportsnet One at 8 p.m. local, 7 p.m. Eastern, 4 p.m. Pacific on Wednesday.
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