To paraphrase the great "Nature Boy" Ric Flair: To be the best, you've got to beat the best.
And while Canada isn't necessarily expecting to pick up full points in their four announced home dates this year, they at least know that they'll be getting top-notch experience against the world's best women's national teams. Canada will play the world's #1, #2 and #3 ranked teams in home friendlies this year, in preparation for next year's Women's World Cup -- which is, of course, also in the Great White North.
In addition to meeting the world #1 Americans in Winnipeg on May 8, they'll clash with the #2 Germans in Vancouver on June 18, then meet the #3 Japanese for a double-header, in Edmonton on Oct. 25 and in Vancouver on Oct. 28. If Big Red has any hope of getting onto the podium next year, these are the sorts of teams they'll need to defeat -- and these games will give us an indication of their chances of doing exactly that.
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The games also give home fans a chance to not only see their Canadian heroes, but some other world-class players in what should surely be a quartet of highly competitive games. The Canadian Soccer Association was criticized for letting so much time lapse between the bronze medal at London 2012 and the CanWNT's next match, but they deserve full credit for arranging a schedule that's sure to build plenty of anticipation ahead of Canada 2015.
The ball's in your court now, Western Canada. Fill those seats and let the ladies know just what kind of support they've got.
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