If your brain is turning to mush after reading 4,350 "can't-miss" analyses (most of which will miss, badly) of the upcoming Brazil World Cup, then why not cleanse your palate with a little WoSo?
Canada -- hey, we have a national team! -- will take on Germany at B.C. place in Vancouver next Wednesday, in the team's second of four big tests on home soil this year (the first having been last month's respectable 1-1 draw with the U.S. in Winnipeg). Yeah, that Women's World Cup is only about a year away, and things are about to get real. Really real.
As in, it's time to see whether Herdman's aspirations of a podium finish are realistic, or just a bit of P.R. spit-shining. Here's the team that will give us our latest glimpse at Canada's capabilities:
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
GK- Karina LeBlanc | USA / Chicago Red Stars
GK- Erin McLeod | USA / Houston Dash
D- Kadeisha Buchanan | USA / Ottawa Fury FC
D- Robyn Gayle | USA / Washington Spirit
D- Carmelina Moscato | USA / Seattle Reign FC
D- Rebecca Quinn | USA / Duke University
D- Rhian Wilkinson | CAN / Comètes de Laval
D- Sura Yekka | CAN / Brams United
D- Emily Zurrer | SWE / Jitex BK
D- Marie-Eve Nault | SWE / KIF Örebro
M- Kaylyn Kyle | USA / Houston Dash
M- Diana Matheson | USA / Washington Spirit
M- Sophie Schmidt | USA / Sky Blue FC
M- Desiree Scott | ENG / Notts County Ladies FC
M- Jessie Fleming | CAN / London NorWest SC
M- Ashley Lawrence | USA / Ottawa Fury FC
M- Brittany Baxter | USA / Seattle Sounders Women
F- Jonelle Filigno | USA Sky Blue FC
F- Adriana Leon | USA / Chicago Red Stars
F- Christine Sinclair | USA / Portland Thorns FC
F- Josée Belanger | CAN / Comètes de Laval
F- Christina Julien | GER / FF USV Jena
Herdman is set for a media conference call on Thursday; in the meantime, some quick thoughts:
- When it comes to a one-two punch in goal, you can't ask for much better than McLeod and LeBlanc. Presumably, the decision not to bring a third 'keeper came down to cost or logistics; even so, it'd be nice for a youngster to get a bit of experience.
- Speaking of youngsters, it's now become clear that Herdman has identified the core of youngsters who might be ready to join the World Cup roster next summer -- Buchanan, Yekka, Lawrence, Fleming and Quinn. Of the five, Buchanan is a lock; the other four will likely be competing with veterans when final roster cuts are made.
- It's nice to see a Canadian national team roster without any contributions from Unattached FC.
- While no one wants to hear this, we may have to consider the possibility that Christine Sinclair peaked at the 2012 Olympics. She's still a dangerous player, of course; but in the past 18 months, she hasn't routinely shown the ability to put the team on her shoulders, a trait that characterized so much of her national-team career. Bringing Christina Julien back into the mix -- a year after her last CanWNT appearance -- is another effort by Herdman to diversify Canada's attacking options.
Now, I'm not claiming Sinclair is past it. She's still just 30, and could have more productive years in her. But it'd help everyone's nerves if she could bust out one of her trademark, game-changing performances in the run-up to the World Cup.
If you're gonna be on the lower mainland next Wednesday, you really oughta pick up a ticket or 10. Game's at 7 p.m. PT on June 18, and tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.
Otherwise, the game will be broadcast live on Sportsnet One. (For you lazy Ontarians who never bothered memorizing Canada's time zones, kickoff is at 10 p.m. Ontario time.)
.