Squizz

Sell-out games for the women At their home-turf World Cup But when all said and done, Things weren't looking up LeBlanc's out the door McLeod's knee in pain A tough one-two punch For those Rio Games Sure, goal scoring's coming From Beckie and Prince But the grand team transition Can still make us wince The kids are alright, Early returns would suggest But by France 2019, Can they be at their best? Kadeisha has made it As the world got to see Might she take the armband, One day, from Sincy? Transition or not, We'll still make a splash At next year's Olympics (Please please, not a crash) Speaking of splashes, The men have their chance To get a bit closer To that big Russian dance That's quite a shift From this past summer's lull And another Gold Cup That was goalless and dull But along came Tesho, Our red-nosed reindeer Who led all the others To Canadian cheer On Junior! On Fraser! On Wandrille Lefevre! On Luke Cavallini, Help us make some waves! And on Scotty Arfield, If the rumours are true! With all these new players, Think what we can do! That promise, of course, Is a dangerous thing It creates expectations; That's where we get dinged. But we beat Honduras, El Salvador is a mess And as for the Mexicans? Well, I must confess Perhaps it's the egg nog Or the ol' Christmas cheer But we will get something Off of them next year Maybe I'm groggy From the holiday starch In making that claim; We'll find out in March. But first, January The window is open Canadian players Make good moves, we're hopin' At home, or worldwide, Where could those moves be? Just steer clear of one club: Unattached FC. For men and for women, That's always the fear Can they keep up minutes Without a league here? The times, they're a-changin' At grassroots there's hope Of playing-time chances To help top teams cope An upcoming men's league? Widespread LTPD? Building skill here in Canada Fills good folks with glee Those won't be in stockings For 2016 It'll take a bit longer To remake the scene Right now, there's hard work For Benito and John As we don our red scarves And cheer their teams on So just think of the good Since the future looks bright And just quit fretting soccer For one freakin' night.

Little did I know that six whole years later, when the team finally managed to get out of its own way long enough to triumphantly earn the sixth-place spot in a 10-team conference and the knockout game that came with it, the moment would bring nothing more than another embarrassing thrashing, another blank sheet on the road, another evening in which I was reminded that the spiritual company of fellow long-suffering supporters is, at virtually every moment, the only redeeming quality of calling myself a fan of Toronto FC. In the event that you've stumbled across this story and are wondering A) who I am, and whether this collection of words will ever move beyond navel-gazing, your answers are that I used to write here quite a lot (it's true, look it up) and no, probably not. But for the sake of it, I'll furnish you with all of my tactical analysis as it relates to the 2015 edition of Toronto FC: Sebastian Giovinco is good at soccer. I liked watching him play for TFC. I hope I'll get to watch him play for TFC again. I'm not a coach, and I'm not a general manager, and I'm not a player. I don't know what it's like to step on the field for a professional team, nor do I know what it's like to manage one, or attempt to set up the roster for one. So I'm not going to pretend to be in any of those positions. What I am is a fan. What I am is someone who has decided that emotionally affixing myself to a piece of laundry that ostensibly represents the jurisdiction in which I, through no choice of my own, happened to have been born is a productive deployment of my finite time and psychological resources. And in the case of Toronto FC, that playoff game was -- above and beyond anything else -- a reminder of how finite my time and psychological resources truly are. Because if you'd asked me, on that night back in October 2009, how I'd be feeling on the day TFC played its first-ever postseason match, I'd likely use words like "overjoyed", "excited", "relieved" and so on. But as it happened, on October 29, 2015, the words coursing through my head -- as I sat glued to the TV, watching my hometown team from 3,000 kilometres away -- were more along the lines of "resigned", "worried" and "inevitable". It's easy for sports fans to attribute certain properties to a team, as if the organization itself remains an unchanging monolith. Yet it's foolish. Toronto FC 2015 bears literally no resemblance to Toronto FC 2009, beyond the name; hell, it bears little resemblance to Toronto FC 2013 or 2014, if you're talking about personnel. The idea that weakness in central defence or a proclivity towards conceding goals in Tobias Time or [etc, etc] are somehow ingrained into the DNA of Toronto FC is silly, especially given that the team generally purges itself of on- and off-field talent on a pretty much annual basis. So thinking that TFC would lay an egg against the Montreal Impact on Thursday night simply because they laid an egg against New York in 2009, or against [insert team here] in [insert year here] was, objectively, foolish. Thinking they'd lay an egg because their back line was comprised of two mid-season pickups and a guy who isn't a defender -- that was reasonable. Thinking they'd lay an egg because they'd lost to Montreal four days earlier and that Greg Vanney likely wouldn't make necessary adjustments -- that was reasonable. But that's not why I thought they'd lay an egg. I just knew. Which is to say, I didn't know. But, y'know, I knew. And that's not a healthy relationship to have with anyone or anything. Being worried about past events but deciding to fully invest emotionally anyway (see: Canada vs. Honduras, two weeks from now) is one thing. But having been completely drained of the capacity to even envision the possibility of a desired outcome? That's some grim territory indeed. What do I want to happen to the team next? At this precise moment, I don't much care. Maybe Vanney will get fired, maybe he won't. Maybe Giovinco will be back, maybe he won't. Maybe the team will entirely remodel itself (again) and put a shiny new advertising campaign out (again), maybe it won't. But when nine years of accumulated anticipation ends with a resounding thud, it takes a bit of time to replenish one's reserves of giving-a-hoot. It won't be replenished by the time the team kicks off its 10th MLS season (oh man, we're getting old) next spring. There is literally no off-season acquisition or string of acquisitions that could make a noticeable dent in my ossified pessimism about this team. A hot first few months won't do it. Even a finish close to the top of the conference won't do it. There must be a true breakthrough moment, however and whenever that may come -- and even then, who knows if I'll be able to crack a smile. We won't even entertain the notion of cutting ties with the team entirely; the fact that I'm still writing this and you're still reading this means we're both in it for the long haul. We've decided -- through some horrible combination of masochism, stubbornness and the sunk cost fallacy -- that "being a TFC fan" is still a label we'll willingly wear. Just don't expect us to have fun doing it... because we sure aren't. .

After a narrow 2-1 defeat to the host Germans—in which captain Christine Sinclair shook off a broken nose to score on a world-class free kick—Canada was mercilessly picked apart by France, who announced itself to the women’s soccer world with a 4-0 victory. The Canadians then slumped out of the tournament with a 1-0 loss to Nigeria, whereupon manager Carolina Morace followed through on a pre-tournament promise to resign upon its conclusion. The turnaround from World Cup doormats to Olympic medalists in the span of just 12 months has been largely attributed to head coach John Herdman and his staff. Indeed, just months after Herdman was hired in the wake of the 2011 World Cup flameout, Canada stood atop the podium as champions at the Pan-American Games (a tournament that, it’s worth noting, did not include the U.S.) One of Herdman’s first priorities upon being hired was rebuilding the team psychologically after the World Cup disappointment. He swooped in to work with a team whose core had been through nearly a decade together at that point—the likes of Sinclair, fellow striker Melissa Tancredi, midfielder Diana Matheson, defender Rhian Wilkinson and goalkeepers Erin McLeod and Karina LeBlanc. The script for redemption played out perfectly at London 2012. Tancredi’s four goals in the group stage pushed Canada into the knockouts; Sinclair’s memorable hat trick nearly saw Canada past their long-time American rivals in the semis; McLeod’s stellar goalkeeping and Matheson’s last-gasp goal gave Canada revenge on the French and a spot on the podium. Now, with the eyes of the world focused on Canada, and its national-team core set for one last hurrah right in its own backyard, it would appear that the script for triumph is about to be written. But is it realistic? Since Herdman took over, Canada has won a little over half of the games it’s played: 37 wins against 10 draws and 21 losses. Notably, though, none of those wins came in the four home friendlies the team booked against Tier I opponents in 2014—Canada managed a draw against the U.S. in Winnipeg before losses to Germany (in Vancouver) and Japan (in Edmonton and Vancouver). Canada (ranked No. 8 in the world) did post a convincing 1-0 win over England last Friday in its World Cup send-off match in front of nearly 24,000 fans in Hamilton, Ontario. But that was the Canadians’ first victory against England (ranked No. 6) in five tries, having lost to (and failed to score against) the English in its previous four matchups, dating back to March 2013. None of this suggests that Canada is incapable of a deep run in this year’s Women’s World Cup. Indeed, the Canadians were hardly played off the park in any of the aforementioned encounters with the world’s top sides (with the possible exception of a 3-0 loss to reigning world champions Japan). With the tournament having been expanded to 24 teams, Canada is a virtual lock for the knockout stages, at which point all other mattes—prior results, world ranking, subjective ideas of absolute relative quality—become irrelevant in the face of the performance of those two teams on that day. It is not unreasonable to suggest that, if the stars align properly, Canada has the potential to defeat any team in this tournament in a knockout game. The question, of course, is whether the stars will align in the same way they did in 2012. Herdman, for his part, hasn’t been relying on astrology in the run-up to the tournament. Amidst his repeated claim that Canada aims to be in the World Cup final on July 5, he has instead taken a detail-oriented approach to every facet of the team’s preparation. On the macro level, he’s taken steps to ease newcomers into the first team, with some very positive results. Kadeisha Buchanan, still just 19 years old, has already made 35 appearances for the senior team and is the rock in the centre of defence. Strong, tough and never one to shy away from a challenge, she also possesses speed and awareness that will see her as one of the team’s building blocks for the next decade. Jessie Fleming, just 17, is the focus of a hype machine that’s waiting to burst into overdrive should she do well at this tournament. Watching her play, it’s easy to see why she’s so highly touted – she’s a quick, aggressive, attack-minded midfielder with a nose for goal and an on-field intelligence befitting someone far beyond her years. Ashley Lawrence, 19, and Adriana Leon, 22, are two other newcomers who’ve ingratiated themselves into the lineup and could have prominent roles to play at this World Cup. But it’s not just promising youngsters; Herdman has also been getting the most out of key veteran players as well. Sophie Schmidt was the undeniable player of the match for Canada in its win over England last week, scoring a highlight-reel half-volley and proving herself a menace for the entire match. The 26-year-old was also Canada’s top scorer in 2014 (with six goals) and will be an integral part of the team’s efforts to expand its focus of attack beyond Sinclair. Lauren Sesselmann wasn’t even part of the Canadian set-up during the last World Cup, having just acquired her Canadian citizenship the year earlier. But Herdman called her into camp at his first opportunity, and the versatile 31-year-old was an indispensible part of the medal-winning Olympic side. Having only recently returned from a torn ACL, Sesselmann’s health could have a big part to play in Canada’s World Cup ambitions. Josée Bélanger emerged as the star of Canada’s qualifying campaign for the 2011 Women’s World Cup, but then missed the tournament with an ankle injury. A years-long exile from the national team followed, until Herdman convinced the 29-year-old to rejoin the fold last year. She hasn’t yet recaptured her goal-scoring form, but demonstrated her flexibility last week, unexpectedly (and impressively) filling in as a right-back against England. Allysha Chapman was a virtual unknown until Herdman called her into the national-team setup last year. But Herdman, who has repeatedly spoken of his desire to have attack-minded fullbacks, saw something in the 26-year-old, whose dogged play and seemingly endless energy have—in very short order—earned her a spot as Canada’s starting left-back. But the roster news isn’t all rainbows and sunshine. Matheson continues to recover from a knee injury (and subsequent broken foot) of her own; her name is on Canada’s roster, but whether she’ll be able to play any part remains to be seen. More recently, injury concerns have also arisen for defenders Wilkinson and Marie-Eve Nault, as well as striker Jonelle Filigno. Meanwhile, Canada’s two top scorers of the past decade, Sinclair and Tancredi, are no longer at the peak of their powers. Sinclair—Canada’s top scorer of all time with 153 goals—scored just once in 11 games in 2014. Despite a hot start to 2015 (five goals in nine games), it would be foolhardy for Canadians to assume the 31-year-old will singlehandedly bulldoze through opposing teams, despite her storied history of doing exactly that. Tancredi, meanwhile, was coaxed out of semi-retirement (she took a year off following the Olympics to pursue her education) to provide some attacking support to Sinclair. But since having the tournament of her life in London, the 33-year-old has been held off the score sheet in 12 games for Canada. With goalkeeper LeBlanc having announced that she will retire following the World Cup, and fellow veterans Candace Chapman and Melanie Booth having also announced their retirements, the page appears to be turning on a golden age in Canadian women’s soccer, an era that began with the massively successful 2002 FIFA Under-19 Women’s Championship. That tournament saw the host Canadians—led by the likes of Sinclair, McLeod, Chapman and Carmelina Moscato (as well as Kara Lang and Clare Rustad, who’ll both be providing on-air analysis of this year’s World Cup)—play a thrilling final in front of nearly 50,000 fans at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium. (That game ended in a 1-0 extra-time loss to, you guessed it, the U.S.) On Saturday, Canada will return to Commonwealth Stadium to open its World Cup campaign against China, a former global powerhouse in the women’s game. They’ll stay in Edmonton to face Herdman’s former side, New Zealand, before travelling to Stade Olympique in Montreal to combat a side that some are picking as a dark horse favourite, the Netherlands. Where they’ll go from there remains to be seen. But that path won’t be determined by history, or narratives, or television advertisements. It will be determined by how well the women on the pitch can handle the pressure, do what’s needed and step up when it matters most. Whatever happens, Herdman will be sticking around beyond the tournament. He’s under contract to be Canada’s coach through 2020, giving him ample time and opportunity to shepherd the next generation of stars into the spotlight. But the spotlight will never be brighter than during this World Cup. Nothing is impossible for the Canadian team at this tournament—but the players will ultimately need to be the authors of their own destinies.

But does the roster announcement tell us anything about Canada's chances that we didn't already know? Short answer: Nope. Fifteen of the 23 players on the 2015 World Cup roster were also on Canada's 2012 Olympic roster. That Olympic roster had 20 players, and of the five who aren't on the 2015 WWC squad, three have retired since those Olympics. (In other words, their exclusions aren't surprising.) As for the eight players on the WWC2015 squad who weren't on the Olympic team? Well, their inclusions come with varying levels of surprise (between 0 and 10): Kadeisha Buchanan Surprise level: 0 We could call the 19-year-old central defender's rise meteoric, but that wouldn't quite be accurate, since there are probably meteors that don't move as quickly as she has up the ranks of Canadian soccer. She already has 34 senior caps, is already an established starter on the squad and might already be one of the team's best players. A strong candidate to take the captain's armband once Christine Sinclair retires. Yeah, she's that good. Stephanie Labbe Surprise level: 0 Absent from the 2012 roster only because Olympic rosters call for two goalkeepers rather than three (and Canada has its 1A and 1B keepers in Erin McLeod and Karina LeBlanc), Labbe was always going to be on the roster for this tournament. The 28-year-old had an outstanding season for Orebro in Sweden last year, and has been part of the Canadian senior team since 2008. The only question now is, with McLeod ensconced as Canada's go-to starter, could Labbe challenge LeBlanc for playing time at the World Cup? Jessie Fleming Surprise level: 0.5 She's quick, she's aggressive, she's got great on-field intelligence, she's got a nose for goal... and oh yeah, she just turned 17 last month. There's no doubt that Fleming, if she continues on her current trajectory, will be a great one for Canada. The only question was whether, at her age, she'd be ready to step into the spotlight of a World Cup on home turf. But she's answered every challenge presented so far and hasn't looked out of place with the senior team yet... perhaps this tournament will be her chance to announce herself to the world. Adriana Leon Surprise level: 1 Back in the summer of 2012, Leon was preparing for a transfer from the University of Notre Dame (for whom she'd scored the national championship winning-goal in 2010) to the University of Florida. That December, a few months after the bronze medal win, Leon made her first appearance for the senior national team. Since then, the 22-year-old striker has scored five times for Big Red, and was basically a lock to be part of a squad that is in dire need of goal-scoring diversification in the years ahead. Ashley Lawrence Surprise level: 3 Herdman has attempted to integrate a quartet of teenagers into the senior national team lineup over the past 24 months; two seemed like sure things to make the World Cup cut (Buchanan, Fleming) and two seemed like outsiders for this year (Sura Yekka, Rebecca Quinn), leaving Lawrence as a bit of a question mark. She's shown promise in her years rising up the youth team ranks but plays in the midfield where Canada's starting lineup is relatively set. Whether or not the 19-year-old gets significant minutes in this tournament, it'll undoubtedly give her plenty of valuable experience. Josee Belanger Surprise level: 3.5 Speaking of a need for goal-scoring diversification... that's essentially the reason Herdman coaxed the 28-year-old out of national-team retirement. Belanger, however, hasn't been able to recapture the goal-scoring form she had in 2010, when she was the star of Canada's World Cup qualification campaign. In fact, she hasn't scored a goal since returning to the team last year. Ultimately, Herdman likely had to choose between whether to include Belanger or 20-year-old Janine Beckie, who's come on strong in the last 12 months... and as it happened, experience won out over youth on this occasion. Allysha Chapman Surprise level: 5 Like Belanger, Chapman returns to the senior national team after an extended absence. Chapman's ascension to a World Cup roster spot (and possibly even a role in the starting XI) has been nothing short of remarkable, given that prior to October 2014, her only experience with the senior team was one training camp back in 2009. But Chapman filled a position of need in Herdman's team (as Lauren Sesselmann was recovering from a knee injury) and her determined play in the last six months has earned her a role. She also gives Herdman some flexibility in how he uses Sesselmann (who has played as LB and CB, but who may not yet be at 100% herself). Selenia Iacchelli Surprise level: 6 Much like Chapman, Iacchelli had only a brief fling with the senior national team (one camp back in 2010) before Herdman came along. But the 28-year-old has hardly been a regular since returning to the fold in 2013; she's made just four appearances for Canada since November 2013. Her inclusion hits a 6 on the surprise meter due to the exclusion of Rachel Quon (a 23-year-old whom Herdman lured away from the U.S. system) and Brittany Baxter (a 29-year-old with 132 career appearances for Canada). But in a short tournament like the World Cup, team chemistry and positivity are vital; perhaps Herdman felt Iacchelli (who co-owns a business with Canada teammate Emily Zurrer) brought some "glue" to the locker room that could be important in the heat of the competition. While none of the decisions were overly surprising (Herdman's player pool is relatively set, after all), at least now we can move beyond speculation and focus on what's just weeks in front of us -- Canada's quest to make history at home in the Women's World Cup. Canada's 23-player Women's World Cup roster GK- Stephanie Labbé | unattached / sans club GK- Karina LeBlanc | USA / Chicago Red Stars GK- Erin McLeod | USA / Houston Dash D- Kadeisha Buchanan | USA / West Virginia University D- Allysha Chapman | USA / Houston Dash D- Robyn Gayle | unattached / sans club D- Carmelina Moscato | unattached / sans club D- Marie-Eve Nault | unattached / sans club D- Lauren Sesselmann | USA / Houston Dash D- Rhian Wilkinson | USA / Portland Thorns FC D- Emily Zurrer | unattached / sans club M- Jessie Fleming | CAN / London NorWest SC M- Selenia Iacchelli | unattached / sans club M- Kaylyn Kyle | USA / Portland Thorns FC M- Ashley Lawrence | USA / West Virginia University M- Diana Matheson | USA / Washington Spirit M- Desiree Scott | ENG / Notts County Ladies M- Sophie Schmidt | unattached / sans club F- Josée Bélanger | unattached / sans club F- Jonelle Filigno | USA / Sky Blue FC F- Adriana Leon | USA / Chicago Red Stars F- Christine Sinclair | USA / Portland Thorns FC F- Melissa Tancredi | USA / Chicago Red Stars

Yes, Big Red will play its "sendoff" match against England at Hamilton's Tim Hortons Field on Friday, May 29. Thirteen days later, the team opens up the World Cup group stage at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium against China. It's a good date and a good opponent. It's what head coach John Herdman would call a "Tier II" team -- which is the same group Canada falls into, if folks are being honest with themselves. England just beat Canada 1-0 in the Cyprus Cup final (more on that in a moment) and is the sort of opponent Canada needs to (and can realistically be expected to) overcome if we have any ambitions of reaching the World Cup podium. And it is, I'm sure, a good venue. I'm sure the good people of Hamilton and the surrounding area will provide a great environment for the game and give the players plenty of warm and fuzzy feelings as they head into the grand showcase. But given that Canada hasn't played in Ottawa or Montreal (which are, of course, two World Cup host cities) anytime in recent memory, and Herdman et. al. have said they wanted to prepare the team for venues they are or could be playing in, and Canada is definitely playing a group-stage match in Montreal... again, nothing against Hamilton, but, why? The Hamilton Spectator, which broke the story on Monday, made repeated mention of the Pan Am Games, so there's the possibility that the Pan Am organizers are hoping this game will serve as a test run of the new stadium, ahead of the Pan Am soccer tournament being played there. But the Pan Am Games are ostensibly the reason that Toronto was ineligible to serve as a Women's World Cup host, despite the CSA wanting the country's largest city to be part of the tournament. So why on earth would the CSA be doing the Pan Am organizers any favours? Another theory, floated by several folks on Monday evening, is that the stadium is being given an audition of sorts, in an attempt to bolster Hamilton's chances of landing an NASL franchise. Bob Young, owner of the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats (the main tenant of Tim Hortons Field) has -- for years -- been said to be itching to bring a pro soccer team to the Hammer. Could this have something to do with the choice of venue for this game? Or is this just a matter of Canadian soccer superfans assuming sinister conspiracies behind every decision the CSA makes? The truth, as usual, likely falls somewhere in the middle. But regardless of where the game is being played, it'll be our final chance to see the team in action before the games really, really matter. Canada fell short of winning the Cyprus Cup earlier this month, though that's -- as I said repeatedly on social media -- irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. Yes, winning games and winning trophies is always nice. But in a World Cup year, the purpose of the Cyprus Cup is not to win the Cyprus Cup. The purpose of the Cyprus Cup is to get your players up to full match fitness and to work on some final tweaks ahead of the big games. The two significant takeaways from that tournament are that Christine Sinclair thankfully seems to be back on goal-scoring track (just in the nick of time), and that newcomers Jessie Fleming and Allysha Chapman (both of whom scored their first-ever goals for the senior national team) appear to be integrating into Herdman's setup. That latter point will be especially important if one or both of Diana Matheson and Lauren Sesselmann are unable to play, as their recoveries from knee injuries continue. So what's the main goal of the friendly against England? Getting a win to get some pre-World Cup momentum? Well, we had all sorts of "momentum" after a hot streak heading into the last Women's World Cup, and ended up finishing in dead last? Giving a crowd-pleasing performance, so that those in attendance will rush out to buy Women's World Cup tickets? Hmm, well, again, pleasing your home crowd is always a good thing, but given that the nearest World Cup venue to Hamilton is a six-hour drive, that's probably not the most effective strategy to move tickets. Play a complete 90-minute game where no one gets hurt and Herdman can substantively evaluate which tactics and approaches he's going to bring into Canada's three group-stage matches? Bingo. Now, all of that being said, of course I encourage everyone in southern Ontario to head out on a Friday night to a new stadium and give our women's national team a raucous sendoff ahead of playing the World Cup right here at home. Though if you're reading this site, it's doubtful that you need me to convince you of the merits of such an activity. Maybe they'll win, maybe they won't. But if at the end of the game, all of the players are upright and have smiles on their faces as they soak up the adulation, then it's a job well done for everyone.

GK- Stephanie Labbé | SWE / KIF Örebro GK- Karina LeBlanc | USA / Chicago Red Stars GK- Erin McLeod | USA / Houston Dash D- Kadeisha Buchanan | USA / West Virginia University D- Allysha Chapman | USA / Houston Dash D- Robyn Gayle | unattached / sans club D- Carmelina Moscato | unattached / sans club D- Marie-Eve Nault | SWE / KIF Örebro D- Rebecca Quinn | USA / Duke University D- Rhian Wilkinson | USA / Portland Thorns FC D- Emily Zurrer | SWE / Jitex BK M- Kaylyn Kyle | USA / Portland Thorns FC M- Jonelle Filigno | USA / Sky Blue FC M- Jessie Fleming | CAN / London NorWest SC M- Desiree Scott | ENG / Notts County Ladies FC M- Sophie Schmidt | unattached / sans club M- Selenia Iachelli | unattached / sans club M- Ashley Lawrence | USA / West Virginia University F- Josée Bélanger | CAN / Comètes de Laval F- Janine Beckie | USA / Texas Tech University F- Christina Julien | GER / FF USV Jena F- Adriana Leon | USA / Chicago Stars F- Christine Sinclair | USA / Portland Thorns FC F- Melissa Tancredi | USA / Chicago Red Stars Who's not there? The two big (but unsurprising) omissions are Diana Matheson and Lauren Sesselmann, both of whom are still recovering from knee injuries. Matheson has been Canada's midfield engine for a decade, while Sesselmann has been a solid and versatile member of the back line since joining the program several years ago. Both played big parts in Canada's run to the bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics, and the absence of one or both of them will hamper Canada's efforts to advance deep into this summer's World Cup. So, keep your fingers crossed. Another notable absentee is Rachel Quon, who made her debut for Canada at last year's Cyprus Cup, after completing the switch from the U.S. program (she was born in the U.S. and played for various American national teams at the youth level). The 23-year-old Chicago Red Stars defender was added to the Canadian program to increase the depth of its "in-between" generation -- the group in between the team's collection of late-20s/early-30s veterans and its upcoming U-20/U-17 crop. How 'bout those kids? It's weird to still think of Kadeisha Buchanan as a "kid", considering the 19-year-old is already one half of Canada's top CB pairing, with 23 caps and two goals to her name already. Her potential future partner in Canada's top CB pairing is fellow 19-year-old Rebecca Quinn, who has seven caps with the senior national team and played at last summer's U-20 Women's World Cup. Buchanan is a lock for the World Cup, while Quinn is on the periphery; she'll be competing hard for a spot in Cyprus. If Matheson has been Canada's midfield engine for the last decade, Jessie Fleming could very well be its engine for the next decade (though please don't call her "the next Diana Matheson"; those "_____ is the next _____" comparisons never work out right). At just 16, she's already started five times for the senior team -- but with her athleticism and intelligence, she's hardly looked out of place. Something tells me that Herdman will, if it's at possible, give her a shot on the World Cup roster, though her status could depend on whether or not Matheson is fit to go. Ashley Lawrence, 19, and Janine Beckie, 20, are two other youngsters who'll likely find themselves on the bubble when World Cup roster selection time comes around. Lawrence has been highly touted within the Canadian system for years, while Beckie has shown goal-scoring promise as of late, scoring twice at the U-20 WWC and potting her first senior-team goal last month in a four-nations tournament in China. Thanks for the help It's good to see the men's national team's favourite feeder club, Unattached FC, helping out the women's national team as well. While this roster shows four players currently unattached, it does seem as though at least a couple of them actually are currently with clubs. Either way, Rule #18 of Canadian Soccer is in full effect: Unattached FC references are always hilarious. Always. So she's a midfielder now, or...? Every time the CSA releases a roster, there is usually at least one player who is listed at a position they don't normally play, leading us in the media (or in my case, "media") to wonder whether the head coach has something new in mind, or whether it's just a random typo. This time out, it's striker Jonelle Filigno being listed as a midfielder. Maybe the tournament has some kind of cap on the number of players that can be listed at each position, and Filigno drew the short straw? Canada is carrying seven strikers altogether, with Herdman wanting to see whether the likes of Beckie and Christina "Corky" Julien can earn their way onto the World Cup roster. Or maybe Filigno woke up in the middle of the night, in a cold sweat, and loudly declared to the universe, "I AM A MIDFIELDER!" We shall see (well, we won't, since there's no way of watching the Cyprus Cup, but you get my point). Obligatory reference to Canada not being in the Algarve Cup So, every year, Canada is in the Cyprus Cup, and every year in this space I wonder aloud "why aren't they in the Algarve Cup?" The Algarve Cup is older and more prestigious than the Cyprus Cup, and happens at the same time. Canada hasn't been to the tournament since 2003. The simple answer to my question is, of course, that we weren't invited. And if the tournament organizers don't invite our team, there really isn't too much that can be done, unless the Canadian squad plans to show up in Portugal, kick down the doors of the stadium and just run onto the pitch (not recommended). Of course, things have changed since I began making these yearly rants. The world of women's soccer has gone in the exact opposite direction of the rest of the economic world -- its middle class has been getting bigger and better. While Canada made it to the final of each of the first six editions of the Cyprus Cup (2008-2013), winning it thrice, we found ourselves scratching it out against Ireland (FIFA rank #29) in the fifth-place game at last year's tournament. This year's group, which sees #9-ranked Canada against Italy (#14), South Korea (#17) and Scotland (#21) is an interesting collection of what we'd call Tier II teams. Yes, it flies in the face of the "Canada is going to make the World Cup final on home turf wheeeeeee" narrative spewed by those who've only ever watched the team play in the Olympic semifinals and finals. But the way things are going, with new powerhouses such as Japan and France leaving Canada in the dust, maybe the Cyprus Cup is our comfort zone after all. So, get comfortable. Get back on top of the Cyprus Cup mountain. Win the dang thing and take that momentum into the World Cup. .

Now, yes, I've said repeatedly in this space -- and will continue to do so -- that one of the most important roles for head coach John Herdman is to figure out the plan for the post-Sinclair era. Canada's success over the past decade has been due, in large part, to Sinclair's at-times-otherworldly talent. That's not to detract from the skills or accomplishments of other members of her national-team generation; but it's indisputable that Canada is a profoundly more dangerous team with an in-form Sinclair than they are without her. The truth is, we haven't seen Sinclair at the height of her powers since the 2012 London Olympics, where she almost managed to barge Canada into the gold-medal final. The Canadian captain scored just once in all of 2014, though thankfully midfielder Sophie Schmidt was able to help fill the void, notching a half-dozen goals in perhaps her finest year as a member of the national team. Sinclair, of course, still won Canadian female player of the year because, if we're being honest, hers is the only name that some voters would even recognize. Anecdotal evidence suggests that those who follow the team most closely funneled their votes towards the likes of Schmidt, Diana Matheson, Desiree Scott and Erin McLeod. And indeed, Schmidt, McLeod and Matheson (if, fingers crossed, she's fit to play) will have massive, fundamental roles to play for Canada at the World Cup. But Sinclair still is -- and will remain, until several years after she's officially retired -- the face of the women's national team. So if this tournament is a sign that she has rediscovered her magic, it's an excellent development not just for the marketing of the team and the tournament, but for Canada's chances of advancing deep in the competition. If Matheson isn't recovered from her knee injury in time (again, fingers crossed), it means increased responsibilities for the likes of Schmidt (i.e. don't count on her to lead Canada in goals against this year). And when it comes to Canada's strike force -- well, Herdman has done the best he can in finding solutions for that post-Sinclair era. It's already included coaxing Kara Lang and Josee Belanger out of national-team retirement, though Lang has suffered another catastrophic injury, and Belanger hasn't recaptured her previous national-team form. It's also included the selective introduction of youngsters such as Janine Beckie who, in the game against South Korea, notched her first national-team goal in just her second senior appearance. Teenage centre-back Kadeisha Buchanan also popped her second national-team goal in the tourney, as she continues developing into the new, female version of Kevin McKenna. Adriana Leon also found the back of the net in China; another encouraging sign given that players such as Leon and Jonelle Filigno will likely be the ones relied upon up top for Canada in the years to come. For Canada to have success in the aforementioned post-Sinclair era, those sorts of players will need to step up and provide goal-scoring punch on a consistent basis. But whatever may happen years from now, one thing is clear -- if Canada is going to have success at home in the World Cup, they will need to score goals. That means they will need their best player to be their best player. And if the BaoAn Cup is any indication, Christine Sinclair might once again be preparing to peak at precisely the right moment for her country.

Prior to the opening whistle, the members of the Canadian team engaged in a spirited discussion about what day of the week it actually was, since they'd crossed the international date line and their internal circadian clocks hadn't yet adjusted. Melissa Tancredi thought to search for a definitive answer online, but for some strange reason found her Internet search engine wasn't working very well. South Korea took advantage of this internal distraction to launch multiple attempts at goal... the referee quickly put a stop to it since, unlike in pinball, the multi-ball feature is not permitted in international soccer. Once the referee restored order and the one-ball system was back in effect, South Korea again took advantage -- mostly because the Canadian players were fumbling with their phones, trying to figure out why Google wasn't working properly. Yeo Minji did the damage in the 34th minute. At halftime, John Herdman -- who had watched most of the first half perched atop the stadium like an eagle, so as to get his preferred view -- put his team's mind at ease by showing them all how to create an account on Weibo. With their net-surfing itch scratched, the players came out with a full head of steam in the second half. It was, predictably, the youngsters who got the biggest boost. Janine Beckie struck early in the first half, her first goal for the senior women's national team. She celebrated by posting on Weibo: "That's what happens when Canada calls up a Beckie #ThatsRightFloro" Shortly thereafter, defender Kadeisha Buchanan got in on the fun, converting a corner kick for her second career goal for Big Red. Play was temporarily halted when a loud noise pierced the stadium; it was later revealed that the sound was a squeal of delight from Buchanan's mom. (Most surprising is that her mom was still in Canada at the time.) Once that was sorted out, Buchanan and Desiree Scott broke things down with a celebratory dance, which I won't attempt to describe in fictional terms since it apparently actually happened and we should instead use our collective energy to find a video clip of it. That, as they say, was that. Canada's next game is against Mexico on Jan. 13... or is it the 12th?

GK- Erin McLeod | USA / Houston Dash GK- Stephanie Labbe | SWE / KIF Örebro GK- Karina LeBlanc | USA / Chicago Red Stars D- Kadeisha Buchanan | USA / West Virginia University D- Allysha Chapman | SWE / Eskilstuna United DFF D- Carmelina Moscato | USA / Seattle Reign FC D- Marie-Eve Nault | SWE / KIF Örebro 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 M- Jessie Fleming | CAN / London NorWest United M- Kaylyn Kyle | USA / Houston Dash M- Ashley Lawrence | USA / West Virginia University M- Sophie Schmidt | USA / Sky Blue FC M- Desiree Scott | ENG / Notts County F- Janine Beckie | USA / Texas Tech University F- Josee Bélanger | CAN / Comètes de Laval F- Nkem Ezurike | USA / Boston Breakers F- Jonelle Filigno | USA / Sky Blue FC F- Adriana Leon | USA / Chicago Red Stars F- Christine Sinclair | USA / Portland Thorns F- Melissa Tancredi | USA / Chicago Red Stars Not listed are, of course, Diana Matheson and Lauren Sesselmann, both of whom will be fervently hoping that their respective knee injuries will heal in time for them to take part in the tournament. The absence of either one of them would be a big blow to Canada's chances; not having either of them would be extra troublesome for a squad that has not been traditionally awash with depth. Herdman has worked hard -- and been largely effective, at times -- in bridging that gap and widening the player pool, so the loss of two crucial players like Matheson and Sesselmann can be, to some extent, mitigated. But even so, yeah, like I said, keep those fingers and toes crossed for the ladies over in China. The two most interesting inclusions on this roster are likely strikers Janine Beckie and Nkem Ezurike. Beckie, a 20-year-old playing at Texas Tech University, scored a couple of goals and impressed many with her play at last summer's Under-20 World Cup. Her goals per 90 minutes rate in her three seasons at Texas Tech have been 0.765, 0.681 and 0.891. That earned her a look from Herdman and her first cap with the senior national team in a closed-door friendly with Sweden in November. Ezurike, 22, is the all-time leading scorer for the University of Michigan, with 49 goals over her four-year college career. She broke onto the scene for the national-team program back in 2008, scoring two goals for Canada at the inaugural FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. She featured sparingly for Canada at the 2012 U-20 World Cup, but didn't get a look from Herdman until last spring's Cyprus Cup. It's unlikely either will be featuring for Canada at this year's Women's World Cup, but it's a shrewd move from Herdman to build up his pool of strikers as much as possible. As has been said over and over and over in this space (and will be said again, right now), Christine Sinclair won't be around forever. How much longer does she have? Well, look south of the border, where many USA fans are howling for Abby Wambach, the most prolific scorer in the history of international soccer, to no longer be a regular starter. Wambach, for what it's worth, is almost exactly three years older than Sinclair. Of course, if Sinclair (and Melissa Tancredi) can catch lightning in a bottle this summer, in the same way they did at London 2012, then they'll have cemented their legacies and ensured the goodwill will keep flowing for the Canadian team for years to come. But Herdman's job -- especially in light of a contract extension that'll supposedly see him behind Canada's bench until 2020 -- is not just to focus on the 2015 World Cup, but the 2019 World Cup as well. So even players who won't find themselves making the cut this summer know that the work they put in now could pay dividends down the road. That continuity can only mean good things for the program. It's why I praised Herdman's contract extension at the time, and why I continue to say that whatever happens at this year's World Cup, he should be sticking around. As for the immediate future, the Four Nations Cup poses some interesting challenges for Canada -- South Korea on Sunday, Mexico on Jan. 13 and China on Jan. 15. Canada's last encounter with South Korea was a 3-0 win in Edmonton on Oct. 30, 2013, though they can't be taken lightly, having become a consistent top-20-ranked nation that finished atop its group in World Cup qualifying. As for Mexico, Canada's had plenty of tussles with its regional rival in years past, and while the good gals have traditionally come out as winners, the Mexicans are also a team in the ascension. The host nation will provide the most intriguing match, given that they'll be in Group A with Canada at the World Cup. Will both teams play a cagey match, not wanting to give away too much? Or will they go all out in the hopes of terrifying the opposition? (It's the former, by the way.) Canada's last appearance at the Four Nations tourney in China was in 2013, in which they defeated China (yay!), lost to South Korea (boo!) and drew with Norway (meh), good enough for second place.

Perhaps the biggest factor is the team's health. With six months to go until the tournament kicks off, head coach John Herdman is having to prepare himself for the possibility that his side will be without both Diana Matheson and Lauren Sesselmann, two players that have been absolutely crucial to the team's success in recent years. And while the meteoric rise of Kadeisha Buchanan has somewhat mitigated things on the back end, depth is undoubtedly a concern for the Canadian team. Another injury to one of the club's veteran defenders between now and the World Cup could throw the team's entire plan into disarray. Matheson has been the beating heart of this team for a decade, and cannot be easily replaced. Jessie Fleming has already shown the intelligence and attacking spark that could make her a linchpin of the side for years to come. But she is 16 years old. It is not fair or realistic to expect that she will step into a starring role next summer (though, get back to me about that in time for the 2019 tournament). Another huge factor affecting Canada's fate will be the answer to the question: Which Christine Sinclair will we see? It's not an exaggeration to say that much of the team's success over the past 10 years has been due, in some part, to Sinclair's otherworldly talents. It's also been abundantly clear to those who've watched the team since the Olympics that she has lost a step. The way in which she could -- and routinely would -- grab a game by the scruff of the neck simply hasn't been evidenced over the last 18 months. To be clear, she is still a massively talented player. And at 31, she is not "done" by any stretch of the imagination. But if Sinclair is at less than her full powers, one of the most pressing questions for Canada becomes "where will the goals come from?" The answer, based on 2014, might be Sophie Schmidt -- she bagged nearly half of Canada's goals this past calendar year (six of 14). Will this turn out to be an anomaly, or is Schmidt merely striding into her goal-scoring prime (as a midfielder)? That remains to be seen, but it's somewhat troubling that just three of those 14 goals came from Canadian strikers (one each for Sinclair, Adriana Leon and Jonelle Filigno). Melissa Tancredi appears to have rounded back into full match fitness, but like Sinclair, she seemed to be providing a once-in-a-lifetime performance at the London Games. Can Tancredi, who'll be 33 next summer, recapture that magic? Now, given the extent to which this tournament is -- in Canada, anyway -- built on the troublesome narrative that Canada is going to breeze its way into the deep stages of the tournament, a la its heroic run in London, questions such as these make some people uncomfortable. After all, these are Canada's sweethearts, right? This is all going to come together in front of the home fans, right? This is one of the world's top teams and anyone questioning their ability to reach the podium is simply a "hater", right? Well... yes, maybe and no. So many people seem to forget (or perhaps never knew to begin with) that just a year before the London Olympics, Canada finished dead last at the 2011 Women's World Cup. It was, more or less, the same roster. The most significant change was John Herdman replacing Carolina Morace as head coach. And while that transition surely had a profound impact, there's another factor at play as well. In short tournaments, you just never know. World Cups don't, much as they may claim to do, determine the "best" team in the world. Sure, you need to be a very, very good team in order to win. But you also need to have, somewhere along the line, been the beneficiary of some good fortune, either on or off the field. That begins with the health and form of your players. It extends through the draw, which determines which other teams you'll match up against. And it carries through the competition where, with so few games to separate the teams, every tiny event -- a fluctuation in weather,a key referee's decision, players' individual movements at vital moments in the game -- can have huge ramifications. France utterly humiliated Canada at the 2011 Women's World Cup. One year later, they were the team that fell short of bronze thanks to Matheson's dramatic last-minute winner. And while Canada earned that medal by playing a great tournament, they were also the beneficiary of some good fortune -- specifically, France's utter inability to finish the myriad scoring opportunities it created in that third-place showdown. All of this may seem like a way of indirectly saying that Canada is doomed to fail at this tournament. So let me make it very clear -- that is not what I'm saying. After all, this is a team that -- despite missing Sesselmann and Tancredi, and despite Sinclair's slide in goal-scoring production -- was able to play solid, competitive matches against the world's top three teams (USA, Germany and Japan) over the course of the last 12 months. That is not coincidence. Canada is not at the level of those teams, but our ability to hang with them is a sign that, when the stars align in our favour, we can be a dangerous squad. So yes, it is entirely reasonable to think that Canada will defeat China, New Zealand and the Netherlands. And it is entirely reasonable to think that, should that happen, Canada will also defeat whichever third-place team we meet in the Round of 16. Then you've got the quarterfinals. Two wins away from the final. That's when the prime-time teams start stepping up. That is the stage where Canada -- if we make it that far, which again is no sure thing -- will most likely be the underdog. But, once more, it's a short tournament. As I've said before, Team A might be able to beat Team B on 99 occasions out of 100, which would logically mean that Team A is the better team. But if Team B is able to get the stars to align in just the right way, at just the right time, in the knockout stages of a big tournament... that's when everything changes. We almost saw that happen in the semifinals back in London. We should win our group next summer. We should challenge for the quarterfinals. But the narrative that Canada is destined to march into the semifinals or even the finals is, to put it quite simply, fluff. Today's draw doesn't change that fundamental fact. Fluff is fine for those whose job it is to move tickets. But you shouldn't need such fluff to convince you this tournament is worth following, or that this team is worth supporting. Cheer for Canada because it's our team, not because anything is guaranteed about how they're going to do. And support this tournament -- i.e. buy some tickets and get to the stadium(s), if it's feasible for you to do -- because it's the best opportunity that Canada has had to show the world that this sport means something to us.

Goalkeeper Erin McLeod, celebrating her 100th senior cap for her country, wore the captain's armband in the match. Prior to the match, her teammates had prepared her a giant dolphin-shaped cake to celebrate. They didn't think to ask whether or not she actually likes dolphins (they're OK, in her opinion), and she didn't think to ask why the icing on the cake read "Happy 6th Birthday Timmy"; instead, they all laughed and enjoyed the well-meaning gesture. McLeod, for her part, celebrated the occasion -- and also marked a throwback Monday, this is totally a thing now, maybe -- by meticulously gelling her hair into 100 dangerous-looking multi-coloured spikes. Two soccer balls were deflated, a la Lisa Simpson playing volleyball, during the pre-game warmup. Also the referee brought some noise about "dangerous to opposing players" or whatever jazz that's all about, probably some new rule no one's ever heard of 'cause maybe she's Norwegian lolololo amirite? Anyway, after a 15-minute delay in which the Swedes put together their own chairs and tables on which to enjoy a snack of pickled herring, the game eventually got started. Canada's lineup featured the usual suspects plus Jessie Fleming (who'll be a usual suspect before long) and Allysha Chapman. There is no evidence to suggest she has anything to do with the company that produces ice cream, but there is also no readily-available evidence, so we'll assume that she's totally an heir to an ice cream empire. The first half consisted mainly of the players quoting articles from The Economist to one another, boastfully comparing their two countries' liveability indexes and similar such markers of their greatness. Then someone spoiled the fun by mentioning the relative conditions of the nations' aboriginal populations, making everyone feel all bashful and eager to change the subject. That change of subject did wonders for the soccer-playing element of the game, as just before the half, Sophie Schmidt -- through sheer force of will alone -- caused the ball to materialize into the path of Jonelle Filigno who (we can only assume) literally scythed her way through the Swedish defence to score the game's only goal. That was met with congratulations from most of her teammates, with the exception of Kaylyn Kyle, who scoffed, "That's not how they use a scythe where I come from!" Hey, yeah, the second half happened too, and the players -- certainly not the author of this piece, no way -- ran out of creative ideas so there wasn't much to report. Canada head coach John Herdman, continuing his ongoing experiment of observing the game from different vantage points, drove to a nearby 7-Eleven and ordered (reportedly) a large raspberry Slurpee. "Full credit to the girls," he later said. "They had a tough go of it, I think. Couldn't see much of the game, truth be told, but it's all a process. We want to be on that podium next year!" Indeed you do, John. Indeed you do.

This is to take nothing away from what was a solid performance against the reigning world champions on Tuesday night, especially given the absence of stalwart midfielder Diana Matheson (whose status will have a massive impact on Canada's hopes next summer). If not for a heartbreaking last-second defensive lapse, Big Red would have escaped B.C. place with a draw, after a dramatic stoppage-time equalizer from Sophie Schmidt. But here's the thing about tournaments -- what's "fair" doesn't come into the equation. At the end of the day, if you get the results, you move on. If you don't, you don't. Was Canada's 1-0 victory over France in the Olympic bronze-medal game two years ago a "fair" result, based on the run of play? Not at all. But at the end of the day, our ladies are the ones who can wear the medals. On Tuesday night, Herdman adjusted his tactics to accommodate the absence of Matheson. That, combined with the return of Desiree Scott to the starting lineup, made Canada a much more competitive side than they were in Saturday's 3-0 loss. What was also on display was Herdman's ongoing aptitude at identifying the right talent for his side -- Allysha Chapman effectively slid into Herdman's system, and while she's not necessarily a replacement for Lauren Sesselmann, the last seven days should make us feel a bit less terrified about the prospect of Sesselmann not recovering from her knee injury in time for the tournament. Jessie Fleming, the 16-year-old, demonstrated why Herdman -- and many others in the country -- have faith in her, future as a midfield spark plug with on-field vision that would be the envy of players twice her age. Speaking of which, it's distinctly possible that some day down the road, we'll look back at Fleming's career intersecting with Christine Sinclair's in the same way we consider Mario Lemieux's stint as a teammate of a young Sidney Crosby. And speaking of repaid faith, it's worth noting that Kadeisha Buchanan, who wasn't even in the CanWNT picture during that Olympic run, is already an unquestioned rock on the back line and well on her way to not only being a Canadian fan favourite, but a potential future captain of the team. Yes, she made a mistake on Japan's second goal, but find me one top-level player who's never made a howler of a play in their careers and I'll forward you a million dollars. Melissa Tancredi appears to be back to full fitness after being largely absent from the national team since London 2012, which is an encouraging sign given that she almost single-handedly bulldozed Canada through the group stage at that Olympic tourney. Tancredi, remember, had the tournament of a lifetime in London, which was one of the many stars that aligned in getting Canada to the podium. Sinclair, as has become Canadian lore, was at the peak of her powers. Jonelle Filigno cracked a perpetual-highlight-reel goal to solidify the team's quarter-final victory against the hosts. Throw in solid goalkeeping, bend-but-don't-break defence and a healthy helping of good fortune, and Canada found its way to that feel-good story. Let me be clear -- anyone making predictions right now about Canada's finish at next summer's World Cup, in either a positive or negative manner, is being foolish. Without knowing who Canada will match up with in the group stage (and who they'd potentially meet in the knockout rounds), predicting where they'll end up is less than pointless. Heck, even knowing who they'll play and evaluating their recent form isn't always instructive -- the team had high hopes after a hot run heading into the 2011 WWC, and finished dead last. Based on that, few would have given them a prayer of hitting the London podium a year later, yet there they are. As it stands right now, depth is a serious issue (when isn't it?), but if the group of players Herdman has at his disposal are healthy and willing to buy in, literally anything is possible for this team at the next Women's World Cup. This team could make the final, as Herdman keeps saying. This team could also fail to get out of the group stage. We just don't know. That includes you. You don't know. That's a testament both to the rapid growth of the global women's game, and a nod to the aforementioned capricious (and often cruel) nature of tournament play. After all, Team A might beat Team B 99 times out of 100, but if that 100th time happens to come during the knockout round of a big competition, that changes everything. Based on the four big friendlies this year, it is conceivable that Canada could defeat the USA, Germany or Japan. But also based on those games, it is clear that those three teams aren't ranked top of the world for nothing. At times, they appear to be operating on a completely different plane than the Canadian team does. Here is one pronouncement I am prepared to make at this point, though -- whatever happens at next summer's World Cup, locking up Herdman was the right move. No matter what happens at WWC2015, Herdman must remain the head coach of the women's national team. Sure, much of the support for him comes from the fact that he's an eminently likeable guy -- though as we've seen before in this country, cults of personality can be profoundly dangerous. But it's not just about his public persona (though that has its own role in growing the game here). As mentioned, his player evaluation has been spot-on thus far. He clearly has the buy-in and support of the team. And it's clear from the two years' worth of evidence we have that he seemingly always has a plan -- be it for a specific game or for the bigger picture as it relates to the integration of the different levels of the program. The generation that stepped onto the podium in London was full of remarkable talents. But by the time Herdman's contract is done, nearly none of those players will remain. Another unavoidable reality is that there exists a void between that golden generation and the next generation, the one that will be the backbone of Canada's squad at the 2019 Women's World Cup. Herdman's job is to bridge that gap, to integrate a new generation of players as the likes of Sinclair, Tancredi, Matheson, Wilkinson, Moscato, Sesselmann, McLeod, LeBlanc and others drift away from the national-team scene. We already have an idea of some names that may step into those roles. But there is much work yet to be done. Herdman must be permitted to see his plan through to completion. The 2015 Women's World Cup will be promoted in this country as a triumphant moment, the pinnacle for the women's program, a chance to build upon the London Games and ascend to the top of the mountain right here at home. This is what will sell tickets. This is what will fill youngsters' minds with dreams, and fill the players' hearts with motivation. In fact, the 2015 tournament is almost a transitional one. We'll see the London heroes with a celebratory last hurrah in their own backyards, and a number of youngsters will get the opportunity of a lifetime. This doesn't mean the team will bow out meekly; indeed, as has been said already, Canada is a good team and has the potential to make an impactful showing. Can Canada, right now, properly be considered in the same stratosphere as the Americans, Germans and Japanese on a consistent, month-by-month basis? The last few months have given us an answer -- no, they can't. Can Canada, some day, climb its way into that discussion as one of the world's top teams? That answer remains unclear -- and while next summer's World Cup will provide some key insight, it will not give a definitive answer one way or another. If, however, one day down the road, other nations start bringing Canada into their backyard to help them prepare for an upcoming World Cup, to see how they stack up against a team like ours -- that will be the clearest sign of all.

“We’ve brought players that have that experience but also have that blend of youth,” Herdman said in a CSA news release. “I think that it’s an important feature as we look for the right group that will take us through the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015.” Spoiler alert, on two fronts -- one, John Herdman didn't actually say those words (yeah, I know, really pulling the curtain back on the press release game here). And two -- he's already got the right group. He has his group, and we know who that group will be. If you've followed the women's program over the past 18 months, you've probably correctly guessed 90% of the roster even without reading it. But what the heck, for reference's sake, here's the roster for those two Japan games: GK- Stephanie Labbe | SWE / KIF Orebro GK- Erin McLeod | USA / Houston Dash D- Kadeisha Buchanan | USA / West Virginia University D- Allysha Chapman | SWE / Eskilstuna United DFF D- Rhian Wilkinson | CAN / Comètes de Laval D- Sura Yekka | CAN / Brams United D- Emily Zurrer | SWE / Jitex BK D- Carmelina Moscato | USA / Seattle Reign FC D- Rachel Quon | USA / Chicago Red Stars M- Jessie Fleming | CAN / London NorWest SC M- Kaylyn Kyle | USA / Houston Dash M- Ashley Lawrence | USA / West Virginia University M- Diana Matheson | USA / Washington Spirit M- Sophie Schmidt | USA / Sky Blue FC M- Desiree Scott | ENG / Notts County FC F- Adriana Leon | USA / Chicago Stars F- Christine Sinclair | USA / Portland Thorns F- Melissa Tancredi | USA / Chicago Red Stars F- Josée Bélanger | CAN / Comètes de Laval F- Jonelle Filigno | USA / Sky Blue FC Surprised? Nope, me neither. Karina LeBlanc's not there, but that's almost assuredly a logistical issue of some kind. Barring injury, she'll be on the World Cup roster. Between her, Erin McLeod and Stephanie Labbe -- who's had an outstanding season in Sweden -- Canada has an embarrassment of riches at the goalkeeper position. The only possibly unfamiliar name is Allysha Chapman. The 25-year-old defender represented Canada at the 2008 U-20 Women's World Cup and has been with the senior team once before, back in 2009. An alumnus of LSU -- which quite loftily describes her as "the most decorated defensive standout in the history of the LSU Soccer program" -- Chapman played all but one game this season for Eskilstuna United in Sweden, notching two goals along the way. Including players like Chapman and Rachel Quon is Herdman's attempt to build some ready-made depth in the absence of the versatile Lauren Sesselmann, still recovering from a knee injury. And while teenager Kadeisha Buchanan is the team's undisputed breakout star of the last two years, it remains to be seen whether fellow youngster Sura Yekka is ready to step into prime time on a regular basis. And while we're at it, two of their also-already-familiar teenage counterparts -- Jessie Fleming and Ashley Lawrence -- continue to make their case for inclusion on next year's big-tournament side. That quartet, along with defender Rebecca Quinn, likely represent the teens with the best shot at cracking the World Cup roster. If I had to pick one who'll likely make it, it's Buchanan. If I had two, well, then it gets tougher -- and that's what these kids will be fighting for against Japan. Otherwise, we've got our well-known conquering heroes from London 2012, including Melissa Tancredi, continuing to carry the torch for Big Red. And let's be clear -- this is no issue of past-it veterans clinging desperately to their spots, to the detriment of the program. The likes of Matheson and Schmidt have torn it up in NWSL. Desiree Scott is called "destroyer" for a reason, and she's just hitting her athletic prime. Christine Sinclair and Melissa Tancredi may no longer be at the peak of their powers -- remember, it was the remarkable coincidence of both of them hitting their peak powers at precisely the same time that lifted Canada to the Olympic podium -- but they're both still pretty darn fine players. So, no, this isn't a matter of most of these players competing for their spots on the team, because you could probably pencil in Canada's starting XI for its World Cup opener today, and barring injury or other freak occurrences, probably get it pretty much right. Aside from the fringe starters and the kids, who'll be fighting for places, we pretty much know who and what this team is. No, this is about a group of players who've tasted blood -- or bronze, as the case may be -- and liked it. They want more. They want to show London wasn't a one-off, or a fluke occurrence. They want to show they can hang with the world's best not just this month, but next summer when it matters the most. Will they do it? Well, I'll say what I've said all along -- Herdman's oft-repeated goal of being in the Women's World Cup final seems preposterously lofty (bordering on disingenuous), especially given that this team finished dead last in the 2011 tournament. But then again, I also wouldn't have given the team -- much as I may love them -- much of a chance of striking bronze in London either, and look what happened there. At the end of the day, the prognostications from coaches and media members mean nothing. It's all about what the players are capable of doing on the field, when the heat is on... and our clearest sign yet of Canada's chances will come in a few short days, against the reigning world champs.

While the Reds remain mathematically still alive in their quest for a berth in the MLS playoffs -- they'll need to win their final two and have Columbus lose their final two -- their season was essentially finished at the moment Jermain Defoe's penalty was saved by backup Houston goalkeeper Tyler Deric on Wednesday night at BMO Field. So that leaves the club, yet again, at a crossroads. More importantly, it leaves many supporters at a crossroads. Because if TFC -- as they almost certainly will -- misses the playoffs again, it will have come after signing three high-profile foreign Designated Players, after the boss (who's already on his way out) promised a playoff appearance, after season-ticket prices were frozen... essentially, after the club used every available tool in its arsenal to convince fans that no, TFC wasn't teetering on the verge of utter and complete irrelevance. Well, sadly, here we are, and TFC is teetering on the verge of utter and complete irrelevance. And barring the unlikely in the next two weeks' worth of league results, the Reds are about to fumble over the edge. (This, of course, makes the ongoing expansion of BMO Field -- which never actually comes close to being full anymore -- all the more farcical.) As I've said on social media, I have profound respect for those who'll continue to stick it out with the team. While the number of hardcore supporters has continued to dwindle in the stadium's south end (coinciding with a rise in the number of cheap-ticket-hunters who want to "have the real experience", sitting down in the precise seat assigned by their ticket), there remains a solid core of good people who, much to the detriment of their own health, will still be there next year. And there will remain those who, even if they can rarely make it to the stadium on game day, will continue to live and die by the team's results, even as the franchise inevitably goes through its ridiculous yearly cycle of scorching and salting the earth on which it stood, in search of a brand new solution, new management, new players, new text-message contests and so on and so forth. Once again, to all of you, my hats are off. But there will be those for whom this eighth year of misery -- after so much was promised -- will represent the moment when enough is enough. They'll decide that however much Nick Hornby's romantic vision of the unshakably-devoted lifetime supporter is something to be valorized, the reality is that putting gas in their own car and food on the table for their kids should probably take precedence over buying a new scarf and cable package to follow whoever happens to be trotted out on the field in Year Nine's version of the TFC Annual Revolving Door. And to all of you, for whom this may be the final time you bother to read something online about Toronto FC... well, y'know what, I can't blame you. There was a time I would have blamed you. That time wasn't too long ago, actually. See, I'm one of those people stubbornly beholden to ideas like loyalty, and for much of my life, I've balked at those who didn't share the exact same conception of it as I did. You pick your side and you're with that side forever and that's that -- that was my simplistic notion of loyalty, whether it came to sports, politics or anything else. As I said above, though, people grow up. Take me, for instance. I now live thousands of kilometres away from BMO Field, so getting to the stadium for matchday is definitely not in the cards. I've got new responsibilities that have severely curtailed my ability to follow and comment upon the game (as you may have noticed). And having watched the last two games on TV alongside my two-year-old niece (who, thankfully, has already decided she hasn't much interest in TFC), I've been reminded that there's more to life than hurling obscenities at the tragicomedic athletic failings of a collection of people I've never met. So, what does this mean? Is this the moment at which I pronounce to the world that I'm swearing off TFC for good? Against all my better judgment, it isn't. Following this team has continued to get more and more difficult, not just logistically but psychologically, over the course of 2014. But as someone who's gone through a period of profound personal change in the last six months, staying invested in this team has helped me stay connected to what's been a very important part of my life for nearly a decade now -- a wacky, irreplaceable community of people who similarly persist in inflicting this doom upon themselves. The way that many of us make it seem worthwhile -- whether following Toronto FC, Canada or any other perennially underachieving squad -- is to convince ourselves, and each other, that when success is finally had, when the promised land is finally reached, we will be repaid for our faith in a way that no johnny-come-lately could ever comprehend or experience themselves. This, of course, is nonsense, since it is predicated on the belief that said success is inevitable; that because there are those of us who refuse to abandon ship, we will eventually see the shore, that we are somehow owed such salvation. We are owed nothing. Long periods of suffering do not ensure redemption. For proof, ask any fan of the Chicago Cubs. It's stark and it's distressing, but it is the truth. And it's why I can no longer find fault with people whose commitment to this ridiculous cause has hit an intractable wall. Because we all know that if TFC misses the playoffs, as they almost assuredly will, then the team will once again go through its yearly fire sale. Panic sells, panic buys. All in the name of tangibly demonstrating that next year, things will be different: "See? Shiny new players, shiny new seats! Shiny new team! Shiny new results!" Of course, the only new thing TFC could actually do at this point is not panic. Is this an awful team? It isn't (though it sometimes plays that way). Is the core of the team fundamentally rotten? No, it isn't. Does this team need changes in a few key positions? Yes, it does. Does that mean the entire roster should be completely overhauled, with some new name-brand foreign star brought into the mix, regardless of whether or not he's committed to this team? Of course it doesn't. What the team needs is some measure of consistency; allowing the group of good, capable players the team has under contract to have more time to gel, more time to form camaraderie, more time to build success. But by now, we all know that consistency is anathema to TFC. Actually, that's not entirely true. The team does consistently miss the playoffs. And the team does consistently alienate, exhaust and shrink its once-fervent fan base with its inability to actually stick to one plan for more than a few months on end. So if you've decided that after eight years, your emotional energy and wallet contents are better spent on your family, your friends or some other endeavour that doesn't cause you to routinely fall into existential rabbit holes, then I can't blame you. Really, truly and honestly. There is so much more to life than punishing yourself by watching a team like TFC continue to do what TFC does. Then again, this entire post might look completely ridiculous in two weeks' time. Perhaps the improbable will happen; perhaps Toronto will collect the precise combination of results it needs (from its own squad and from other teams in the East) to clinch TFC its first-ever spot in the playoffs. MLS, like every other North American professional league, is built on the ideal of parity -- so while improbable, this occurrence is far from impossible. Of course, scraping into the playoffs as the fifth seed is hardly the pinnacle of glory; in fact, in some ways it could only serve to wallpaper over the cracks and lead to a false sense of security, followed by a precipitous fall in the subsequent season (see: Montreal Impact). But whatever the next two weeks (or more) hold, I will foolishly cling to the notion that following and supporting Toronto FC is something worthy of my time. If you're afflicted with the same sports-tinged brand of cognitive dissonance as I am, then you know what I'm talking about, and I'll see you next year. And if not, well, we'll see you again when the day finally comes that Toronto FC somehow puts it all together. Sorry, if the day comes.

Speculative whispering engulfs the room until the door opens once again and Ryan Nelsen enters. Assembled group stands up in ovation. Ryan Nelsen: Oh, too kind, really. Really, stop it. Unnamed Man: Come on in, Ryan. Have a seat. We're so happy to see you. Nelsen: Thank you, thank you. I've never been in a group like this before, but I'm sure that lack of experience won't be an impediment at all. Unnamed Man: Right. *clears throat* So, I'm sure all of you know Ryan's story... Nelsen: (interrupting) I've played in big games! I've played in the World Cup! Momentary silence. Torsten Frings: Well, so did I. Amado Guevara: Me too. Julio Cesar: Everybody plays in the World Cup, don't they? Samuel: Even I have! Andrea Lombardo: Do under-20 World Cups count? All: No! Lombardo: Knock at the door. A man pokes his head in. Jermain Defoe: Hey, did someone say World Cup? Unnamed Man: You're not scheduled to be here for another four months! Defoe: Whoops, sorry! Door closes. Unnamed Man: Gentlemen, let's focus here. You'll note that since our last meeting, TFC has lost three straight games against conference rivals! They haven't scored a goal! They've slipped from a comfortable playoff spot to almost being out of contention altogether! And we've got Ryan to thank for that! Group applauds, except for one member who stands up. Sam Cronin: Wait a minute, I still don't understand this. Earnshaw: Oh, here we go again... Cronin: Ryan got fired after the New England game. How does he get credit for the two losses since then? Earnshaw: Why don't you just... Cronin: And also, how does he get credit with helping our cause when he was still there? I mean, one can't be a TFC Castaway if they're still with the team, right? It's a paradox. Unnamed Man: Sam, Sam, Sam. What are we going to do with you? Cronin: I dunno, listen to my grievances and take measures to ensure they're addressed? Group erupts into laughter. Unnamed Man: Oh Sam, you're talking like a TFC fan now. It's so adorable. Amarikwa: Hahaha, I get it! Gala: Shut up! Unnamed Man: Gentlemen, the simple truth is this -- Toronto FC is falling apart, again. Toronto FC will miss the playoffs, again. And however it comes about, and whoever is responsible for it, our mission is once again being fulfilled. Loud throat-clearing from one member of the group. Unnamed Man: But this week, our plaudits go to our brethren in Philadelphia. Conor, who is clearly battling some kind of throat irritation, really got us off on the right foot with that early goal. Conor Casey: Hey, yeah, that's me. Y'know, no problem, whatever, just doing my job. Cool, right. Yeah. Cool. Unnamed Man: Next time, perhaps you could wait until most of the fans have shown up, though. It always makes it sweeter to break as many of their hearts as possible. Casey: Oh, yeah, cool, alright. Conor does what Conor does, y'know. Yeah. Unnamed Man: Right. And Maurice, we'll do what we can to make sure you get credit where it's due. I'm pretty sure I saw you get a touch on that second goal. Everyone saw that, right? Muttering from group suggests agreement. Unnamed Man: Maurice, why don't you take a bow? Group starts looking around, expecting to see him. He is nowhere to be found. Unnamed Man: That's strange. Perhaps he's just late. Cronin: Or maybe he knows the truth! Earnshaw: Oh for the love of... you want me to take care of him, boss? Unnamed Man: No, no. It's always good to have dissenting voices within any organization. After all, it's worked well for Toronto FC, hasn't it? Group erupts in uproarious laughter. Attention turns to Amarikwa. Amarikwa: ...I don't get it. Gala: It's irony. Amarikwa: You mean like a coincidence? Gala: No, a coincidence isn't irony. Amarikwa: Yeah it is. Gala: No it isn't. Just because dummies constantly use a word incorrectly over and over, that doesn't make their definition correct. Earnshaw: Then how come they changed the dictionary definition of "literally" to mean "figuratively"? Gala: They did? Earnshaw: They did. Gala: Wow. That's literally the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Earnshaw: What an ironic thing to say! Group erupts in laughter. Attention turns to Amarikwa. Amarikwa: Oh... I get it now! Group focuses rapt attention on Amarikwa, waiting to see if he really got it. Amarikwa: The internal dysfunction is what has made TFC the club it is, and that lack of stability has not only meant poor results, but also resulted in such a preposterous degree of player turnover that they more or less play against a former player every single week, despite not having even completed eight seasons in the league. And boss was ironically stating that dissent was a good thing for our group, as a means of paralleling it with the club we're all here to fight against. Group pauses. Gala: ... I don't get it. Samuel: And then I ate the bowl! Group erupts in uproarious laughter again.