Canadian soccer women seek redemption vs. France

Playing in the final of the Cyprus Cup tournament is becoming old hat for the Canadian women’s soccer team. The squad is looking for their third consecutive victory in the tournament and fourth victory in the five times since the competition started in 2008.

The only time they didn’t win the tournament was in 2009, when they lost 3-1 to England.

The 2012 edition of the final has a redemptive feel to it as Canada will be taking on France, the side that humiliated Canada 4-0 the last time they met at last summer’s World Cup in Germany. Canada, despite high expectations heading in, was unceremoniously knocked out with that loss and went on to finish in last place overall.

It triggered a change as Carolina Morace was out and John Herdman was in as head coach and the players all admit the French will be coming up against a different team than the one they faced in Germany.

"Those who watched the World Cup know we have a bit of redemption for this game," said midfielder Desiree Scott, who came on as a substitute in the loss to the French. "It’s definitely going to be a battlefield out there and we just want to show the massive steps we’ve taken to improve as a team and set things right when we play them."

Scott’s been one of the emerging talents of the Canadian side in the past few months. She made her presence known in January at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Vancouver and has gone from strength to strength, being  one of the most reliable players in the Cyprus Cup thus far for Canada.Despite her small size, Scott is a ferocious tackler and talking to players like Scott, they appreciate what the new head coach, and especially his positivity, has done to help their confidence.

"(Herdman’s) just sort of given me the confidence that maybe I didn’t have before. He just put me in a position that happens to suit my abilities," she said. "I’m strong. I like to start the play. He’s just found the right position for me and gave me confidence that maybe I didn’t have before."

Tuesday’s encounter with the French could be the 100th cap for Canada for veteran goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc should she be on the field. In the three games in the tournament thus far, LeBlanc, Erin McLeod and Stephanie Labbe each have had a start in net.

'Gold medal skin'

"I think you’ll see a different team," said LeBlanc. (Herdman) is so detail oriented that everything is thought about. He always talks about leave no stones unturned. What you’ll see is a team that’s prepared, organized. Obviously we were embarrassed after the loss in the World Cup. It’s not something I think about every day because there are some things as a professional athlete you just have to say you that was a bad day."

A catchphrase, started by Herdman, has caught on and is being used to describe the process the Canadians are taking on their road to London. The players talk about their "gold medal skin." An Olympic gold medal is the goal and everything they do is a deliberate step to make sure they have the best chance of achieving that goal.

"You envision the end and you envision where you will be as an individual and as a team and now that’s what the gold medal skin is," explained LeBlanc. "If that’s what you want to be then what do you have to do today to get there and that’s kind of what it means."

Canada’s lineup against France at the World Cup was without Regina’s Kelly Parker. Much like Scott, the 30-year old Parker has earned herself very important in the Canadian lineup. She was injured when Canada lost to France and is ready to savour this opportunity to get a crack at redemption.

"It (was) one of the biggest tournaments in the world so for me there’s a lot of frustration especially to see our team struggle a little bit. I wish I could have done more," said Parker.

 Parker opened Canada’s scoring at this Cyprus Cup with a long-range shot against Scotland. Canada went on to win that game 5-1 and, of note, superstar forward Christine Sinclair only has one of the Canadian goals this entire tournament. It’s been one of the pleasant surprises of this tournament to see Canadian scoring coming from a number of different places.

"I think anything’s possible," said Parker of her and her teammates. "I think that our expectations are to get on that podium and ultimately to win a(n) (Olympic) gold medal but just to be able to compete with the best teams in the world consistently. Anytime you expect to get on a podium you’re going to have to have consistent performances."

For his part, Herdman is looking for a little redemption of his own. Herdman was in charge of the New Zealand team that finished runners up to the Canadians in the 2010 edition of the Cyprus Cup.

On that day, Herdman’s Football Ferns were undone by a single goal to Morace’s Canada 1-0 on a goal by midfielder Diana Matheson who is still out recovering from a knee injury.

"Thanks for rubbing that one in," said Herdman with a laugh when that was mentioned to him after Canada’s 1-0 win over the Netherlands in their final group stage game.

"We wanted the French because we know they’re going to be at the Olympic Games so fingers crossed."

Tuesday’s game will be a real indication as to how Canada has come under Herdman and a real test of that ‘gold medal skin’ they hope to have solidly in place by the time they reach London.