Herdman names experienced Canada women's squad for London 2012

By David Gold

June 28 – Canada’s women’s football coach John Herdman has named his 18-strong squad for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

He has chosen an experienced lineup too, with each of the 18 women selected having an average of 76 caps for Canada.

Captain Christine Sinclair (pictured above), who has played more times for her country and scored more goals than anyone else, and was the top goalscorer in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Olympic qualifiers, leads the squad.

She is hoping they can improve on their disappointing display at last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, where Canada crashed out at the group stage after losing all three games to Nigeria, France and hosts Germany.

“We’re a very confident team right now and we feel that on any given day we can beat the Japans, the USAs, the Swedens,” Sinclair said.

“But realistically we have not shown that in a huge tournament like the Olympics or World Cup in quite some time.

“We’re a confident team and we fell that we can beat them, but that’s just words.

“We have to actually do it.”

Canada comfortably booked their place at London 2012 in January, beating Mexico in the semi-final of the qualifying tournament they hosted to seal an Olympic spot.

But they suffered a 4-0 loss in the subsequent final to the United States.

As the reigning champions, the US will be favourites, along with world champions Japan, to win in London this summer.

With the talented Brazil squad also vying for the gold medal, Canada will face a struggle just to get on the podium in London, something they have never achieved before in Olympic football since its introduction to the programme in 1996.

“They’ve gone on this podium adventure on a number of occasions,” Herdman admitted.

“They get close but they never cross the line.

“There’s no hiding, there has to be a commitment to new behaviours.”

Joining Sinclair will be quick midfielder Diana Matheson, who boasts 131 caps, and fellow centurion Rhian Wilkinson (pictured below, right), who plays her football in Britain for Surrey United.

Striker Brittany Timko, Candace Chapman, who scored the first goal in the opening game of the Beijing 2008 Olympics against Argentina, and goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc, all have more than 100 caps as well.

LeBlanc, a veteran of four World Cups and the Beijing Games, was the hero for Canada last year when they claimed gold in the Pan American games on penalties against Brazil.

There are twelve members of the Beijing 2008 squad in the selection, with only Lauren Sesselmann, a defender, having not appeared in a single World Cup.

Emily Zurrer, Matheson and Jonelle Filigno are additions to the squad that played at the qualifying tournament in January.

The other players selected by Herdman were goalkeeper Erin McLeod, defenders Carmelina Moscato, Robyn Gayle and Chelsea Stewart, midfielders Kaylyn Kyle, Kelly Parker, Sophie Schmidt and Desiree Scott, and forward Melissa Tancredi (pictured below).

Fellow forward Christina Julien was omitted by Herdman, who took over as national coach after the 2011 World Cup debacle, although he said she would “come back fighting” after missing out on her place.

This tournament will be biggest Canada compete in before they host the next World Cup in 2015.

They face Japan in their opening game on July 25, two days before the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, before facing South Africa and Sweden in a tough looking group.

Herdman’s side will finish its preparations for the Olympics with a clash against the US on Saturday (June 30) having beaten China at the end of May in their last game.

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