Two years after Carolina Morace assumed the post of transforming women's soccer team Canada, players are ready to show the world how much they've improved.
Prolific striker Christine Sinclair and 21-player roster veteran goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc headline Morace of Canada announced Thursday for the women's FIFA World Cup which kicks off next week in Germany.
"Personally, I never felt better heading into a major tournament, I never felt this well prepared and I think that goes for the entire team," Sinclair said in a conference call from Rome.
Canada, ranked higher than Sixth, play the opening game of the tournament against No. 2 in Germany, the two-time defending World Cup, on 26 June in Berlin.
Canadians entering the tournament as defending champions they don't concede CONCACAF — a goal in five games en route to claiming the title — and boast a record near flawless 10-1-2 in matches this year.
Players say they owe their success to Morace. Since he was hired in 2009, the former Italian national team star took a team famous for his love for the long ball under former coach even Pellerud and implemented a technical hold-style of play.
"I like it," said Sinclair. "I really like playing so that you have playing. And I think our whole team, we can say that everyone is having a lot of fun with it. "
Morace, who last week agreed with the Canadian team through the 2012 Olympics in London, said she is proud of how well his team has made the transition.
"What I told them the other day is: I think we have two strengths," said Morace. "One is the organization that we have on the field and the other is the players to go to the wall, if we want something. "
Sinclair, Canada captain and all-time leader in international matches with 159, will make its appearance in the third World Cup. The 28-year-old, Burnaby, BC, ranks among the all-time leader of top-five in scoring with 116.
The 31-year-old LeBlanc, a native of Maple Ridge, B.C., will be World Cup appearance in his fourth.
The Canadians, whose best finish in four previous appearances in the World Cup was fourth in 2003, were based in Italy after the Cypriot Cup in March, and the advantages that you've gotten from their time together, LeBlanc said, will be evident when his team steps on stage bigger than the sport next week.
"Obviously we're more cohesive as a group," said LeBlanc. "The time we did together soccer players smarter, smartest and obviously we are fitter, stronger, we feel more than a group than ever before.
"Everything we have learned, that is going to be invaluable come into the World Cup."
Other opening-round group matches against France Canada is no. 7 on 30 June in Bochum and Nigeria 27-Rank, Jul 5th at Dresden.
"Obviously having to play in the first place is very exciting, most people consider them to be the top team in the world and the tournament's Favorites, they're going to be a very tough team to beat," said Sinclair. "France is a very good team of up-and-coming. And then Nigeria, are a very athletic team.
"We definitely got lured into a group very, very difficult, so we're going to have three of our best games we've had yet to achieve."
Vice-Captain of Canada is Diana Matheson, who is second among active players with 122 caps. Sinclair, Matheson, Erin McLeod, Brittany Timko (100 caps) and Rhian Wilkinson (100) are all playing in their third World Cup.
In all, the 21-player team of 1,244 international appearances, with an average of 60 matches for each player.
Nine players are making their World Cup debut, including 20-year-old Jonelle Filigno, the youngest player on the team and 21-year-old Chelsea Stewart.
More than 72,000 tickets were sold for the opening of the Canada-Germany most awaited Berlin's historic Olympiastadion.
The tournament comprises 16 countries playing in nine cities and marks 20 years since the first edition of the World Cup was held in China, the only female of the Team Canada World Cup did not qualify for.
: Goalkeepers Karina LeBlanc (Unattached), Erin McLeod (magicJack), Stephanie Labbé (Piteå municipality)
Defenders: Emily Zurrer (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Robyn Gayle (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Candace Chapman (Flash Western New York), Brittany Timko (unattached), Marie-Eve Nault (Ottawa Fury)
Midfielders: Kelly Parker (Atlanta Beat), Carmelina Moscato (unattached), Kaylyn Kyle (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Rhian Wilkinson (Lillestrøm SK Kvinner), Diana Matheson (Lillestrøm SK Kvinner), Desiree Scott (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Sophie Schmidt (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Chelsea Stewart (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
Strikers: Christine Sinclair (Flash Western New York), Melissa Tancredi (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Jodi-Ann Robinson (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Jonelle Filigno (Rutgers University), Christina Julien (Ottawa Fury)
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