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Moaca

09 Aug 2006, 07:42 AM

Under-20 women's team heads to Russia
By NEIL DAVIDSON
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2006/08/08/1724910-cp.html

(CP) - In 2002, at the inaugural world women's under-19 soccer championship, Canadian coach Ian Bridge reckoned only two teams - Canada and the U.S. - were really in contention.

Four years later, times have changed. "The level of teams has come up. The commitment to the women's game, the preparation these teams have going into the tournament is getting better and better," Bridge said in an interview. "I think you'll see seven or eight teams that have a chance to win this tournament."

Bridge and his Canadian squad left for Russia on Tuesday for a camp in St. Petersburg and a friendly against Australia before opening the 16-country tournament Aug. 17 in Moscow against Nigeria in Group B play. Canada plays Finland on Aug. 20 and China on Aug. 23.

The top two in each of the four first-round groups advance to knockout play at the competition, which runs through Sept. 3.

Bridge sees the U.S. and China as the two favourites. The Canadians are familiar with both sides.

The Americans rallied to beat Canada 3-2 in January in Mexico in the final of CONCACAF qualifying for the tournament. It was the Canadian women's first youth qualifying loss in four years.

And at the 2004 tournament in Thailand, Canada lost 3-1 to China in a quarter-final that saw goalkeeper Stacey van Boxmeer sent off in the first minute.

China beat Bridge's team 2-0 and 1-0 in a pair of friendlies last month in Prince George, B.C.

"A very talented, skilled, very strong tactical team," Bridge said of the Chinese.

Other countries worth watching according to Bridge are Brazil, Germany, France and host Russia.

"Obviously they're playing at home. Things are always a little bit easier for the home team," Bridge said. "They also won the UEFA tournament last year ... so they're not just there because they're host."

Bridge's immediate goal at the tournament is to survive the first round in what he calls a strong group. Then anything can happen in knockout play, he says.

Canada will play without star Kara Lang, who is recovering from surgery after damaging knee ligaments in June on the last day of a national team training camp.

Still Bridge's team includes 10 veterans of the 2004 tournament.

Katie Radchuck, Emily Zurrer, Amanda Cicchini, Jodi-Ann Robinson, Aysha Jamani and Sophie Schmidt all started in the loss to China. Erin McNulty, Stephanie Labbe, Selenia Iacchelli and Sari Raber, who were on the bench that day, are also back.

Schmidt will captain Canada in Russia. The 18-year-old from Vancouver is one of five on the squad who has played for Canada's senior side.

Germany won the 2004 tournament, defeating China 2-0 for the title. The U.S. won the inaugural championship, downing host Canada 1-0 in overtime in the final at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium.

Both previous tournaments were under-19.

Moaca

13 Aug 2006, 06:09 PM

Women’s U-20 Team
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Canada Defeats Australia 3-0 in Last Friendly Prior to World Championship
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2500

Ottawa, Ontario – In their last friendly prior to the 16-team FIFA U-20 Women’s World Championship in Russia, Canada’s Women’s Under-20 Team today defeated Australia 3:0 with a first minute goal by Lisa Collison (Niagara Falls, ON) followed by a pair scored by Jodi-Ann Robinson (Richmond, BC) at Kirov Stadium in St Petersburg, Russia.

Canada lined up in a 4-3-3 formation with Erin McNulty of Winnipeg, Manitoba as the starting goalkeeper.

In the first minute after the opening whistle, Canada marched down the right flank in their first attack. Loredana Riverso crossed to the far post towards Aysha Jamani who then sent a one timer pass back to Collison. Collison, only eight metres out from the opponent’s goal, then turned for a high volley past the Australian keeper.

Canada’s second goal came in the 48th minute on a counter attack where Robinson found the end of a penetrating pass from Paige Adams then beat the keeper low from 12 metres out.

Canada scored the final goal of the rout in the 58th minute following a free kick taken by Sophie Schmidt. The Aussie back line were caught too high and Robinson beat her opponents for control of the ball. She then struck a right footed scorcher across her body to the upper left corner of the goal.

"A great result and team performance to wind up our preparation before heading to Moscow,” said Head Coach Ian Bridge. “We played a high tempo, high pressure game that Australia had all kinds of trouble dealing with.”

“Our attacks were fast and dangerous, usually as a result of our pressure deep in their half. Our strikers often created their own chances from simply stealing the ball from the Australian defenders. We had three or four other great chances to score, but sometimes rushed our finishing.”

"This was a terrific group effort that shows our potential when we are playing with passion, intensity and tactical discipline.”

The team will travel to Moscow tomorrow where they begin the group stage against Nigeria on Thursday, August 17. Canada then continues against Finland on Sunday, August 20 before meeting China on Wednesday, August 23. The two teams who make it out of the group stage will proceed into the quarterfinals which take place on August 26. Schedule is listed below.

August 12, 2006 – International Friendly
Kirov Stadium - St Petersburg, Russia

Canada 3 (1)
Australia 0 (0)
Goals: Collison (1), Robinson (48, 58)

Canada: McNulty (Dunnett, 60); Radchuck (Vanderpool, 30); Beckles; Boudreau (Hingwing, 30); Scott; Cicchini; Schmidt (Iacchelli, 66); Kyle (Adams, 45); Jamani (Raber, 70); Riverso (Sleiman, 55); Collison (Robinson, 40)
Head coach: Ian Bridge

Rogers Sportsnet

Rogers Sportsnet will be broadcasting all the Canadian games and the final live on Rogers Sportsnet East and Rogers Sportsnet Ontario. Please visit www.sportsnet.ca for the complete soccer schedule.

Nigeria vs. Canada - 17 Aug 06 @ 11:00 am ET
RSN East (ET) - 11:00 am ET
RSN Ontario (ET) - 11:00 am ET
RSN West (MT) - TD-1:00 pm MT
RSN Pacific (PT) - TD-12:00 pm PT

Finland vs. Canada - 20 Aug 06 @ 8:00 am ET
RSN East (ET) - 8:00 am ET
RSN Ontario (ET) - 8:00 am ET
RSN West (MT) - 6:00 am MT
RSN Pacific (PT) - 5:00 am PT

China vs. Canada - 23 Aug 06 @ 11:00 am ET
RSN East (ET) - 11:00 am ET
RSN Ontario (ET) - 11:00 am ET
RSN West (MT) - TD-1:00 pm MT
RSN Pacific (PT) - TD-12:00 pm PT

Quarterfinal (if Canada advances) - 26 Aug 06 @ 8:00 am or 11:00 am ET
RSN East (ET) - TBD
RSN Ontario (ET) – TBD
RSN West (MT) - TBD
RSN Pacific (PT) – TBD

Semifinal (if Canada advances) - 31 Aug 06 @ 8:00 am or 11:00 am ET
RSN East (ET) - TBD
RSN Ontario (ET) - TBD
RSN West (MT) - TBD
RSN Pacific (PT) - TBD

Consolation Match (if Canada advances) - 03 Sep 06 @ 8:00 am ET
RSN East (ET) - 8:00 am ET
RSN Ontario (ET) - 8:00 am ET
RSN West (MT) - 6:00 am MT
RSN Pacific (PT) - 5:00 am PT

Final - 03 Sep 06 @ 11:00 am ET
RSN East (ET) - 11:00 am ET
RSN Ontario (ET) - 11:00 am ET
RSN West (MT) - 9:00 am MT
RSN Pacific (PT) - 8:00 am PT

RSN = Rogers Sportsnet
TD = Tape delay

Group B Schedule (times are local)

Group A
Russia
Brazil
New Zealand
Australia

Group B
China PR
Finland
Nigeria
Canada

Group C
Switzerland
Mexico
Korea DPR
Germany

Group D
Congo DR
USA
France
Argentina

Group Stage
# / Date / Venue / Match
3 / 17 Aug 06 16:00 / Moscow (Podmoskovie) / CHN - FIN
4 / 17 Aug 06 19:00 / Moscow (Podmoskovie) / NIG - CAN
11 / 20 Aug 06 16:00 / Moscow (Podmoskovie) / FIN - CAN
12 / 20 Aug 06 19:00 / Moscow (Podmoskovie) / CHN - NIG
20 / 23 Aug 06 19:00 / Moscow (Podmoskovie) / FIN - NIG
19 / 23 Aug 06 19:00 / Moscow (Torpedo) / CAN - CHN

Quarterfinals
# / Date / Venue / Match
25 / 26 Aug 06 16:00 / Moscow (Torpedo) / 1stA - 2ndB
26 / 26 Aug 06 19:00 / Moscow (Torpedo) / 1stB - 2ndA
27 / 27 Aug 06 16:00 / St. Petersburg / 1stC - 2ndD
28 / 27 Aug 06 19:00 / St. Petersburg / 1stD - 2ndC

Semifinals
# / Date / Venue / Match
29 / 31 Aug 06 16:00 / Moscow (Lokomotiv) / W25 - W27
30 / 31 Aug 06 19:00 / Moscow (Lokomotiv) / W26 - W28

Match for 3rd place
# / Date / Venue / Match
31 / 03 Sep 06 16:00 / Moscow (Lokomotiv) / L29 - L30

Finals
# / Date / Venue / Match
32 / 03 Sep 06 19:00 / Moscow (Lokomotiv) / W29 - W30

FIFA U-20 Women’s World Championship

Canada, who was host of the inaugural U-19 tournament held in Canada in 2002 placed second to the United States in the final played in Edmonton, Alberta. Two years later in Thailand, the team lost their quarterfinal 3-1 to China who would eventually take second to Germany in the final.

Following Thailand, the tournament changed into an Under-20 tournament and increased the scope of the participants from 12 to the current 16 team format.

For more information on the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Championship Russia 2006, please visit FIFA.com.

Blizzard

13 Aug 2006, 11:00 PM

squadra_azzurri

17 Aug 2006, 01:19 PM

A devistating 3-2 loss to nigeria.. Canada had the game in the bag.. Canadas defence was just not running and scored their goals because the keeper isnt the best. Collison should not have been subbed off maybe she was injured or something but she always broke through the nigeria D. we were up 1-0 goal by kyle on a breakaway after beating the goalie 1v1. and then nigeria levels it.. then 71' cicchini scores off a wierd bounce headers the ball up in the air and sinks in beneath the crossbar and in the net. 82 minute uwak scores a bullet from outside the 18 to even it up 2-2, kyle then hits the crossbar as it was floating in but the nigerian keeper touches it hits the bar and catches it on the floor. and extra time uwak scores off a header 3-2.. it seemed like canada just couldnt header the ball near the boxes.. on canadas corners they did not head it ounce, nor did anyone on the field it just bounced in the 18. also canadas #11 on defence didnt do the greatest job on uwak but as u can see uwak was a hard forward to cover.

how i found this on tv was i woke up turned in sportsnet and saw the game lol , its not like i planned it at all.

P.s did anyone see cicchini and riverso? wow they are hot.. atleast we got the best looking team in this tournament :D.. what a coincidince that they are both italian last names ;)

canada striker

17 Aug 2006, 11:05 PM

i was surprised to see this game actually live on sportsnet. i am accustomed to seeing week delays ala spain v canada. it was sad how canada's offense could not capitalize on the weak nigerian D although ours was nothing to smile about either. If beating china doesn happen this is gonna be sad for womens football especially going into the WC next year