Brazil will be challenge for Canada in Cup final

The Canadian women’s national soccer team hasn’t defeated Brazil in nearly four years, but this summer’s Olympic host doesn’t scare coach John Herdman’s side.

“They’re certainly not a team that frightens Canada too much,” the Canadian coach said, as he prepared his team to face the South Americans in the final of the Algarve Cup on Wednesday afternoon in Portugal.

It’s the third time the two have met in a little more than three months; Brazil beat Canada in consecutive games at December’s International Tournament of Natal.

And the foes will become even more familiar with one another before a potential meeting in Rio come August; Canada Soccer announced Tuesday the team will host Brazil in two friendly games in Toronto and Ottawa in early June.

Given the frequency with which these two teams have clashed, Canada expects Brazil to field its top lineup, complete with world-class attacking threats.

But Brazil has stumbled recently, notably getting knocked out of last summer’s Women’s World Cup.

At this point, question marks still remain about their game, said Canadian midfielder Diana Matheson.

“Brazil always has their mavericks, but you don’t know how they’re going to come together as a team.”

Matheson said the only thing Canada can control is itself. Her team had a shaky start to the Algarve Cup; a 1-0 loss to No. 15-ranked Denmark in its first group-stage game wasn’t because of a lack of opportunities.

“After the Denmark game it felt like the World Cup all over again,” Herdman said. “It was really frustrating on the sidelines to see some really gilt-edged opportunities go amiss.”

But unlike the World Cup, Canada’s results improved as the round-robin progressed. The team beat No. 28 Belgium and No. 19 Iceland by one goal. With a little help from other results, the Canucks finished atop its group to earn a place in the final.

Though Canada earned an Olympic berth and made it to the championship final at last month’s CONCACAF qualifiers in Houston, getting through to this final is arguably a bigger accomplishment.

The competition is stiffer than the opponents Canada faced in February or at the Cyprus Cup, where the team usually plays at this time of year.

But that’s exactly the kind of contest the Canadians need if the team wants to another Olympic podium appearance this summer in Rio.

“It’s just a better example of the type of strong teams in women’s football out there right now,” Matheson said.