Canada enters semis confident it can play with anyone
Costa Rica stands in the way of likely matchup with U.S.
The biggest name in women’s international soccer is playing on home soil in Houston on Friday night. But if it keeps up its current pace, Canada may be the new queen of CONCACAF come Sunday.
Brimming with confidence after three powerful performances in the group stage, the world’s 11th-ranked Canada will take the pitch with unwavering resolve Friday in the Olympic Women’s Soccer Qualifying Championship semifinals.
The Canucks face Costa Rica at 4:30 p.m. at BBVA Compass Stadium, with the winner securing a spot in the Summer Olympics in Brazil. Friday’s second semifinal pits the topranked U.S. team against Trinidad and Tobago.
Dreaming of Rio
Canada tallied 21 goals and conceded none in three games against Trinidad, Guyana and Guatemala during Group B play. The opponents may not strike fear into the hearts of sides Canada would face in Rio de Janeiro, but the Canucks showed great focus to be on top of their game anyway.
“The team is just raring to go,” coach John Herdman said. “We just finished our last practice and had great energy. Everyone is fully rested, and their minds are right. These chances don’t come around twice, so we need to take them. It’s about bringing that intensity without the tension and letting the quality of Canada shine through. Because I think if it does, we’ll be heading to Rio.”
Standing in the way is the world’s No. 34-ranked team. Costa Rica has experience on the big stage, having played in the World Cup last summer. Las Ticas qualified for the semifinals thanks to a 2-1 victory over No. 26 Mexico on Monday.
They are led by defender Lixy Rodriguez and midfielder Shirley Cruz. Stopping them, Herdman said, will be Canada’s top priority. Aside from that, the Canucks will have to deal with a team that does not fear its world-class opponent.
“They genuinely believe they can go to Rio,” Herdman said. “That’s dangerous. Sometimes you come up against teams, and in the pit of their stomachs they know they can’t beat Canada. I think this team believes they can.”
Many teams believe they cannot beat Canada because the Canucks’ roster is deep and talented. Forward Christine Sinclair, the world’s No. 2 all-time international scorer, leads the way. The star power does not end there. Not even close.
On the offensive
Eleven players scored goals in the group stage, which may curb worldwide opinions after the World Cup that the Canucks struggle to put the ball in the net. They scored four goals in five matches at the World Cup. Though they conceded only three, two of them came in a quarterfinal loss to England. That bitter taste still lingers for Canada.
Herdman believes her team should be in the mix for the top four in every major competition.
The Canucks have accomplished that here, but as one of the favorites to make the final, they know their work is not done. If they advance to Sunday’s final, they likely will face the United States. If Canada wins that game, the world would take notice.
“It’s in the back of our minds,” midfielder Desiree Scott said. “Any time we get a chance to play the U.S., it’s an exciting challenge for us. But we’re looking at this game. We have to seal the deal and make sure we handle business against Costa Rica first.”