“We’ve brought players that have that experience but also have that blend of youth,” Herdman said in a CSA news release. “I think that it’s an important feature as we look for the right group that will take us through the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015.”
Spoiler alert, on two fronts -- one, John Herdman didn't actually say those words (yeah, I know, really pulling the curtain back on the press release game here). And two -- he's already got the right group. He has his group, and we know who that group will be. If you've followed the women's program over the past 18 months, you've probably correctly guessed 90% of the roster even without reading it.
But what the heck, for reference's sake, here's the roster for those two Japan games:
GK- Stephanie Labbe | SWE / KIF Orebro
GK- Erin McLeod | USA / Houston Dash
D- Kadeisha Buchanan | USA / West Virginia University
D- Allysha Chapman | SWE / Eskilstuna United DFF
D- Rhian Wilkinson | CAN / Comètes de Laval
D- Sura Yekka | CAN / Brams United
D- Emily Zurrer | SWE / Jitex BK
D- Carmelina Moscato | USA / Seattle Reign FC
D- Rachel Quon | USA / Chicago Red Stars
M- Jessie Fleming | CAN / London NorWest SC
M- Kaylyn Kyle | USA / Houston Dash
M- Ashley Lawrence | USA / West Virginia University
M- Diana Matheson | USA / Washington Spirit
M- Sophie Schmidt | USA / Sky Blue FC
M- Desiree Scott | ENG / Notts County FC
F- Adriana Leon | USA / Chicago Stars
F- Christine Sinclair | USA / Portland Thorns
F- Melissa Tancredi | USA / Chicago Red Stars
F- Josée Bélanger | CAN / Comètes de Laval
F- Jonelle Filigno | USA / Sky Blue FC
Surprised? Nope, me neither. Karina LeBlanc's not there, but that's almost assuredly a logistical issue of some kind. Barring injury, she'll be on the World Cup roster. Between her, Erin McLeod and Stephanie Labbe -- who's had an outstanding season in Sweden -- Canada has an embarrassment of riches at the goalkeeper position.
The only possibly unfamiliar name is Allysha Chapman. The 25-year-old defender represented Canada at the 2008 U-20 Women's World Cup and has been with the senior team once before, back in 2009. An alumnus of LSU -- which quite loftily describes her as "the most decorated defensive standout in the history of the LSU Soccer program" -- Chapman played all but one game this season for Eskilstuna United in Sweden, notching two goals along the way.
Including players like Chapman and Rachel Quon is Herdman's attempt to build some ready-made depth in the absence of the versatile Lauren Sesselmann, still recovering from a knee injury. And while teenager Kadeisha Buchanan is the team's undisputed breakout star of the last two years, it remains to be seen whether fellow youngster Sura Yekka is ready to step into prime time on a regular basis.
And while we're at it, two of their also-already-familiar teenage counterparts -- Jessie Fleming and Ashley Lawrence -- continue to make their case for inclusion on next year's big-tournament side. That quartet, along with defender Rebecca Quinn, likely represent the teens with the best shot at cracking the World Cup roster.
If I had to pick one who'll likely make it, it's Buchanan. If I had two, well, then it gets tougher -- and that's what these kids will be fighting for against Japan.
Otherwise, we've got our well-known conquering heroes from London 2012, including Melissa Tancredi, continuing to carry the torch for Big Red. And let's be clear -- this is no issue of past-it veterans clinging desperately to their spots, to the detriment of the program. The likes of Matheson and Schmidt have torn it up in NWSL. Desiree Scott is called "destroyer" for a reason, and she's just hitting her athletic prime.
Christine Sinclair and Melissa Tancredi may no longer be at the peak of their powers -- remember, it was the remarkable coincidence of both of them hitting their peak powers at precisely the same time that lifted Canada to the Olympic podium -- but they're both still pretty darn fine players.
So, no, this isn't a matter of most of these players competing for their spots on the team, because you could probably pencil in Canada's starting XI for its World Cup opener today, and barring injury or other freak occurrences, probably get it pretty much right. Aside from the fringe starters and the kids, who'll be fighting for places, we pretty much know who and what this team is.
No, this is about a group of players who've tasted blood -- or bronze, as the case may be -- and liked it. They want more. They want to show London wasn't a one-off, or a fluke occurrence. They want to show they can hang with the world's best not just this month, but next summer when it matters the most.
Will they do it? Well, I'll say what I've said all along -- Herdman's oft-repeated goal of being in the Women's World Cup final seems preposterously lofty (bordering on disingenuous), especially given that this team finished dead last in the 2011 tournament.
But then again, I also wouldn't have given the team -- much as I may love them -- much of a chance of striking bronze in London either, and look what happened there.
At the end of the day, the prognostications from coaches and media members mean nothing. It's all about what the players are capable of doing on the field, when the heat is on... and our clearest sign yet of Canada's chances will come in a few short days, against the reigning world champs.