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No Lang but plenty of experience in Canadian under-20 women's soccer squad

BY NEIL DAVIDSON

CP

518 words

3 August 2006

15:34

The Canadian Press

English

© 2006 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Canada has named a veteran squad for the FIFA women's under-20 soccer championship in Russia later this month.

Coach Ian Bridge's 21-woman roster includes 10 veterans of the 2004 tournament in Thailand, where Canada lost 3-1 to China in a quarter-final that saw goalkeeper Stacey van Boxmeer sent off in the first minute.

But there is no Kara Lang this time round. The Canadian star is recovering from surgery after damaging knee ligaments in June on the last day of a national team training camp.

Just 19, Lang has already scored 23 goals in 53 outings for the senior Canadian side.

Bridge says his under-20 team will miss Lang's leadership.

``I think we have players that can pick up the slack in the goal-scoring department, but obviously a player with her experience would always be nice to have around,'' he said Thursday.

``But we have to go forward with the squad that we have, which is an experienced group.''

The Canadian women leave for Russia on Tuesday for a training camp in St. Petersburg and a friendly against Australia before opening the tournament Aug. 17 in Moscow against Nigeria in Group B play. Canada plays Finland on Aug. 20 and China on Aug. 23.

There are 16 teams at the championship with the top two in each of the four first-round groups advancing to knockout play.

The 2006 team includes Katie Radchuck, Emily Zurrer, Amanda Cicchini, Jodi-Ann Robinson, Aysha Jamani and Sophie Schmidt, who all started in the 2004 loss to China. Erin McNulty, Stephanie Labbe, Selenia Iacchelli and Sari Raber, who were on the bench that day, are also back.

Bridge said he and his squad thought they could go quite far in the (2004) tournament, even win it with a little bit of luck.''

``We didn't have much luck at all in the quarter-final game and went out of the tournament at that stage. ... That will be in their minds a little bit,'' he added. ``I know those players have talked to the younger ones, in terms that they don't want to see that happen again, like an opportunity go by.''

Bridge's roster also has its share of youth. Forward Paige Adams is just 16 and Robinson and McNulty are two of five players born in 1989.

Bridge says by his count half the team could play in the next edition of the tournament, but adds that other squads can also say the same thing.

``I think it says the young talent coming up is exciting and hard to ignore.''

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.

Both previous tournaments were under-19.

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Canadian under-20 women's soccer team heads for Russia and world tourney

BY NEIL DAVIDSON

CP

516 words

8 August 2006

14:53

The Canadian Press

English

© 2006 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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.

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