CANWNT vs Super Falcons (Nigeria) -- May 25, 2015

[tc-in-bc]

Closed door scrimage, Half time: Canada 0 - 0 Nigeria

[tc-in-bc]

FT: Canada 0 - 0 NIgeria

[MrsC]

This is not good.

[Sport Shaman]

^^  Well, it depends on what Herdman was trying to accomplish with this game. If he is running out all his starters to play their most competitive game, then not a good result. Hopefully he was mostly tinkering with the line up and tactics and formations, etc for a look see and evaluations during this scrimmage. 

[MrsC]

Based on the Sportsnet article I just read, Herdman was not happy with the result.  But he played everyone so at least it wasn't a situation where the starting 11 got a draw.  Hopefully Rhian Wilkinson's hamstring issue doesn't go on too much longer.

[sloth8]

^^  Well, it depends on what Herdman was trying to accomplish with this game. If he is running out all his starters to play their most competitive game, then not a good result. Hopefully he was mostly tinkering with the line up and tactics and formations, etc for a look see and evaluations during this scrimmage. 

 

Here's some "high"lights  to go with the same report on the training match: http://soccer.tsn.ca/news/canada-survives-physical-pre-world-cup-match-with-nigeria

 

Doesn't sound like things went too well, but I do like that they got experience versus an African team though.

[Vic]

If FIFA.com is correct this is #33 Nigeria's third match of the year and first against non-African competition in years.  They've played two previous games this year, both against Mali months ago, one was 8-0 and one was 1-1.

 

John Herdman is right, they're a great training match because they're unpredictable, fast and physical and they play for keeps.  It's a good wake-up call for anyone not on the bus in terms of intensity.  

 

There are a lot of good teams here this summer.  Unless you're the injury-plagued but still formidable Germans, the Americans, Japanese or French, progressing and staying alive as the tournament moves along is about elevating your game and being able to perform ably under high pressure.  

 

Who can come back from the slings and arrows of a 0-1 or 0-2 start against a highly skilled and life-and-death motivated fortress?  Who can bag a goal against the run of play and defend a desperation-force attack far more-skilled then they train against?  Who has impact players who can dominate and produce game-winning play in their end of the field for 90 minutes that feels like days when you're ahead and 30 seconds when you're behind.

 

On the other side of the equation lots of great teams stumble.  Brazil and Spain in the men's are good examples.  Absolute powerhouses that show that when the talent band narrows it's a mental game, and unless you can perform constantly anyone can turn you into Swiss cheese.

 

Will the depleted Germans make up for their embarrassment at home in 2011?  Will the Americans find a way to become more than a half the sum of their parts?  Do the Japanese have something new up their sleeve again?  So many great stories.

 

Because of the increased pool size the group stages will be pretty predictable in terms of who goes through, but after that it's wide open and with more talent and intelligence in the game we'll probably see more defensive play than in the past.  And a good hot striker can carry a middleweight deep.  It will be interesting to see who feeds off the stage and makes a name for themselves around the world this time round.