Canada’s women’s under-17 team qualified yesterday for this year's FIFA’s World U17 World Championships in Trinidad and Tobago with a win in penalty kicks over the favoured United States in the semi-final stage of the CONCACAF soccer championship.
To say it is unexpected would be an understatement.
There was no preparation of any significance going into such an important tournament. Ian Bridge, the original head coach of the team, resigned a month before the event was to get underway on the heels of Canada's under-20 team failing to qualify for their own world championships.They played an opponent which had scored outscored its competition in three previous games by a margin of 32-0.
Head coach Bryan Rosenfeld deserves huge credit for this achievement.
Taking the job in the first place required some character and fortitude. The project appeared to be set-up to fail. Against all the odds though, our Canadian girls put in a performance of a lifetime. On pure effort, determination, and desire to win, the United States had no answers.
However, it was more than just pure endeavour. There was also a clear game plan that was executed to perfection. Neutralizing the electric pace of the U.S. forwards was the most important feature, along with the constant pressure on the U.S. midfield where Canada did not let their talented playmakers settle. The set-up worked and it allowed Canada to counter attack. With some pace of our own up front, they were unlucky to not have won the game in regulation time.
Goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo put in a career performance. From the get-go, she was on a mission to lead the team to victory. Enthusiastic, confident, robust and fearless, she played a significant role.
What this game highlights is the realities of our where our national soccer identity is. Rosenfeld played to our current strengths: athleticism, power, and speed along with a resilient, determined mentality. Combined with a good tactical plan, yesterday’s result highlights what can be achieved.
There is no doubt that, at times, the aesthetic style was a bit unattractive but, at the same time, it was hard not to feel proud of the character displayed by our Canadian team. All of our other national team programs could learn something from watching this particular game tape.
So could Carolina Morace and Canadian soccer fans in general. Having failed to qualify our U20 women’s team for the world championships, it must have been somewhat humbling to see the student in Rosenfeld show the teacher what it takes from a Canadian perspective to get there. The contrast between the over possession oriented Morace approach and the over direct approach of Pellerud has now actually assisted us as a soccer nation if we care to look and accept what our own style and identity should be. It is somewhere in between the two polarized ideologies.
Whatever the style we forge into the future it should never compromise on the character traits and athleticism that was displayed by our young U17 players yesterday. Congratulations to you all. You made Canada proud.
