Canadian women’s coach John Herdman is hoping his Olympic hero can overcome a foot injury and wield some more magic at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
During a public event in downtown Vancouver on Monday, Herdman revealed his 23-player roster for this summer’s World Cup, which will be staged in Canada. Included in Herdman’s team is Diana Matheson, the diminutive midfielder who scored the winning goal for Canada in the bronze medal game against France at the 2012 London Olympics.
Matheson, 31, has been a key member of the Canadian side since making her debut in 2003. Since then, the native of Mississauga, Ont., has earned 166 caps for Canada, but she’s been sidelined since last October when she tore her anterior cruciate ligament in her knee during a friendly. Matheson was in crutches last week after hurting her foot during her comeback. But Herdman has included Matheson in his roster, even though she hasn’t played a game in six months and is nursing this foot injury.
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“Today marks the culmination of three years of dedicated work from the team and we are pleased with the final selection,” Herdman said in a news release. “After the Olympics, we challenged the players to shed an old skin and strive to be even better as a team, and as individuals. They all committed wholeheartedly to this vision and competition for each position was fierce. Ultimately, we feel that this group of 23 makes us the best team we can be across our four corners of the game. They fully deserve this honour.”
Also named to Canadian team was defender Lauren Sesselmann, who also tore her anterior cruciate ligament in her knee prior to the Cyprus Cup tournament in February, 2014. Sesselmann, 31, underwent surgery and has been rehabbing ever since, and recently returned for Canada, playing in a friendly vs. France earlier this month.
Sesselmann made her debut for Canada in 2011, and started all six games for her country at the 2012 Olympics when the Reds won the bronze medal. She has 39 caps.
“It feels amazing. I’ve been working hard towards this goal of getting back on the team and being a part of the World Cup roster is definitely my goal—that’s what I’ve been working for the past year,” Sesselmann told Sportsnet prior to the France game.
“All the hard work and effort you put in, sometimes you don’t know how it’s all going to turn out. To be back in action with the team, it’s awesome.”
Herdman has put together a team that is a healthy mix of veterans and youngsters. Among the team’s more experienced players are star forward Christine Sinclair (222 caps), Matheson, Rhian Wilkinson (163), Sophie Schmidt (131), Karina LeBlanc (110), Erin McLeod (104), and Melissa Tancredi (99).
In total, there are 14 players on this World Cup roster that were part of Canada’s bronze medal team from the London Games.
At the other end of the spectrum are players such as Jessie Fleming and Selenia Iacchelli who only have 19 caps between them.
Fleming, 17, won her first cap when she was 15 in December 2013 to become the second-youngest player (behind Kara Lang) to ever play for Canada. The midfielder is one of the country’s brightest prospects, and is expected to have a big role for Canada in the future.
Kadeisha Buchanan is only 19, but the defender has already earned 34 caps and proven to be a valuable asset since making her national team debut in 2013.
“We’ve got a fantastic group of players here that are ready to step up and proudly represent their country on the biggest stage,” Herdman said. “It’s now up to Canadians to show them they are not alone on this journey and that they’ve got the strength of an entire country with them.”
The FIFA Women’s World Cup runs from June 6 to July 5, with games in six cities: Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal and Moncton.
Vancouver will stage the final of the 24-nation tournament.
Canada is seeking to improve on its showing from the 2011 World Cup in Germany when it finished in last place. Canada’s best showing came in 2003 when it reached the semifinals. The Reds bowed out ion the group stage in each of its other four World Cup appearances.
Currently eighth in the FIFA world rankings, Canada opens World Cup play vs. China (16th) on June 6 and New Zealand (17th) on June 11. Both games are in Edmonton. The Reds conclude the group stage with a match against the Netherlands (12th) on June 15 in Montreal.
The top two teams from each of the six round-robin groups move on to the second round. The four-best third-place nations also advance. This year the tournament has expanded from 16 to 24 teams, giving Canada a greater chance of getting out of the first round.
The Canadian players will have some time off before meeting up again in California next week for a training camp. Canada plays its last friendly in preparation for the World Cup on May 29 against England, ranked sixth in the world, at Hamilton’s Tim Hortons Field.
CANADA’S WORLD CUP ROSTER
Goalkeepers: Stephanie Labbé (unattached), Karina LeBlanc (Chicago Red Stars) and Erin McLeod (Houston Dash).
Defenders: Kadeisha Buchanan (West Virginia University), Allysha Chapman (Houston Dash), Robyn Gayle (unattached), Carmelina Moscato (unattached), Marie-Eve Nault (unattached), Lauren Sesselmann (Houston Dash), Rhian Wilkinson (unattached) and Emily Zurrer (unattached).
Midfielders: Jessie Fleming (London NorWest SC), Selenia Iacchelli (unattached), Kaylyn Kyle (Portland Thorns FC), Ashley Lawrence (West Virginia University), Diana Matheson (Washington Spirit), Desiree Scott (Notts County Ladies) and Sophie Schmidt (unattached).
Forwards: Josée Bélanger (unattached), Jonelle Filigno (Sky Blue FC), Adriana Leon (Chicago Red Stars), Christine Sinclair (Portland Thorns FC) and Melissa Tancredi (Chicago Red Stars).