VANCOUVER—The Canadian women’s team gets another shot at Japan on Tuesday night at B.C. Place—another crack at the defending World Cup champions to see if it can improve upon the 3-0 loss it suffered at the hands of the Japanese this past weekend in Edmonton.
Coach John Herdman liked a lot of what he saw at Commonwealth Stadium on the weekend. Indeed, there were long stretches where Canada held its own and prevented Japan from mounting much of an attack. But the reality is the Canadian side is still well behind their Japanese counterparts in terms of technical ability.
Tuesday programming alert: Watch Canada vs Japan in an international friendly live on Sportsnet ONE and Sportsnet World. Coverage begins at 10:00 pm ET/7:00 pm PT. || Sportsnet World NOW || TV schedule
The Canadian team flew from Edmonton on Sunday and had its lone training session before game two of the series on Monday afternoon at B.C. Place. The one discouraging image of the day was that of stalwart midfielder Diana Matheson on crutches. She left the game in Edmonton with a knee injury. Team officials are tight lipped about her condition. They say she is unavailable for this match and is still being evaluated. But it doesn’t look good.
Herdman was ready to make plenty of changes for Tuesday’s game at any rate. Maybe as many as five or six as he admits he’s still trying to figure out what comprises his best 11—that is, the best 11 he can take forward into the World Cup next summer.
Some changes are simply to give players a rest, while others are to take another look at players who are still trying to make the squad.
Defender Allysha Chapman figures into the latter category. Called back into the program after a lengthy absence, and in fact making her first ever start for the senior squad, Chapman was a revelation in Herdman’s eyes. No need to take a second look right away. Not saying she has suddenly jumped the queue and made the team. But Herdman knows what she has to offer and he’s pleasantly surprised.
Stephanie Labbe will get the call in goal. Again, don’t read too much into that either. All teams need two quality goalkeepers and it’s Labbe’s turn Tuesday night after Erin McLeod started in Edmonton.
Ticket sales are brisk and with the Canucks playing next door at Rogers Arena at the same time, it should be, as they say, a hot time in the old town on Wednesday night.