Canada's Women’s National Program

In case you were wondering about Canada's Women's National Soccer Program...

Official word is: In regards to the Canadian Women's National Program, no Canadian Soccer Association officials, other than General Secretary Peter Montopoli or Women's National Head Coach Carolina Morace, have made or will make any direct comment to the media.

'nuff said.

Canada announces roster for Greece friendly

Canada has announced an 18-player roster for the upcoming Men’s International Friendly match in Larissa, Greece. Coach Hart and his team will meet this coming week to face former European champion Greece at the A.E.L FC Arena. The match will be played Wednesday 9 February, the first date of the 2011 season on the FIFA international schedule.

The Canada-Greece match will feature the debut of the new Canada Umbro kit. The Canadian match will be broadcast on Wednesday 9 February at 10.00 ET / 07.00 PT (17.00 local kick off in Larissa, Greece). Fans will also be able to follow the match live on www.twitter.com/CanadaSoccerEN.

Coach Hart’s selection features one debut: goalkeeper Milan Borjan. The 23-year old goalkeeper of Hamilton, ON plays professional soccer for FK Rad in Serbia. Borjan and Edmonton’s Lars Hirschfeld (32 appearances for Canada) are the two goalkeepers selected for this camp. Hirschfeld plays his professional soccer for Vålerenga Fotball in Norway.

Two other players have yet to make their first appearance for Canada, although they have both taken part in previous men’s national camps. Midfielder Tosaint Ricketts took part in his first camp in 2009 in Larnaka, Cyprus. Defender David Edgar, meanwhile, has taken part in several camps dating back to 2007. Both Ricketts and Edgar are 23 years old.

Borjan, Ricketts, Edgar, Jaime Peters, Simeon Jackson and Will Johnson are all 1987-born players. Five of those six players (all but Borjan) represented Canada at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007. One other player in the camp is younger: 20-year older defender Adam Straith.

As for experience, Hirschfeld, Dwayne De Rosario, Kevin McKenna and Rob Friend are all amongst the senior players in the camp. De Rosario is the leader with 55 appearances, while 27-year old midfielder Atiba Hutchinson is second with 50 appearances. Hutchinson, the 2010 Canadian Player of the Year, scored a goal and an assist in Canada’s last international friendly match on 8 October 2010 (a 2:2 draw with Ukraine).

Fifteen of Canada’s 18 players play professional soccer in Europe. De Rosario (Toronto FC), Johnson (Real Salt Lake) and Dejan Jakovic (D.C. United) play in Major League Soccer. De Rosario is a two-time national champion in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship.

As for extended coverage before the Canada-Greece kickoff on 9 February, Canadian supporters can tune-in early at 09.30 ET / 06.30 PT on Sportsnet ONE. The Sportsnet team will feature a special 30-minute season preview show prior to the start of the match. Also of note, the match will be replayed on Sportsnet Ontario (20.00 ET), Sportsnet West (23.30 MT) and Sportsnet Pacific (23.30 PT).


CANADA
1- GK- Lars Hirschfeld | NOR / Vålerenga Fotball
2- D- Jaime Peters | ENG / Ipswich Town FC
3- M- Marcel de Jong | GER / FC Augsburg
4- D- Dejan Jakovic | USA / DC United
5- D- Kevin McKenna | GER / FC Köln
6- M- Nik Ledgerwood | GER / SV Wehen Wiesbaden
7- M- Pedro Pacheco | POR / CD Santa Clara
8- M- Will Johnson | USA / Real Salt Lake
9- F- Rob Friend | GER / Hertha BSC
10- F- Simeon Jackson | ENG / Norwich City FC
11- D- David Edgar | ENG / Burnley FC
12- D- Adam Straith | GER / FC Energie Cottbus
13- M- Atiba Hutchinson | NED / PSV Eindhoven
14- M- Dwayne De Rosario | CAN / Toronto FC
15- M- Josh Simpson | TUR / Vestel Manisaspor
16- M- Tosaint Ricketts | FC Politehnica Timiþoara
17- F- Olivier Occean | GER / Kickers Offenbach
22- GK- Milan Borjan | SRB / FK Rad

Borjan, Milan | 1987 | Hamilton, ON, CAN |
de Jong, Marcel | 1986 | Toronto, ON, CAN |
De Rosario, Dwayne | 1978 | Scarborough, ON, CAN |
Edgar, David | 1987 | Kitchener, ON, CAN |
Friend, Rob | 1981 | Kelowna, BC, CAN |
Hirschfeld, Lars | 1978 | Edmonton, AB, CAN |
Hutchinson, Atiba | 1983 | Brampton, ON, CAN |
Jackson, Simeon | 1987 | Mississauga, ON, CAN |
Jakovic, Dejan | 1985 | Etobicoke, ON, CAN |
Johnson, Will | 1987 | Toronto, ON, CAN|
Ledgerwood, Nik | 1985 | Lethbridge, AB, CAN |
McKenna, Kevin | 1980 | Calgary, AB, CAN |
Occean, Olivier | 1981 | Brossard, QC, CAN |
Pacheco, Pedro | 1984 | Toronto, ON, CAN |
Peters, Jaime | 1987 | Pickering, ON, CAN |
Ricketts, Tosaint | 1987 | Edmonton, AB, CAN |
Simpson, Josh | 1983 | Victoria, BC, CAN |
Straith, Adam | 1990 | Victoria, BC, CAN | Bays United SC

Head of Delegation / Chef de délegation : George Athanasiou
Head Coach / Entraîneur-chef : Stephen Hart
Assistant Coach / Entraîneur adjoint : Tony Fonseca
Goalkeer Coach / Entraîneur des gardiens : Paul Dolan
Video Coordinator / Vidéaste : Victor Mendes
Team Manager / Gérant d’équipe : Morgan Quarry
Equipment Manager / Gérant de l’équipement : Burns Jennings
Doctor / Docteur : Dr. John Philpott
Physiotherapist / Physiothérapeute : Ted Tilbury
Physiotherapist / Physiothérapeute : Dave Foley

Canada has announced its roster for the upcoming Four Nation Women's Tournament China 2011

Coach Carolina Morace has called 24 players to the team that will train and compete in Chongqing, China from 13-26 January. The four-team tournament features top-10 nations Canada, Sweden and USA as well as host China PR.

The competition dates are 21, 23 and 25 January, with two matches and all four teams involved on each of the competition dates. Canada's schedule features China PR on 21 January (18.35 local / 06.35 ET / 03.35 PT), USA on 23 January (19.05 local / 07.05 ET / 04.05 PT), and Sweden on 25 January (15.35 local / 03.35 ET / 00.35 PT).

This competition marks the first time since the 2008 Women's Olympic Football Tournament that Canada is facing top-five nations in back-to-back matches. USA was ranked first while Sweden was ranked fourth in the most recent FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking.

Canada was ranked 9th, but it has added two wins and two draws to its record since the November ranking. Canada enters the competition with an all-time best 10-match unbeaten streak, dating back to a 3:1 victory over China PR at BMO Field in Toronto, ON.

Of the 24 players invited to this competition, 11 of them helped Canada finish first at three competitions in 2010: the Cyprus Women's Cup in March, the CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifier in November and the Torneio Internacional Cidade de São Paulo in December. Ten other players helped Canada finish first at at least one of the three competitions.

Two players are making their debut with the full national team at this camp, both of whom played for Morace in the youth program in 2010. The two debutans are Christine Exeter of Pickering, ON and Taylor Patterson of Edmonton, AB.

Canada, whose title sponsor is Winners and presenting sponsor is Teck, is currently preparing for the FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011. This will be the fifth consecutive FIFA Women's World Cup in which Canada competes dating back to 1995.

CANADA

GK- Stephanie Labbé | SWE / Piteå IF | Stony Plain, AB, CAN
GK- Karina LeBlanc | USA / Chicago Red Stars | Maple Ridge, BC, CAN
GK- Erin McLeod | USA / Washington Freedom | Edmonton & Calgary, AB, CAN
CB- Candace Chapman | USA / Western New York Flash | Ajax, ON, CAN
CB- Robyn Gayle | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Mississauga, ON, CAN
CB- Sophie Schmidt | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Abbotsford, BC, CAN
CB- Emily Zurrer | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Crofton, BC, CAN
RB- Christine Exeter | USA / University of Louisville | Pickering, ON, CAN
RB- Brittany Timko | Unattached / sans club | Coquitlam, BC, CAN
RB- Rhian Wilkinson | NOR / Lillestrøm SK Kvinner | Baie d’Urfe, QC, CAN
LB- Melanie Booth | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Burlington, ON, CAN
LB- Marie-Eve Nault | CAN / Ottawa Fury | Trois-Rivières, QC, CAN
CM- Laura Chénard | CAN / Amiral de Québec | Ste-Luce, QC, CAN
CM- Kaylyn Kyle | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Saskatoon, SK, CAN
CM- Diana Matheson | NOR / Lillestrøm SK Kvinner | Oakville, ON, CAN
CM- Carmelina Moscato | Unattached / sans club | Mississauga, ON, CAN
F- Josée Bélanger | CAN / Amiral de Québec | Coaticook, QC, CAN
F- Jonelle Filigno | USA / Rutgers University | Mississauga, ON, CAN
F- Christina Julien | CAN / Ottawa Fury | Williamstown, ON, CAN
F- Taylor Patterson |  | Edmonton, AB, CAN
F- Jodi-Ann Robinson | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Richmond, BC, CAN
F- Desiree Scott | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Winnipeg, MB, CAN
F- Christine Sinclair | USA / Western New York Flash | Burnaby, BC, CAN
F- Melissa Tancredi | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Ancaster, ON, CAN

Head Coach / Entraîneure-chef : Carolina Morace
Assistant Coach / Entraîneure adjointe : Elisabetta Bavagnoli
Assistant Coach / Entraîneure adjointe : Andrea Neil
Goalkeer Coach / Entraîneur des gardiens : Max Colucci
Video Coordinator / Vidéaste : Sian Bagshawe
Administrator / Administrateur : Karina Sefron
Equipment Manager / Gérante de l'équipement : Maeve Glass
Athletic Therapist / Thérapeute du sport : Fabrizio DiFrancesco
Athletic Therapist / Thérapeute du sport : Roberta Villa
Nutritionist / Nutritionniste : Dr. Salvatore Delogu
Translator / Traductrice : Deborah Ferrero

Full Time Podcast - January 9, 2011

Full Time: Vancouver's Soccer Show has a new podcast up! Listen here!

You can also subscribe to Full Time on iTunes! Subscribe here!

On this jam packed edition of the program:

Tom Soehn, Director of Soccer Operations for the Vancouver Whitecaps joins the boys again. He will be talking about the upcmong Draft Combine in Florida and much more!

Canadian Men's National Coach Stephen Hart also drops in to talk about Teal Bunbury, Junior Hoilett and all things Canada!

Former Canadian Women's National, Vancouver Whitecaps & UCLA player Kara Lang is also on the program to discuss her early retirement due to injury! Details on complete interview here!

You can follow Full Time on Twitter, Facebook & Blogspot!

Full Time: Vancouver's Soccer Show airs every Sunday night. 9p-11p. Only on TEAM 1040 Sports Radio!

Full-Time: Vancouver's Soccer Show Preview

Full-Time Vancouver's Soccer Show on the TEAM 1040 returns to the airwaves Sunday night at 9pm with a full edition including news and interviews from across Canada.

The Vancouver Whitecaps FC are currently preparing for the Major League Soccer SuperDraft and Tom Soehn, Whitecaps Director of Soccer Operations, will join Full-Time to discuss his teams opportunity to select first overall. The draft runs Thursday and Tom is currently at the MLS Player combine in Florida.

The Canadian Men's National Team is preparing fr the 2011 season and first up a trip to Greece to face that nation in a friendly. Head Coach Stephen Hart will stop by to talk about the preparations for the squad this year and look at what Hart's number one goal is for the 2011 season which also includes a trip to the Gold Cup.

You will also hear from Kara Lang who retired from soccer on both a national and club level, as well as Nevio Pizzolitto, who has returned to captain another season of Montreal Impact soccer. We're also hoping to connect with the potential first pick in the MLS draft, Darlington Nagbe.

Plus the usual features including What's on Setanta and Marc Rizzardo of Metrotown Physio.

You can tune into the program on TEAM 1040 in Vancouver from 9-11pm or online at http://www.team1040.ca/

In case you miss the program, subscribe to the Full-Time podcast by clicking here. and for full updates, follow us on twitter by clicking here.

Venue announced for Canada-Greece away match

The venue, stadium and kickoff time for Canada's upcoming Men's International Friendly match against Greece has been announced. The two nations will meet this 9 February 2011 in Larissa, Greece at the A.E.L FC Arena. The match kicks off at 17.00.

This will mark Canada's first-ever trip to Greece. The two sides last met on 28 May 1988 in the Sir Matthews Cup in Toronto, ON. In the tournament final, Canada won 4-2 on kicks from the penalty mark
following a 0:0 draw with Greece.

Just last year, Greece took part in the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. The European club won one of its three group matches, a 2:1 victory over Nigeria. For Greece, currently the 12th ranked country in the world, it was its second participation at a FIFA World Cup™ (1994 and 2010). Just six years ago, Greece won the European Championship at UEFA Euro 2004.

"Whenever you play a FIFA World Cup™ team, it is a special occasion," said Canadian national head coach Stephen Hart. "It was also not that long ago that Greece was a European Champion, so the match will be challenging. Playing Greece in Greece will be good for us as we continue to develop as a team."

Canada is currently building towards the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. The team's next major competition is the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup, which will serve as the qualification route for the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013.

Kara Lang retires from soccer

Kara Lang has announced her retirement as an active soccer player from international and club duty. Still only 24 years old, Lang is a two-time FIFA World Cup player, an Olympian and a CONCACAF champion. She is also a W-League champion with Vancouver Whitecaps FC and a Canada Games gold medalist with Ontario.

“I have come to the very difficult decision to retire from soccer and step down from the national team,” said Kara Lang. “I have always held myself to a very high standard - as it is demanded at the international level. Regrettably, I am physically incapable of maintaining that standard and fulfilling my role as a player.”

Kara spent nine years with the national team, having made her debut at age 15 on 1 March 2002 at the Algarve Cup in Portugal. Her last international appearance was 5 November 2010 at the CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifier in Cancún, Mexico.

“For the past ten years, this team has been my second family and this program my second home,” said Lang. “It has been an honour and a priviledge to represent my country and I am extremely proud and grateful for the career I have had.”

At age 15, she was the youngest member on Canada’s national team. Two days later, she became Canada’s youngest scorer in a 4:0 win over Wales. Despite only making her entrance as a substitute, she scored two goals in the second half.

“I am also grateful for having the opportunity to play under Carolina Morace for the past year and a half, as I consider her a mentor both on and off the field,” said Lang. “I am very excited about the future of this program under the guidance of Carolina and I know that she will bring this team and soccer in Canada to the highest level.”

In all, Lang made 92 appearances for her country. In 2005, she was the youngest player to reach the 50-match milestone. She also scored 34 goals during her career, the fourth most in team history.

Lang participated in two FIFA Women’s World Cups (2003, 2007), one Women’s Olympic Football Tournament (2008), one Pan American Games (2007), and four CONCACAF championships (2002, 2004, 2008, 2010). She also participated in two FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cups (2002 silver and 2004) and two CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championships (2004 gold and 2006).

At club level, Lang spent most of her career with Vancouver Whitecaps FC. This included her return to the club in 2010 where she also served as a club ambassador for women’s soccer in the community. Lang helped Whitecaps FC to United Soccer Leagues W-League championship titles in 2004 and 2006. In five seasons with the club, Lang appeared in 36 matches, scoring 14 goals and adding eight assists.

Lang also played for the W-League’s Pali Blues in 2009, which on the west coast was close to her school UCLA (2005-2009). Lang was a standout for the UCLA Bruins, helping the team reach the NCAA championship final in 2005, only falling on the final day to the University of Portland. On the year, she scored 17 goals and six assists, both club records for freshmen players.

While her first knee injury made her miss the entire 2006 college season, the second injury curtailed her final college season in 2009. That second injury (again an ACL tear) was suffered on 27 September 2009.

She recovered from both injuries, the first time joining the national team on the road to the FIFA Women’s World Cup China 2007. After her second injury in 2009, she returned to the national team in 2010 and helped Canada win its second CONCACAF Women’s Championship.
She scored her final goal in her final start on 31 October 2010 against Guyana.

Amongst her goal-scoring highlights, she is one of just six Canadians to score four goals in a match and one of just two players to score 10 or more goals in back-to-back seasons. She was not only the youngest Canadian to score a goal in an international match, but also the youngest Canadian to score in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, a CONCACAF Women’s Championship, and the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.

Lang was also a workhorse, leading the national team in minutes played in her first two seasons. In 2003, she set national records (since passed) for matches (21) and minutes played (1,740) in a single year. Her 21 goals over those two years (2002-2003) were only surpassed by Christine Sinclair’s 22 from the same two-year period.

Her 92 career appearances rank 8th all time on the women’s national team. In both 2003 and 2010, she helped Canada set national records with 13 wins on the year. The highlight of that 2003 season was a fourth-place finish at the FIFA Women’s World Cup USA 2003.

“I feel that as a player, I have received everything I can from the game and have given it everything I have,” said Lang. “I also believe that I still have a lot to offer the national program and soccer in this country. I plan to continue to be involved and support my team and this program as much as possible in other capacities.”

Lang was born in Calgary, AB, but grew up and played soccer in Oakville, ON. She was five years old when she started playing for Oakville Soccer Club.

- Sad to see Lang needs to retire at such a young age. Especially due to injuries, that's always tough. She'll be missed and also disappointing she won't be a part of the 2011 World Cup in Germany.

David Hoilett Jr. - Canadian International?

At some point, Blackburn Rovers midfielder David Hoilett Jr. (Known to the world as David and telling Full-Time he prefers Junior) will have to make up his mind on whether he would like to a) play for Canada, b) play for Jamaica or c) play club football only.

Currently, the Rovers' midfielder has declined to give up a decision on his international career. Hoilett’s guarded comment has always been, “focus on getting minutes at Blackburn and as a young player, and focus on playing for my club”. You can decide for yourself what you think when listening to the interview by clicking here. But you get the sense that Junior is interested in playing for Canada. He mentioned that Stephen Hart has been sending him texts and is genuinely interested in his club career. Perhaps that aspect has given Canada the lead in gaining his services. However non-committal Hoilett wants to be, he did chuckle when we told him that we hope to see him in a Canada jersey.

Next week on Full-Time: Vancouver’s Soccer Show, we will chat with the Canadian Men’s National team coach Stephen Hart. Ask Hart if he has had any inkling one way or the other on Hoilett’s potential decision. Also his thoughts as the 2011 National team season kicks into high gear and a look ahead at his potential line-up for the 2011 Gold Cup competition and what he thinks it means to have two Major League Soccer teams in Canada with the third coming in 2012.

Full-Time: Vancouver’s Soccer Show is heard Sunday nights from 9-11pm on TEAM 1040 Radio in Vancouver and online at http://www.teamradio.ca/. You can also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by clicking here.

For more information on Full-Time, click here.