Canada at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Trinidad&Tobago 2010

Canada’s women’s U-17 head coach Bryan Rosenfeld has announced the 21 players who will represent Canada at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Trinidad and Tobago 2010. The 16-team competition is being held in five cities across the Caribbean nation from 5 – 25 September. Canada, the CONCACAF champion, is participating in its second-consecutive FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

“The team has worked hard over the past four months,” said head coach Rosenfeld. “Now that the final selections have been made our focus is on the details that will best prepare the team for the group stage. The players and staff are anxious and excited to begin our final preparation process as our opening match grows closer."

Canada’s women’s U-17 team presented by BMO has been drawn into Group D and will face Ghana, the Republic of Ireland, and Brazil in its three group matches.

The young Canucks will open against Ghana on 6 September, before facing the Republic of Ireland on 9 September, with both matches taking place at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Arima, Trinidad. Canada will conclude group play against Brazil on 13 September at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella, Trinidad.

Canadian fans can follow all the team’s matches from Trinidad and Tobago on CBC’s platform of networks. Canada’s matches will be shown live on CBC Bold and streamed on cbcsports.ca. Each match will then be re-broadcast on the main CBC network at midnight.

The Canadian squad will complete its preparations with a week-long camp beginning on 25 August in Florida before travelling to Trinidad for the World Cup. While in Florida, Canada will tune up with a match against fellow FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup participant Korea Republic on 30 August.

Canada qualified for Trinidad and Tobago 2010 by virtue of winning the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship in March. Canada defeated Mexico 1:0 in the 20 March final. The win followed the dramatic qualification in the semi-final stage on 18 March over USA after winning 5-3 on kicks from the penalty mark.

“Our roster that won the CONCACAF championship has remained largely intact,” said Rosenfeld. “Unfortunately two players, Katherine Caverly and Sabrina Hémond, are unfortunately out of the squad due to injury. We are very confident with the new players who will replace their roles.”

In 2010, Canada has compiled a record of six wins, three draws, and two losses in its international matches.

Canada’s roster features 16 returning players from the CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship. Two players on the roster return from the quarter-final finish at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup New Zealand 2008: midfielder Diamond Simpson and goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo.

This season, coach Rosenfeld has seen 40 different players in his national camps. The final selection of 21 players features 14 players born in 1993, six born in 1994 and one (Ashley Lawrence) born in 1995. All 21 players have also come through Canada’s National Training Centres and/or BMO National Championships.

2010 will mark Canada’s second consecutive appearance at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup following its participation at New Zealand 2008. Rosenfeld coached the Canadian squad to the quarterfinals of that tournament before falling to 1:3 to Germany.

The 16 nations competing in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Trinidad and Tobago 2010 are: host Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Germany, Ghana, Republic of Ireland, Japan, Korea DPR, Korea Republic, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, South Africa, Spain, and Venezuela.