Canada WNT to participate in Match world Women’s Cup

Canada has announced that it will participate in three women’s international matches during its two-week camp in Switzerland this July 2012, including two of which will be part of the Match world Women’s Cup. Canada is one of four teams competing in the women’s tournament, with matches against New Zealand on 14 July and Brazil on 17 July. Canada will also face the tournament’s other competitor – Colombia – in an Women’s International Friendly match on 9 July.

All four Match world Women’s Cup teams are currently preparing for the London 2012 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament. Canada has yet to face either Colombia or New Zealand this year, but has faced Brazil once (a 2:1 win on 24 March in a Women’s International Friendly match in Foxboro, MA).

Since the start of this calendar year, Canada has participated in 13 international matches (nine wins and four losses), including five of which were in Vancouver, BC for the 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament. It was in Vancouver at BC Place that Canada qualified for the London 2012 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament. Then on 30 May 2012, Canada won 1:0 over China PR in its Canadian Olympic send off at Stade Moncton 2010 Stadium in Moncton, NB. Last week, Canada lost 1:2 to reigning Olympic champion USA in Sandy, UT.

From the goal out, Canada’s Olympic squad will feature Karina LeBlanc and Erin McLeod as goalkeepers, Emily Zurrer, Carmelina Moscato, Robyn Gayle, Rhian Wilkinson, Candace Chapman, Chelsea Stewart and Lauren Sesselmann as defenders, and Kaylyn Kyle, Diana Matheson, Desiree Scott, Christine Sinclair, Sophie Schmidt, Melissa Tancredi, Kelly Parker, Jonelle Filigno and Brittany Timko from the midfield up through to the attack.

Twelve teams will compete at the London 2012 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament from 25 July to 9 August. Teams are split into three groups, with Great Britain, Brazil, Cameroon and New Zealand in Group E, Canada, Japan, South Africa and Sweden in Group F, and Colombia, France, Korea DPR and USA in Group G. In the London 2012 group phase, Canada will face Japan on 25 July, South Africa on 28 July, and Sweden on 31 July.

For full coverage of Canada’s road to the London 2012 Olympics, fans can follow all the news at CanadaSoccer.com. Fans are also encouraged to connect with Canada’s national teams via twitter.com/CanadaSoccerEN, facebook.com/CanadaSoccer, flickr.com/canadasoccer, and youtube.com/canadasoccertv.