SoccerCanada's women playing inspired soccer

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Canada has qualified for next year's Women's World Cup in Germany. (Canadian Press)

Congratulations, ladies.

Canada's women's team qualified for next summer's FIFA Women's World Cup on Friday with a 4-0 victory over Costa Rica in the semifinals of the CONCACAF qualifying tournament. It will be Canada's fifth straight appearance at the World Cup, and it is thoroughly deserved.

While the final score may seem very lopsided, Canada was made to work for its victory. The Costa Ricans, behind the inspired goalkeeping of Dinnia Diaz, held Canada off the board until the 62nd minute, when Josee Belanger finally broke the deadlock on a rebound from a Jonelle Filigno effort.

Ten minutes later, Filigno found the back of the net herself, quickly followed by a goal from skipper Christine Sinclair. A Costa Rican own-goal rounded off the scoring in stoppage time, giving Canada a berth in the qualifying tournament final and an automatic place in the World Cup in Germany in 2011.

It wasn't so much the victory that impressed me - Canada is a stronger team than Costa Rica, and many expected them to win the game comfortably. It was more the manner in which the team has played throughout the tournament that has me excited about their long-term prospects.

New style of soccer 

No longer do the Canadians play "percentage football", launching the ball forward at every attempt in an effort to force a mistake in the opposition's final third. 

Under the guidance of head coach Carolina Morace, Canada now plays a more patient, possession-oriented brand of football, whereby the players are encouraged to build their attacks by keeping the ball on the ground. The defenders are encouraged to pass the ball into midfield, rather than looking to get the ball forward as quickly as possible.

It is the way forward for Canadian soccer, and Morace deserves a great deal of credit for changing the mentality of her players and allowing them to reveal their true potential.

It is not like Canada was unsuccessful in the past - far from it. Former coach Even Pellerud is warmly regarded in Canadian soccer circles for all that he did to put the women's program on the map. He brought structure, discipline and organization to the team, and that got them to within touching distance of the best teams in the world.

But it was as though there was a glass ceiling in place for the team under the previous regime. While they were always highly placed in the FIFA world rankings, there seemed to be a gulf in class between the Canadians and the top teams in the world, like Germany and the United States.

Organization, athleticism and brute force will only get you so far in football, and at the highest level, finesse and guile are equally important if a team is to be successful.

Morace makes a difference

Under Morace, I have been very encouraged by what I have seen from Canada in this respect. She has allowed the players the freedom to enjoy themselves and take chances, giving them the opportunity to express themselves on the field. 

I could find examples for each and every player in this tournament where they have done things that were previously unseen on the Canadian women's team. Whether it is Candace Chapman or Sophie Schmidt striding forward out of defence with the ball, or Diana Matheson or Kaylyn Kyle dropping off, getting the ball off the back four and playing the ball forward into the striker's feet - there is clearly a new mindset amongst this group of players.

And is it ever paying dividends.

Canada now plays Mexico - that's right, Mexico - in the final of the qualifying tournament on Monday night. In one of the biggest shocks of all time in women's football, Mexico upset the United States by a score of 2-1 in the other semi-final to book their place in Germany next summer.

Canada completely outplayed the Mexicans in the group stage earlier in the tournament, coming away with a comfortable 3-0 win. I don't expect the Canadians to have such an easy time of things in the final, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if the game is a much tighter affair.

Regardless of the outcome of the final, the Canadian women's team are winners in my books. It was a bold decision for them to depart from their traditional style of play in favour of a more progressive system. I'm already looking forward to watching them take that style to the World Cup next summer in Germany.

Well done, ladies. You've done your country proud.

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