Soccer2011 could outshine 2010 for Canadian women

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Christine Sinclair hopes to star for Canada at next summer's Women's World Cup.

Although 2010 was a banner year for the Canadian women's national team program, 2011 could be even better.

The Canadian women won three titles in 2010, including the CONCACAF Gold Cup, and claimed a place in next summer's FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany.

Along the way, the team recorded its best ever record in a calendar year - 13 wins, 2 loses and 3 draws - and has tied its longest ever unbeaten streak at 10 games and counting.

2011 brings the promise of even better things for Canada, as the Canadian Soccer Association has thrown its hat into the ring to host the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. The next step for the CSA is to present its bid book to FIFA by February 11. The FIFA Women's World Cup host nation will also host the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in the preceding year, so Canada is in contention to host two major international tournaments in consecutive years.

2011 could also see the Canadian women win their first ever World Cup trophy.

Difficult group

Canada has been drawn in a difficult group, with world No. 2 Germany as its first opponent, followed by France and Nigeria. If the Canucks can get out of their group - not an unreasonable expectation given how well they are playing - they could certainly find themselves as the last team standing.

Call me an optimist, but I have never seen the team play as well as it is playing right now.

Players always get the credit when they are winning, and rightly so. Ultimately it is up to the players to go out on the field and perform, and that is exactly what the Canadian women are doing right now.

But an enormous amount of credit also has to be given to their coaching staff, led by Carolina Morace.

It was a bold decision by the CSA to hire the Italian, and it certainly upset a few people within the Canadian soccer community. Many felt that the position should have gone to a Canadian coach, and they were upset that the position was given to a foreigner.

But if coaches are judged by results, it is hard to argue that hiring Morace was anything but a good move.

The team looks lean and mean right now, and there is no doubt about it - that is down to the influence of Morace. They are fitter, stronger, faster and more technical - all key ingredients in the modern women's game.

No longer does the team launch the ball forward in the hopes of playing the percentages. They play the game the way it should be played, by passing the ball on the ground and moving to support each other. On more than a few occasions I have told people - who are otherwise cynics when it comes to women's soccer - that I would gladly pay to watch the Canadian women play.

In Andrea Neil, the CSA has a head coach-in-training. Currently working as an assistant to Morace, Neil is in a perfect learning environment, and will certainly be in the running to step in as Morace's replacement if and when the Italian decides to move on to the next challenge of her career.

Neil might need to be patient, though, as lure of coaching in a World Cup on Canadian soil might be enough to tempt Morace into staying here for a little while longer.

2011 could be an even better year than 2010 for the Canadian women's team - a World Cup win in Germany, hosting the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.....

Who said Christmas wishes were just for kids?

Have a safe and happy holidays!

Follow Jason de Vos on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/#!/jasondevos

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