In their first match after the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup, runners-up the United States take on rivals Canada at Livestrong Sporting Park in Kansas City, in front of what is expected to be a fantastic crowd. Coach Pia Sundhage has called in the same team that got to the World Cup final this summer to give them a run-out in front of the home fans, but Canada is looking like a bit of a different team.
USA Vs. Canada, 2011 Friendly: USWNT, Canucks Renew Rivalry In Kansas City
The USWNT and Canada play the first of two friendly matches in a short series on Saturday night at Livestrong Sporting Park in Kansas City.
New Canadian women’s national team coach John Herdman has called in a younger squad and did not have star Christine Sinclair available for selection. Canada was immensely disappointing at the World Cup, where they were expected to contend for a knockout stage spot and did absolutely nothing of the sort.
Herdman managed New Zealand previously, guiding them to the last World Cup. Though they didn’t have a great deal of success, they overachieved in the eyes of most, and Herdman did well just to get that team into the World Cup. Now, he gets to manage a nation with a much larger player pool.
While this is a friendly and a run-out for the World Cup players for the United States, it’s also an important preparatory match as the team gets ready for the Olympics, which is less than a year away. Unlike the men, who send U-23 squads to the Olympics, the tournament features all-senior women’s teams and is the second biggest women’s soccer tournament in the world. If Sundhage wants to experiment with a new lineup, new formation and players in new positions, the time to make those adjustments is now.
Here are the rosters for the two teams.
USWNT Roster
Goalkeepers: Nicole Barnhart (Philadelphia Independence), Jill Loyden (magicJack), Hope Solo (magicJack)
Defenders: Rachel Buehler (Boston Breakers), Stephanie Cox (Boston Breakers), Ali Krieger (FFC Frankfurt), Amy LePeilbet (Boston Breakers), Heather Mitts (Atlanta Beat), Christie Rampone (magicJack), Becky Sauerbrunn (magicJack)
Midfielders: Shannon Boxx (magicJack), Tobin Heath (Sky Blue FC), Lori Lindsey (Philadelphia Independence), Carli Lloyd (Atlanta Beat), Kelley O’Hara (Boston Breakers), Heather O’Reilly (Sky Blue FC), Megan Rapinoe (magicJack)
Forwards: Lauren Cheney (Boston Breakers), Alex Morgan (Western New York Flash), Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia Independence), Abby Wambach (magicJack)
Canada Roster
Goalkeepers: Justine Bernier (University of Alabama), Stephanie Labbé (Piteå IF), Karina LeBlanc (magicJack), Erin McLeod (Dalsjöfors G.o.I.F.)
Defenders: Lexi Marton (Vancouver Whitecaps), Emily Zurrer (Dalsjöfors G.o.I.F.), Melanie Booth (Vancouver Whitecaps), Robyn Gayle (Vancouver Whitecaps), Lauren Sesselmann (Atlanta Beat), Rhian Wilkinson (Lillestrøm SK Kvinner)
Midfielders: Kaylyn Kyle (Vancouver Whitecaps), Diana Matheson (Lillestrøm SK Kvinner), Carmelina Moscato (Piteå IF), Kelly Parker (Atlanta Beat), Tina Romagnuolo (Vancouver Whitecaps), Jaclyn Sawicki (University of Victoria), Sophie Schmidt (magicJack), Desiree Scott (Vancouver Whitecaps), Diamond Simpson (Hamilton FC), Chelsea Stewart (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Forwards: Christina Julien (Ottawa Fury), Melissa Tancredi (Piteå IF)
USA vs. Canada kicks off at 7:00 pm ET from Livestrong Sporting Park in Kansas City. We’ll have coverage of the game here at SB Nation, and you can catch the game on FOX Soccer Channel in the USA.
