CARSON, Calif. (CP) - The long wait now begins for the national women's soccer team.
Having accomplished the goal of securing a berth in next September's FIFA women's World Cup, coach Even Pellerud now faces the task of maintaining and improving a team that won't play another important game for 10 months.
Pellerud believes an emotional, 2-1 overtime loss to the U.S. in Sunday's CONCACAF Gold Cup final will help motivate the squad over the winter.
The Americans won the game on a controversial penalty kick in the 30th minute of overtime.
"It, despite the loss, really built momentum and confidence in the group," Pellerud said before the team returned to Vancouver on Monday. "We are a better team than before.
There was great improvement in the team."
The Chinese women have already scheduled 38 exhibition games between now and the World Cup opening on Sept. 10.
Pellerud would be thrilled if his side can play about half that number.
"I think 20 is on my wish list," he said. "If we can get 10 or 12 that would be OK too.
"All the countries that have qualified (for the World Cup) are eager to play games. We will probably need to go to the States and even travel to Europe."
Captain Christine Sinclair said she wants to play teams like Germany, currently ranked No.
1 in the world, the No. 2-ranked U.S.
, China and Norway.
"In order to perform with them we need to play against them," said Sinclair, a nominee as FIFA's women's player of the year. "Practising and being in residency camp can only do so much for you.
You need to play international games to be able to perform come World Cup."
Canada lost to the U.S.
in the bronze medal game of the 2003 World Cup.
National team players will now scatter to their homes across the country, then regroup again in early January in Vancouver.
The women played 17 games this year, compiling a 10-3-4 record.
All three losses were against the U.S. The games were close, an indication Canada is narrowing the gap.
"When we can compete with one of the best teams in the world, then it gives us confidence and makes us excited for what's going to come in the future," said goalkeeper Erin McLeod of Calgary.
A major building block for the national team this year was the introduction of a residency program that allows players to live and train together in Vancouver for several months at a time.
The program is funded by Greg Kerfoot, the millionaire owner of the Vancouver Whitecaps.
It pays national team members $20,000 a year in salary - on top of their Sport Canada funding - so they can concentrate full-time on soccer.
Midfielder Amy Walsh said the residency is an improvement over the old system, where the team would gather for a training camp in the weeks leading up to a game or major competition.
"By putting us all in the one spot and focusing all our resources on this three-month preparation, we've really seen how far this team can go," said Walsh, of St.
Bruno, Que. "It's a pure practice atmosphere."
Brittany Timko, a forward from Coquitlam, B.
C., said the women have also benefited from off-the-pitch bonding.
"You see with some of the most successful teams in the world that off-field chemistry sometimes determines what you do on the field," said Timko.
"That's been a big part of this."
The status of three suspended players must also be resolved.
Former captain Charmaine Hooper, defender Sharolta Nonen, and forward Christine Latham were suspended after failing to attend an exhibition series against China in a dispute with the Canadian Soccer Association over the residency camps.
The three players believe the program pressures women to play for the Whitecaps women's team, a change the CSA denies.
The three plan to appeal. Even if they are re-instated, they may not be welcomed back on the team.
"The team that we have today is the strongest team we've ever had," said defender Randee Hermus who scored for Canada in Sunday's loss. "We play well together and have a cohesion we've never had. We're the strongest team we've seen forever.
That's why we can compete at this level."
Pellerud is looking forward to some injured players returning to the lineup.
Goalkeepers Karina LeBlanc (knee) and Taryn Swiatek (ankle), forwards Kara Lang (knee) and Katie Thorlakson (knee), and midfielders Amber Allen (leg) and Amy Apps (neck), all missed the Gold Cup.
"They will be back in the new year and we look forward to creating higher competition within the group," said Pellerud.
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