Alex Morgan (pictured), the 2013 CONCACAF Player of the Year, will be key to the USA's success at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. (Photo: Mexsport)
EDMONTON, Canada – In addition to host Canada, CONCACAF will be represented by Costa Rica, Mexico and the United States in the 2015 FIFA Women’s Cup.
Before the competition kicks off Saturday at Commonwealth Stadium, CONCACAF.com takes a look at each of the teams.
CANADA
Head Coach: John Herdman
Previous World Cup Appearances (5): 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011
World Cup record: GP – 18; W – 4; D – 3; L – 11; GF – 26; GA – 46
Best World Cup Finish: Fourth (2003)
2015 Method of Qualification: Host
Players to Watch: Kadeisha Buchanan (DF), Diana Matheson (MF), Sophie Schmidt (MF), Christine Sinclair (FW)
The stage is now set for what is widely regarded as the most well-rounded Canadian side to ever participate in World Cup play. Led by manager John Herdman, Canada enters the home-hosted tournament on a roll, having won four of its last six matches, including victories over fellow World Cup attendees England and Korea Republic.
Buoyed a genuine world-class offensive force in Christine Sinclair, the host’s last tournament-related action came at the 2015 Cyprus Women’s Cup, where Les Rouges grabbed all nine points in three group matches against Italy, Scotland and Korea Republic, before dropping a 1-0 decision to England in the final. In January, the Canadians won the Four Nations Tournament in China, a competition that featured three other 2015 World Cup qualifiers: China, South Korea and CONCACAF-rival Mexico. If you also consider that these successes come on the heels of a bronze medal at the London Olympics in 2012, it’s easy to see why expectations are higher than ever before.
Organized and compact in the defensive third, Canada has allowed just two goals in its last six matches and will look to make a mark on the counter-attack, where Sinclair and fellow forward Sophie Schmidt should prove dangerous.
Canada is currently ranked No. 8 in the FIFA World Rankings.
GROUP A SCHEDULE
June 6: China (Edmonton)
June 11: New Zealand (Edmonton)
June 15: Netherlands (Montreal)
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COSTA RICA
Head Coach: Amelia Valverde
Previous World Cup Appearances: 0
2015 Method of Qualification: Runner-up, 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship
Players to Watch: Shirley Cruz (MF), Dinnia Diaz (GK), Raquel Rodriguez Cedeño (FW), Carolina Venegas (FW)
2014 was a special year for Costa Rican soccer as the men’s team made a historic run to the 2014 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals and won the Central American Cup, while the women, not to be outdone, secured their first-ever qualification for the global showcase.
After being drawn into a challenging, yet manageable group with Korea Republic, Spain and Brazil, the tournament debutants will now look to spring a surprise similar to the one that their male counterparts levied in Brazil a year ago.
The Ticas are technically-gifted outfit, led by Paris Saint-Germaine midfielder Shirley Cruz — a top-three finisher in CONCACAF Player of the Year voting in 2013 and 2014. Forwards Raquel Rodriguez Cedeño (3 goals) and Carolina Venegas (4 goals) combined to score seven of Costa Rica’s 10 goals in the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship. Further bolstering the lineup is fellow midfielder Gloriana Villalobos, a 15-year old prodigy, who last year played in the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship, FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and the CONCACAF Women’s Championship. Anchoring the team is goalkeeper Dinnia Diaz is an athletic shot-stopper and a potential difference maker
GROUP E SCHEDULE
June 9: Spain (Montreal)
June 13: South Korea (Montreal)
June 17: Brazil (Moncton)
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MEXICO
Head Coach: Leonardo Cuellar
Previous World Cup Appearances (2): 1999, 2011
World Cup record: GP – 6; W – 0; D – 2; L – 4; GF – 4; GA – 22
Best World Cup Finish: Group Stage (1999, 2011)
2015 Method of Qualification: Third Place, 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship
Players to Watch: Veronica Charlyn Corral (FW), Veronica Perez (MF), Lydia Nayeli Rangel (MF), Alina Garciamendez (DF)
Still looking for its first win in World Cup play, Mexico enters the 2015 tournament on a hot streak, having won seven of its last ten matches. However, if the Tricolor are going to surprise the pundits and make it out of a group that features two of the top seven teams in the world, head coach Leonardo Cuéllar and company will have to be at their very best.
Currently ranked 25th in the FIFA world rankings, Mexico faces the difficult task of having been drawn into a group that features France and England.
Obtaining a result in the opener against Colombia on June 9 will be vital in the pursuit of progressing. To do so, Cuellar will most likely rely on Veronica Charlyn Corral to provide the attacking spark. The 23-year-old forward — who made her debut for the senior team at the age of 13 — scored four goals at the CONCACAF Women’s Championship, including two critical extra-time strikes against Trinidad & Tobago in the match for third place to help seal the team’s place in Canada. Corral has played in three FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cups and appeared in one game at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She was the top scorer at the 2014 Central American & Caribbean Games with six goals and is also the leading scorer in the history of CONCACAF Under-20 Championship with 14 goals.
GROUP F SCHEDULE
June 9: Colombia (Moncton)
June 13: England (Moncton)
June 17: France (Ottawa)
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UNITED STATES
Head Coach: Jill Ellis
Previous World Cup Appearances (6): 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011
World Cup record: GP – 36; W – 27; D – 5; L – 4; GF – 98; GA – 32
Best World Cup Finish: Champion (1991, 1999)
2015 Method of Qualification: Champion, 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship
Players to Watch: Carli Lloyd (MF), Alex Morgan (FW), Hope Solo (GK), Abby Wambach (FW)
One of the world’s elite national team set-ups, the United States is once again among the favorites to taste World Cup glory.
Highlighting the team’s depth, 2014 CONCACAF Player of the Year Abby Wambach — the all-time leader in international goals scored with 182 — will be pushed for her starting spot by yet another up-and-coming crop of American standouts. The most well-known of the group is 2012 Olympic hero and 2013 CONCACAF Player of the Year Alex Morgan, but also providing options in the attacking third are the likes of Sydney Leroux, Amy Rodriguez and Christen Press. In the midfield, the ever-present Carli Lloyd – winner of the Golden Ball at the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship -- will play a leading role, while Megan Rapinoe, Tobin Heath and Lauren Holliday should all provide additional steel when needed within Jill Ellis’ preferred 4-4-2 formation.
The two-time World Cup champions qualified for Canada 2015 by winning the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship, scoring 21 goals and conceding none.
Currently ranked No. 2 in the world, the Stars and Stripes are the only CONCACAF team to have qualified for every Women’s World Cup.
GROUP D SCHEDULE
June 8: Australia (Winnipeg)
June 12: Sweden (Winnipeg)
June 16: Nigeria (Vancouver)