FIFA Women's World Cup: Tuneup win a step in right direction for Canadians

It's hard to read too much into Canada's 1-0 win over England in the final tuneup for both countries heading into the FIFA Women's World Cup.

The No. 6 and 8-ranked countries in the world, England just arrived in Canada a few days before the friendly and the host Canadians weren't revealing their full hand. That said, John Herdman's team appears to be more than prepared heading into the tournament. Canada will meet China to open its World Cup on Saturday in Edmonton. England opens June 8 in Moncton against archrival France.

The good signs for Canada included not relying on Christine Sinclair to carry the team on her shoulders offensively. Sinclair played deeper than normal against England and linked up well with the quick midfielders adopting a short, possession passing game. When the World Cup begins, Canada will form a balanced attacking unit of experience, talent and speed with the likes of Adriana Leon, Sophie Schmidt - whose goal against England was a thing of beauty - and veteran Melissa Tancredi ready for what’s to come.

The catalyst for the Canadians to be better, widely documented, stemmed from a last-place finished in Germany four years ago at the last World Cup and the 4-3 heartbreaking semifinal loss to the Americans at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Rebounding from that crushing loss to defeat France for the bronze medal in London was the final seal of approval from Canadians who embraced the women's team for its Olympic performance. That combination has been the driving force for the past three years and the hope at this World Cup will be a semifinal finish, or even better: a World Cup win on home soil.

In a documentary called RISE, which takes viewers back to the 2012 Olympics and the journey from there to now, Herdman talks about his fresh new vision for soccer in Canada and players talking about his impact upon arrival. During a scene where he is talking to the players in the dressing room at BMO Field in Toronto, Herdman mentions the average age of any World Cup championship team is 28; Canada has arrived at that group average for this World Cup.

“Not many people get themselves into situations where they’re prepared to be broken and you girls did,” he said during RISE, referring to that semifinal loss to Team USA in London. “The great thing about being broken is you can always get fixed. And, you can come back stronger.”