Canada w20 wraps up play at Japan 2012
Posted on 27 August 2012 in FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
Canada has concluded its participation at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Japan 2012, falling 1:2 to Korea DPR in the final group match on Monday 27 August. Canada finished third in Group C, thus eliminated by Korea DPR and Norway who advance to the quarter-final phase. Canada finished with one win and two losses in three matches.
Canada won 6:0 over 10-player Argentina, then lost 1:2 to Norway and 1:2 to Korea DPR. Along with Korea DPR and Norway, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Korea Republic, Germany and USA have all qualified for the quarter-final phase. The top-two teams from Groups A & B will meet on 30 August while the top-two teams from Groups C & D will meet on 31 August.
"Clearly, it is disappointing to be out of the tournament," said Canadian U-20 coach Andrew Olivieri. "At the same time, it is a positive beginning for this program. We are under a new direction (at the national level) and this is the first youth group with which we have worked. It can be a disappointing end to a tournament, but a very positive beginning to what is hopefully coming next.
"This tournament is crucial for the development of our national-team players. There were some wonderful performances in this tournament and there are a few players that could step into the full national team."
This marks Canada's fifth participation at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. This year's crop of 1992-born players qualified for Japan 2012 while finishing second at the 2012 CONCACAF Women's Under-20 Championship. At Japan 2012, Canada faced three opponents that presented different challeges - runners up from South America (Argentina), Europe (Norway) and Asia (Korea DPR).
The FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Japan 2012 runs 19 August to 8 September. Canada is one of 16 teams participating in the tournament, with all players born in 1992 or later. This marks Canada's fifth participation in a FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.
