Canada to face Poland in lead-up to Cyprus Women’s Cup

Canada’s women’s national team has announced that it will face Poland in an international friendly match in the lead-up to this year’s 2010 Cyprus Women’s Cup. The two sides will meet on 20 February on neutral ground in Larnaka, Cyprus.



“For us, it is always important to add international games to our schedule,” said national coach Carolina Morace. “Poland is a good, quick team that has improved in the last five to six years.”



Canada is one of eight teams competing in this year’s Cyprus Women’s Cup. Canada faces Switzerland on 24 February, England on 26 February, South Africa on 1 March, and an opponent from the opposite group on 3 March in the classification final (which will be against either Italy, Scotland, New Zealand or Netherlands). England is the returning champion from 2009 while Canada was the inaugural champion in 2008.



While Poland is not competing in the Cyprus Women’s Cup, it is preparing for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011. It currently ranks first in UEFA Group 4 in the qualification stage that runs 19 September 2009 to 25 August 2010 (41 countries in eight groups with only four or five qualifying for Germany 2011). Poland’s next opponent in the qualification stage is Romania on 31 March.



The 20 February match will be the first-ever meeting between Canada and Poland’s national women’s teams.



Canada’s women’s team, whose title sponsor is Winners and whose presenting sponsor is Teck, will open its 2010 season in Cyprus with five games from 20 February to 3 March. As part of its 2010 schedule, it will play at least two games at home, with dates, venues and opponents yet to be announced. As for the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup, that schedule is expected be announced shortly by CONCACAF, with the top-two teams qualifying for Germany 2011 and the third-place team entering a playoff against the fifth-place team from Europe.