Canada prepares for Australian friendly

For more information on this match, please visit the following fixture link.



Canada’s women’s national team has had a good week of preparations in Sydney, Australia in anticipation of its international friendly on Friday 23 May. The Canucks will play the Matildas this 23 May 2008 at 17.15 local time (12.15 PT / 3.15 ET).



“We have had a short, but very good stay here in Sydney,” says coach Even Pellerud. “The game against Australia will be our first encounter since the 2:2 draw at FIFA Women’s World Cup China 2007. These two teams always seem to stage even battles and very exciting games, so we expect the same this time.”



Along with the team’s preparations, Canada took part in a friendly closed door match with the Australia on Tuesday. As was the case in the September match, Tuesday’s match ended in a draw.



“The closed door 0:0 game on Tuesday indicated the same – an even and exciting match,” says Pellerud. “We have worked hard with our team over the last 10 days to find a way to become more consistent and more competitive in friendly games. We have always been very strong and consistent in big games, but have at times approached friendly games with a lack of urgency. We want to change that, knowing that great teams need to find ways to play well and win on bad days, too.”



Canada’s senior women’s national team, whose title sponsor is Winners and presenting partner is Teck Cominco, is currently ranked 9th in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings. Canada recently qualified for the 2008 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament, thus becoming the first Canadian team in 24 years and the first women’s team in Association history to qualify for the Olympics.