Just a few stops left for Canada WNT en route to Canada 2015

With only one official international game before the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™, time is becoming more and more limited for Canada’s Women’s National Team as they prepare to welcome the world.

The team has been in Santa Monica, California, training somewhat away from the spotlight as crunch time approaches.

At this stage of the game, there’s only so much more tactical preparation the team can do. But at this stage of the game, there’s more than just training for on-field play to be worked on. They also have to prepare for the obstacles they’re about to face together.

“It’s all about adversity and how strong does this group become under adversity,” said Head Coach John Herdman after the team trained under gloriously sunny skies on Tuesday.

“When it’s hitting the fan and they look to the left and the right that they know that person’s going to dig in with them but you truly know that even before you start so that’s where we’re heading.”

The chemistry in the group has been well documented and that welcoming environment has allowed younger players to come in and settle right away, allowing them to express themselves and bring a welcomed energy into the camp.

The veterans who have been through Women’s World Cups are trying to impart some wisdom on what to expect heading into the pressure packed situations they’re all about to face but the veterans are also benefiting from having younger faces in camp.

“Our younger players are pretty awesome. They’re mentality great, already at such a young age so it doesn’t feel like we have to prepare them too much,” said defender Emily Zurrer, who’s heading into her second FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“But saying that any advice you can give them having been there before is going to help them.”

The team heads to Cancun, MEX, on Friday for some training in the heat before coming to Toronto on May 21 where they’ll prepare for that final international game before the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™.

Canada will take on England at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, ON, on 29 May before opening the Women’s World Cup on 6 June against China PR in Edmonton, AB.