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TEAM CANADA:

CANADA TO PLAY TOURNAMENT IN CYPRUS AND MATCH IN FRANCE BEFORE OLYMPIC QUALIFIERS

25th February 2008 From a CSA Report

The Canadian Women’s National Team will play in five matches in early March. The Canadian team will leave for Europe in late February and take part in four games in Cyprus (5-12 March), three of which will be part of the 2008 Cyprus Cup. Canada will then play France in the Meaux suburb of Paris on 14 March before returning to Canada.

"Following some six weeks of intensive training at our residency program in Vancouver, the team is very much looking forward to this exciting new tournament in Cyprus," says coach Even Pellerud. "The timing for this international event could not have been better! The level of opposition is also a very good fit for us - with all teams ranked close to ourselves."

Canada will face Russia on 5 March, Japan on 7 March, Scotland on 10 March and an opponent yet to be named on 12 March. The Scotland match is a friendly and not part of the Cyprus Cup competition. The 2008 Cyprus Cup is a six-team tournament (three teams in each group), so their opponent for the final game on 12 March will depend on the outcomes of the other games.

"We are in a comfortable place right now in terms of fitness and injury status. All the 24 players going into this tournament are cleared to play ."

On their way back from the Cyprus Cup, Canada will face top-10 ranked nation France (ranked seventh in the December FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings). Canada has a record of three wins, one draw and one loss against France - all played in Europe. That compares to records of 0-0-1 against Russia, 2-3-3 against Japan, and 1-0-0 against Scotland.

"The additional friendly against France is another opportunity to test our team's performance level just some few weeks prior to the Olympic Qualifier in April."

Women’s Olympic Qualification Tournament will take place in Mexico in early April. Canada has been drawn into a preliminary group with Costa Rica and Trinidad & Tobago for the opening round of the tournament which runs 2-12 April at the Estadio Olímpico Benito Juarez in Ciudad Juarez.

In the opening round, Canada will play Trinidad & Tobago on 2 April (17.00) and then Costa Rica on 6 April (11.00). Should Canada finish first or second in its group, it will play a cross-over semi-final on 9 April (17.00 or 19.30)against an opponent from the other group (United States, México or Jamaica). Should they win their semi-final, they will advance to the championship final on 12 April (19.30) and win a berth in this summer’s Women’s Olympic Football Tournament (6-23 August in Beijing).

Canada’s senior women’s team, whose title sponsor is Winners, is currently training full time in Vancouver, BC. In 2007, the Canadian women’s program reached an all-time high in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings - ninth best in the world. The team is the second-highest ranked CONCACAF team behind the United States.

Starting this week, Canadian fans and Clubs (from all walks of sport and life) are encouraged to send their support to the team via mail (Women’s national team, 580-375 Water Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 5C6), fax (778.330.1396) or email believe@soccercan.ca). Clubs are especially encouraged to mail signed team photos or short video messages.