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CANADA RETURNS TO TOP 10 RANKINGS: Coach Morace interview From FIFA and Tandem News 19th November 2010

Canada has returned to the top-10 on the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Rankings. Following five consecutive victories and a second CONCACAF championship, Canada moved up four places to ninth. This marks the fourth time Canada has ranked as high as 9th.

The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Rankings looks at each country’s international results from the last four years. The ranking takes into account the result, the importance of the match, the strength of the opponent, the regional strength, the time period, and the number of matches per year. The ranking comes out four times a year.

Canada gained 28 points after winning all five matches at the 2010 CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifier. Canada jumped ahead of Australia (Asia champions), Italy, Denmark and England. England gained six points on the ranking, but is now one point behind Canada (1973 to 1974) in 10th place.

Canada's 28-point jump was the biggest from any top-25 nation. The world's number-one ranked USA made a significant drop of 42 points. However, the USA, Germany and Brazil remain the top-three nations in the world.

1 USA         2,185
2 Germany   2,153
3 Brazil        2,116
4 Sweden    2,063
5 Japan       2,036
6 Korea DPR 2,005
7 Norway      2,002
8 France      1,998
9 Canada      1,974
10 England    1,973

It’s a World Cup qualification and Canadian Women’s Soccer Coach Morace says : “It’s a very powerful emotion”

By Leonardo N. Molinelli

“It’s my first international trophy and it’s a very powerful emotion,” says Carolina Morace who cannot contain her joy over an achievement that will be recorded in the history of the Canadian women’s national soccer team. The Italian coach guided her “girls in red” to World Cup qualification and victory in the CONCACAF tournament in Cancun. The team defeated Mexico in the final on a penalty goal by captain Christine Sinclair. “It’s my first time winning something on an international level – previously I had been runner-up twice as a player with the Italian national team.”

What makes you the most proud? “The very positive thing is that we won playing well. We won. We were convincing and we still have enormous room for improvement. And beyond that, we won the tournament without giving up any goals. We scored 17 goals without giving up any, but most of all we played well.”

What has changed since the 5-0 loss suffered in Germany in mid-September, to the success in Cancun? “That defeat wasn’t a bad performance. When I spoke with the girls during the preparation for the CONCACAF tournament, I didn’t consider that game to be among the negative aspects because we did not play badly. We gave up five goals due to individual errors, and at the international level you just cannot do this.”

In light of the upcoming World Cup tournament, what needs to be improved? “On the international level, it’s important to score goals, and during this tournament, we wasted many opportunities. We have to stop making individual errors, but these are things that need to be attended to during the development and evolution of the player. This takes more time, but these are aspects whcih we will try to improve on together.”

Regarding being together, do you think this win will convince the CSA to allow you to play more friendlies and properly prepare for the FIFA World Cup? “These things depend on the Federation’s political plans and strategies – I don’t take anything for granted. Certainly, I hope so. We went beyond expectations. I’m talking about the staff, the players, everyone.”

What pleased you the most? “What pleases a coach is playing well. The United States, for example, is a great team, but in terms of their game, they didn’t impress me. Women’s soccer in the world is evolving, and the loss to Mexico wasn’t by chance. The USA didn’t have any bad games, but they didn't play good football. We scouted them frequently and the American team isn’t playing well. Of course, they have very strong athletes, but soccer needs much more.”

Your relationship with the Canada squad appears to be a strong point. “The relationship that we have created is exceptional because it is a relationship based on esteem. I prefer to be authoritative more than authoritarian. When I need to be angry, I get angry, but when it’s time to have fun, I have fun. I’m happy to have a group of exceptional girls, very polite, very proud to be Canadian and to play for their country. What makes me most proud is that they are humble; they have never been arrogant; they have never mocked or taken an opponent lightly, and I see this as very important in sport.”

What was the team’s turning point?“ The 3-0 win over Mexico, because the stadium was overflowing. Canada played with coolness and determination, and the awareness they demonstrated without feeling any sort of apprehension made me think: ‘They are truly very mentally strong.’ ”

Where does this strength come from? “We prepare well for matches; we prepare plays, and now the girls are able to read a game on their own. And we have a captain who is truly a champion. Christine Sinclair is a leader, someone who makes the difference.”

Is she the group’s point of reference? “There are many points of reference for the group including Diana Matheson, Candice Chapman, and Rhian Wilkinson; they are all leaders. Let’s say that Christine is the one who on the pitch carries the squad on her shoulders, the one who gives her teammates confidence. We always have the feeling that she can resolve the situation somehow or other. We have to create chances, then she either scores or sets up a goal.”

What is the objective in Germany? “The objective for us is to always play our best and that’s what we will do in Germany. We’ll try to prepare well, I’ll use the tournament in Brazil to try a different formation to have options.”