while Francis Lambert-Lemay and Montreal Canadiens prospect Mikhail | Forum
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Nov 17 '17
MONTREAL -- Canada is sitting pretty ahead of the 2014 FIFA U-20 Womens World Cup. Brock Nelson Jersey . Canada was placed in one of the easiest groups during Saturdays live televised draw in Montreal. The eighth-ranked Canadians will face North Korea (ranked No. 4), Ghana (No. 19) and Finland (No. 26) in the group stage. "We definitely didnt expect an easy group," said Canadian U-20 coach Andrew Olivieri. "We were anxious. Its a great group." Olivieri, a retired Montreal Impact goalkeeper, doesnt want to get ahead of himself before the first ball is kicked five months from now. A good draw, however, allowed him to raise his expectations. "Weve never been beyond a quarter-final, except for that first tournament (in 2002)," he said. "Were in a good position. We want to reach the quarter-final, and win that quarter-final." Since the inaugural competition in 2002, also hosted by Canada, the U-20 tournament has been held every two years. This year, the 20-day tournament begins on Aug. 5 and wraps up Aug. 24. Four Canadian cities -- Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton, and Moncton -- will welcome some of the best womens under-20-year-olds from 16 different nations. The final will be held at Montreals Olympic Stadium. Canada plays Ghana in the tournaments opening match in Toronto. Ghanese coach Bashir Hayford thinks Canadians would be too quick to treat the first game as an easy victory for the home side. "All eyes will be on us," said Hayford. "It will be a bit intimidating with that crowd. But well have supporters in Toronto too. I know they will galvanize and come and support us. If we can win, our confidence will be built for subsequent games. We are going to play very well." Ghana earned its spot in the U-20 World Cup by defeating Equatorial Guinea 4-3 in penalty shots in January. This is their third successive trip to the U-20 World Cup, but they have yet to make it past the group stage. "Every country wants to win the cup," said Hayford. "Thats why were competing. If you ask me about my expectations, Ill tell you: we want to win the cup." After Ghana, the Canadians will face the Finns, also in Toronto. Finnish coach Marianne Miettinen knows playing in Canada will be a great experience for her young players. She says she will be wary of Canadas good speed up front, but knows her side will come to Toronto with a lot of heart. "Finland has a good fighting spirit," said Miettinen. "The Northern teams are really well organized. Were going to give everything in every game. Were going to be really tough to beat." The Canadians close out the group stage against North Korea, in Montreal. And although the fast-paced North Korean team will prove to be a tough test for Canada, the host nation luckily avoided the Group of Death -- the soccer group that invariably brings together some of the worlds best teams. For the upcoming U-20 Womens World Cup, that group is composed of the United States (ranked No. 1), Germany (No. 2), Brazil (No. 3), and China (No. 6). Together, the U.S. and Germany have won five of six U-20 competitions. The Americans are the defending champions, having beaten the Germans 1-0 in the final game of the 2012 tournament in Tokyo, Japan. If Canada does make it past their group stage, they will have to face the Americans, Germans, or Brazilians in the quarter-final. "Its going to be challenging," admitted Olivieri. The tournaments third group opposes Nigeria (ranked No. 5), South Korea (No. 10), Mexico (No. 11), and England (No. 13), and the final one includes France (No. 9), New Zealand (No. 15), Costa Rica (No. 25), and tournament newcomers Paraguay (unranked). The U-20 World Cup will give also give Canadian soccer fans a taste of whats to come. Next summer, Moncton, Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Vancouver will host the 2015 FIFA Womens World Cup, the first senior FIFA tournament held in Canada. Olivieri, whos been coaching the under-20s for two years now, said that any player who excels on his squad this summer will have a very good shot at being involved in next summers World Cup. In total, Canada will host 84 international soccer matches in seven cities across the country in the next two years, and is expected to draw a combined nearly two million soccer fans. "The womens game is improving in Canada," said Olivieri. "It will be incredible. There are many young kids already playing the game, and this will only help. The reach of the game will change." Note: Mayor Denis Coderre and former Montreal Canadiens coach Jacques Demers were in attendance for FIFAs official draw. a Ten of the 16 team coaches were also present in Montreal on Saturday. Ryan Strome Jersey .500 were once common achievements for the Dallas Mavericks. Now, both are season highs as Dallas slowly works its way back into playoff contention in the Western Conference. Cal Clutterbuck Jersey .com) - Oregon wasnt going to let Arizona ruin its national title dreams for a second straight season.SHERBROOKE, Que. - Brandon Gignac had the only goal in the shootout as the Shawinigan Cataractes edged the Sherbrooke Phoenix 4-3 on Wednesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Gignac also scored in regulation time for Shawinigan (19-38-9), as did Alex Pawelczyk and Sebastien Gauthier. Daniel Audette, Mathieu Laverdure and Jean-Christophe Laflamme supplied the offence for Sherbrooke (16-41-9). Marvin Cupper made 43 saves and turned aside three skaters in the shootout for the win. Francis Desrosiers stopped 24 shots in regulation and overtime before stopping one shootout attempt. --- SCREAMING EAGLES 2 SEA DOGS 1 SYDNEY, N.S. — Kyle Farrells short-handed goal in the second period stood as the winner as Cape Breton held off Saint John. Raphael Corriveau also scored in the second for the Screaming Eagles (36-26-4), while Zachary Fortin made 22 saves. Oliver Cooper gave the Sea Dogs (19-42-5) a 1-0 lead in the first. Sebastien Auger stopped 44 shots in net. --- OCEANIC 2 SAGUENEENS 1 CHICOUTIMI, Que. Anders Lee Jersey. — Loic Leduc scored the winner with 6:49 left in the third period as Rimouski edged the Sagueneens. Jimmy Oligny had a power-play goal for the Oceanic (44-15-7) and Olivier Tremblay made 25 saves for the win. Scott Carrier was the lone scorer for Chicoutimi (27-38-1), while Julio Billia turned aside 34 shots. --- TIGRES 6 REMPARTS 3 QUEBEC CITY — Jean-Francois Plante scored his 52nd goal of the season and set up three others as Victoriaville toppled the Remparts. Angelo Miceli had a goal and two assists for the Tigres (33-25-8), while Yan Pavel Laplante, Jonathan Diaby, Samuel Blais and Carl Marois chipped in as well. Francois Tremblay made 37 saves for the win. Nick Sorensen scored and added two assists Quebec (38-17-11), while Francis Lambert-Lemay and Montreal Canadiens prospect Mikhail Grigorenko had goals as well. Francois Brassard stopped 11 of 15 shots in 28:48 of work, while Callum Booth turned aside 13-of-15 shots in relief. --- Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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