Published: July 6, 2012

The Canadian Soccer Association has nominated its roster for the London 2012 Women's Olympic Football Tournament. Canadian head coach John Herdman has selected 18 players that will join Team Canada for the London 2012 Olympics.





Desiree Scott – Soccer Player
2012 Olympian

PERSONAL DATA:

SEX: Female CLUB: Vancouver Whitecaps
BORN: Winnipeg, Manitoba Player Position: Mid Fielder
RESIDENCE: Winnipeg, Manitoba SCHOOL: U of Manitoba
LANGUAGES: English

PAST PERFORMANCES:

Member of U16 National Soccer Team 2003
Member of U19 National Soccer Team 2005-2006
Member of Women’s National Team 2010 to present
Member of FIFA Women’s World Cup Team 2011
Canada Soccer Player of the Month January 2012
Member of the 2012 CONCACAF team that qualified for 2012 Olympics
Canada, a two-time CONCACAF champion, qualified for the London 2012 Olympics out of Vancouver, BC at the 2012 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Vancouver, BC. In front of record-setting Canadian crowd at BC Place in January, Canada won a confederation silver medal after qualifying as one of two Olympic teams from CONCACAF.

This marks Canada's second participation in the Women's Olympic Football Tournament. Canada is one of 12 teams focused on a podium result, with the competition split into three groups of four teams for the group phase.




Canada's roster features goalkeepers Karina LeBlanc and Erin McLeod, defenders Candace Chapman, Carmelina Moscato, Emily Zurrer, Robyn Gayle, Lauren Sesselmann, Chelsea Stewart and Rhian Wilkinson, midfielders Kaylyn Kyle, Diana Matheson, Kelly Parker, Sophie Schmidt andDESIREE SCOTT and forwards Jonelle Filigno, Christine Sinclair, Melissa Tancredi and Brittany Timko.



Of Canada's 18 players, 14 of them were CONCACAF champions in December 2010, including two-time champion Karina LeBlanc. Canada's most experienced players, with more than 100 international appearances apiece, are Christine Sinclair (captain), Diana Matheson, Rhian Wilkinson, Brittany Timko, Candace Chapman and LeBlanc. Seventeen players have participated in at least one FIFA Women's World Cup, all with the exception of Lauren Sesselmann.

Twelve of Canada's 18 players also have experience from the last Women's Olympic Football Tournament at Beijing 2008. That was the year Canada reached the quarter-final phase of the competition, only falling in extra time to eventual champion and CONCACAF rival USA. The six players hoping to make their Olympic debut at London 2012 are Sesselmann, Chelsea Stewart, Kelly Parker, Desiree Scott, Kaylyn Kyle and Carmelina Moscato.

Seventeen of Canada's 18 players came up through the Canadian national youth program (all but Sesselmann). Six players won a silver medal at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2002: Sinclair, Timko, Chapman, Erin McLeod, Carmelina Moscato and Robyn Gayle. Six players also won a CONCACAF youth title with Canada, be it in 2004 (Timko and Emily Zurrer) or 2008 (Jonelle Filigno, Kaylyn Kyle, Sophie Schmidt and Chelsea Stewart).

Canada faces Japan on 25 July in Coventry, South Africa on 28 July in Coventry, and Sweden on 31 July in Newcastle. Both Japan (champion) and Sweden (bronze) were medal winners at the most recent FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011.

Either two or three teams will advance from each group, with eight teams participating in the quarter-final phase. The quarter-final matches are on 3 August, the semi-final matches are on 6 August, and the final medal matches are on 9 August.

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