MOSCOW — LSU junior Caroline Vanderpool and the U-20 Canadian National Team are set to begin the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Championship on Thursday against Nigeria in a group play match scheduled for 10 a.m. CDT.
Canada and Nigeria will compete as part of Group B that also features China PR and Finland. Canada is scheduled to face Finland on Sunday at 7 a.m. followed by its final group play match against China on Aug. 23 at 10 a.m. The team shutout Finland in a pair of friendly matches in June while falling to the Chinese twice in the month of July.
“The trip has been great so far, and we’re looking forward to having a great tournament,” Vanderpool said. “Nigeria is going to be a tough first game for us because they’re a fast and physical team. We need to win that one to get off to a good start in group play, and I know we have the team to do it.”
Vanderpool traveled with Canada on its recent trip around the world in preparation for the World Championships, including tour stops in Mexico, Brazil and Finland. The team is coming off of a 3-0 shutout of Australia in its final exhibition match in Ottawa, Ontario, on Saturday in which Vanderpool played 60 minutes.
“We’re coming in on a high note by shutting out Australia like we did,” Vanderpool said. “The team played very well like we have for much of the exhibition season. We hope to continue that momentum by going deep into this tournament.”
The 16-team tournament features four groups with the top two teams in each group advancing to single-elimination quarterfinal action beginning Aug. 26. Semifinal matches are scheduled for Aug. 31 with the tournament champion being crowned Sept. 3 at Lokomotiv Stadium in Moscow.
“We’re focused on winning this tournament because I think we have the players to do it,” Vanderpool said. “I’m disappointed that I will miss the first couple of games of the season (at LSU), but playing for my country is something I’ve always wanted to do and I’m lucky to be here. I want to come back to LSU with a medal.”
LSU head coach Brian Lee said he is excited about the opportunity Vanderpool has to represent her country in such a prestigious international tournament. He believes the international experience she has gained in the last year will only help her develop into one of the elite players in the country in her final two years in Baton Rouge.
“We’re certainly very proud of Caroline in all that she has accomplished in the last year or so,” Lee said. “There’s no greater honor than representing your country on the biggest stage this sport has to offer, and she has an opportunity by advancing deep in the tournament. We wish her luck and will be looking forward to the day she rejoins the team.”