WINNIPEG -- Despite the heated womens soccer rivalry between Canada and the United States that has developed since the London Olympics, coach John Herdman says its important not to make too much of their meeting next week in Winnipeg. Nike Air Max Thea Damen . "I know for the U.S., at times, they just look at it as another game and they come into the game nice and light and bright, whereas our girls often see it as something bigger than it is," he said Thursday from Vancouver, as the Canadian roster for the exhibition game next Thursday was announced. "Were looking at some new strategies to try and retain the passion but remove the psychological burden." For Winnipeg-born midfielder Desiree Scott, the pressure will be even greater than he suggested. It will be the first time her parents have ever seen her play live. "Its a massive thing for Desiree and weve all got a big smile on our faces," Herdman said. But he says part of the teams job will be to help her focus on doing what she does best and ignore the added pressure. This is a good chance to see how much development has taken place since Herdman started to refocus the team on the kind of game he says they need to play to be competitive at the 2015 World Cup, being held in cities across Canada, including Winnipeg. "This is where your true gap analysis comes in and you get a great sense of how far youve come along the line towards success at the World Cup," he said. "Theres a certain style and approach we want to go with. . . Its more about in this game the attacking processes of managing the ball better under the sort of pressure the U.S. put you under, as well as being a lot more clinical in those key moments, that transitional moment where we are getting chances but not converting." Canada, currently ranked seventh, lost to the No. 1-ranked Americans 1-0 in Texas in their first meeting this year and hasnt managed to beat the Americans since 2001. Then there was the bitter semi-final loss to the Americans at the 2012 Olympics, where a controversial call by a referee left Canadian fans, and players, outraged. One player from that heartbreaker will be returning for this match. Striker Melissa Tancredi is back after taking a couple of years off to return to school. "Shes close to returning back to professional football in the NWSL and to be back full-time with Canada so shell come into this squad a little bit behind the eight-ball but Melissas presence is always felt." He says shes not going to be able to play 90 minutes after being off for two years, but shes a tough competitor with the kind of spirit and grit that can rub off on young players. One player Herdman would have liked still hasnt recovered enough from an ACL injury to play, natural left-footer Lauren Sesselmann, and hes also missing those who play for Swedish teams because of the travel time and a short turnaround. It provides a chance for Herdman to introduce some young players such as 16-year-old Jessie Fleming and 17-year-old Sura Yekka. Adidas Zx 700 Herren . Louis Blues just continue to roll -- especially against the Nashville Predators. Nike Air Max 90 Damen . Not exactly bursting with sentimental feelings, Matthew Lombardi makes an odd return to the state of Tennessee on Thursday night.A request by the Egyptian owner of Premier League team Hull City to change its name to Hull Tigers is set to be turned down by the English Football Association. The FA said Monday that its membership committee has recommended that the request be rejected following "consultation with stakeholders within and outside of the game." The recommendation has been passed to the FA council, which will vote on it at a meeting on April 9. Hull owner Assem Allam believes a name change will attract investors and boost the clubs marketing appeal abroad. In January, he threatened to quit if the FA turned down his request, saying: "No one on earth is allowed to question my business decisions. I wont allow it." Many Hull fans have reacted angrily to Allams controversial move, unhappy that it removes 109 years of tradition, and have made their feelings known in protests and chants during matches. Allam has injected about 75 million pounds ($125 million) into the club since 2010, when Hull was in the second-tier League Championship and on the brink of financial ruin. Nike Air Max 90 Hyperfuse Kaufen. The team secured a surprise return to the Premier League last season but Allams desire for a name change has provoked fury among many fans as well as traditionalists in English football. The backlash intensified when Allam responded to supporters chants and banners of "City Till We Die" by telling a Sunday newspaper: "They can die as soon as they want, as long as they leave the club for the majority who just want to watch good football." Allam has said the word "City" in the name is "redundant" and "irrelevant," and that he would prove to be a trailblazer for clubs changing their names "to something more interesting." "City, Town, County: these are meaningless," he told The Guardian newspaper in September. "In marketing, the shorter the name, the more powerful — think of Coca-Cola, Twitter, Apple." There was no immediate response from Hull or Allam to the decision of the FAs membership committee. cheap nfl jerseys cheap jerseys ' ' ' |