As we approach Sundays FIFA Under-20 Womens World Cup Final at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, its time to shake off that inertia Canadians possess for slapping our own backs. I think Americans refer to it as “grandstanding”. Already more than a quarter of a million spectators from Moncton to Edmonton have taken in the tournament first hand. There they have witnessed matches upholding the true spirit of the beautiful game: Free-flowing football with an absence of simulation and malicious intentions. Weve seen more goals and high scoring matches than anyone could have dared to imagine. Surely even Kim Jong-un must have got to his feet at the final whistle to salute Nigerias six-star performance in Moncton Wednesday. Proceedings kicked off with a star-studded banquet in Montreal Aug. 3 where guests included the FIFA President. Whilst here, for good measure, Sepp Blatter threw his support behind the Canadian Soccer Associations government-endorsed bid to host the 2026 World Cup Finals. You know, the one where Cristiano Ronaldo announces his Real Madrid exit in favour of Montreal? CSA President and chair of the National Organizing Committee Victor Montagliani, and everyone he is tasked to oversee, are now rightfully reaping the rewards of their labour seeds sown across the country since preparations for Canada 2014 began back in earnest, in March, 2011. That came right after Canada was awarded the rights to host Canada 2015 by FIFA. "The soccer has been fantastic and we expect the best match to be played on Sunday with Germany facing Nigeria in the FIFA U20 Womens World Cup Canada 2014,” Montagliani told TSN.ca by email yesterday. The tournament itself, one could say, is the official launch of the FIFA Womens World Cup Finals in Canada 2015. Or as Montagliani stated; "The competition is a great launching pad for next years FIFA Womens World Cup: for FIFA, the National Organising Committee, the stadia and training grounds, and the host cities.” The outstanding outpouring of country-wide support for our U-20s at Canada 2014 - where we eventually became unstuck by the Germans [who doesnt?] in the quarter-final - has not been lost on the Chairman. "The way our country got behind the Canadian team was fantastic. The best crowds were always those when Canada played, including the 22,421 in Edmonton for the quarter-final phase,” Montagliani added. "Playing four international matches in a global competition like this provides our young players with important experience and growth opportunities. This particular U-20 group may graduate five or more players to the womens national team, so for them to get that experience before next years FIFA Womens World Cup is paramount for our national program." Those five or more U-20 players Montagliani references who will graduate to next summers Womens World Cup Finals stand in direct contrast to what tends to occur with the Mens World Cup Finals. Coincidentally if we look at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Finals Canada hosted in 2007, hardly any players went on three years late to appear at South Africa 2010. The male incubation period leaps from a single year to seven. On average at Brazil 2014 only two or three players from each nation who competed here in 2007, and who qualified for this summers World Cup Finals would have made it onto the squads. Chile who made it to the2007 semi-finals were the exception. Six players from 2007 were at Brazil 2014. Such is the task at hand for our ladies next summer, the considered opinion is that only a pair of German players who will appear in Sundays Final will return for Canada 2015. Thats for matters on the pitch. Montreal, where Sundays final will be staged, are well aware of the added values for Canada 2015 which are directly associated for playing host to the U-20s. "The FIFA U-20 Womens World Cup has provided us with the building blocks towards a bigger and better FIFA Womens World Cup Canada 2015,” Francis Millien, who chairs the Local Organizing Committee, told TSN.ca via email this afternoon. "In using Olympic Stadium for both competitions in 2014 and 2015, we can iron out our logistical pathway and reconfirm that logistics, transport and stadia operations meet the requirements for the FIFA Womens World Cup Canada 2015,” Millien added. Having already hosted eight matches, Olympic Stadium plays host to Sunday evenings final between Germany and Nigeria. Before the show piece event comes an intriguing encounter in the bronze medal playoff match between France and North Korea. Sure to be a sizeable and raucous crowd at Olympic Stadium. 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That was two days after coach Gerardo Martino stepped down when Barcelona finished its first season without a major trophy in six years.VANCOUVER - Around this time last year, the Vancouver Whitecaps displayed considerable bravado as they aspired to place among the top teams in MLS. But in 2014, the Whitecaps will have a new coach, a new look and less attitude, starting with Saturdays season-opener against the powerhouse New York Red Bulls at B.C. Place Stadium. Watch the Whitecaps vs. Red Bulls live on TSN tonight at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. "Were all looking ahead with a cautious optimism," Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi said before the team held its final pre-season practice Friday. The Whitecaps finished seventh in the Western Conference with a 13-12-9 record in 2013 after becoming the first Canadian team to make the playoffs the year before. New York, which features a star-studded lineup, finished first overall with a 17-9-8 mark. Carl Robinson, a former Whitecaps assistant coach, will try to excel in the top job after Martin Rennie was fired at the end of the last campaign. "Obviously, with a new coach coming in, theres going to be a transition, but hes had a full pre-season to work with a majority of the guys," said Lenarduzzi. "And then, getting the guys that weve added over the course of the pre-season, therell still be I would think a required time for players to gel and for the newer guys to get to know Carl and his coaching staff and their teammates." Robinson has brought in several new players from South America and Europe, including new designated player Pedro Morales, a Chilean midfielder who was signed earlier this week. "We dont want to put too many unrealistic expectations on him, but were hopeful that hes going to produce and well see results of that in goals and assists," said Lenarduzzi. "But ultimately what were looking for from him is to bring out the best in players around him." Other prominent newcomers include attacking Nicolas Mezquida and Sebastian Fernandez, who both hail from Uruguay, and Mattias Laba of Argentina, a designated player who was acquired from Toronto FC. Vancouvers acquisitions have paled in comparison to TFCs splashy off-season signings, but Lenarduzzi did not feel pressured to match them. "I dont think any team in the league feels the pressure to match $100 million spent on three players," he said. As a result of the changes, the Whitecaps lineup features players from 16 countries, who bring diverse skill levels, backgrounds and languages. "Football is a global sport," said Lenarduzzi. "The language barriers? I dont believe they are barriers. Obviously when you get on the field youd like to be able to communicate with your teammates. But really, if youre good players, your ability will do the talking for you." Lenarduzzi is hopeful that Robinson, 37, a former Welsh international player who toiled in England and in MLS with Toronto and New York, will be able to get his message across. Known as a strong communicator, Robinson developed close relationships with players in his assistants role and, according to Lenarduzzi, succeeded in getting them to accept what they sometimes did not like to hear about their play. "Now that hes the head coach, hes the guy where the buck stops," said Lenarduzzi. "So it wont be the same as it was the previous two years.dddddddddddd Itll be different. But Im encouraged that up until now hes maintained his willingness to communicate with the guys." Lenarduzzi also likes the fact that Robinson stresses a possession-oriented, attacking style of play while still requiring the club to display a disciplined defensive structure, and "puts a premium" on young players. "We havent kicked the ball in anger yet, so were not getting carried away," said Lenarduzzi. "We think weve got a good squad of players. But if he applies all of those things then I think weve got an opportunity to make the playoffs this year, which is really our objective." The quest for a post-season berth became more difficult following the departure of striker Camilo Sanvezzo — who led MLS with 22 goals last season — to Queretaro of the Mexican League. Camilo angered the club by donning the Mexican teams jersey while he was still a Whitecap and a transfer was eventually negotiated. "The hope is that two players or, more than likely, three players will help pick up that (scoring) slack," said Lenarduzzi. One likely source of more offence is striker Darren Mattocks, who had a disappointing sophomore season marred by injuries, inconsistent play and international absences that limited him to just three goals. Lenarduzzi also hopes to get "10-plus" goals from striker-midfielder Kekuta Manneh, a gifted 19-year-old scorer who was used sparingly in his rookie season but still found the net six times in only 764 minutes of action over 20 games. "What I dont think we want to do is heighten the expectations of Kekuta," said Lenarduzzi. "Hes a very good player, and he proved that late last season." Former Scottish international striker Kenny Miller will be expected to produce early as he plays on an unusual six-month contract that could see him leave the team in mid-season. "Kenny will need to do what he did the first half of last season and if thats the case, then certainly thats going to encourage us to keep him around," said Lenarduzzi. Striker Omar Salgado, 20, the teams first-ever MLS draft choice who has missed most of the past two seasons with foot injuries, could also help make up for Camilos absence, depending on how much playing time he can earn after his long layoff. Ultimately, Vancouvers scoring prowess could hinge on Robinson, also a former Red Bulls assistant coach, who was not managements first choice to replace Rennie. "Im excited. I really am," Robinson told reporters this week. "But Im trying to keep a calm head on my shoulders in (the dressing room) and in front of the guys." Notes: The Whitecaps loaned five players, including seventh-overall 2014 draft pick Andre Lewis, to the second-tier Charleston Battery on Friday. Lenarduzzi said the Whitecaps made the move to ensure that Lewis, a 19-year-old midfielder from Spanish Town, Jamaica, gets plenty of playing time. Strikers Mamadou Diouf and Marlon Ramirez, midfielder Aminu Abdallah and defender Jackson Farmer were also sent to Charleston. … Vancouver beat New York in their lone meeting last season. The Whitecaps are unbeaten (1-0-2) against the Red Bulls in three all-time games. ' ' '