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Buoyed by knocking off the powerful Americans in qualifying and by some good results in warmup matches, Canada kicks off its campaign at the women's FIFA U17 World Cup against Ghana on Monday.
The 16-country tournament in Trinidad and Tobago actually opens Sunday with four matches.
The Canadian women, led by coach Bryan Rosenfeld, are in Group D with Brazil, Ghana and Ireland.
Canada eliminated the U.S. in the semifinal of the CONCACAF qualifying tournament in Costa Rica in March, winning 5-3 on penalty kicks after a 0-0 draw. The Americans had outscored their first three opponents by 32 goals going into the Canada game.
"With the U.S. out, it makes it (the tournament) more open because the U.S.A. had a great team," said former Canadian senior women's coach Even Pellerud, who will guide the Trinidad and Tobago squad.
"I think Canada has a very strong team. All three Asian teams — Japan, North Korea and South Korea — are very strong. Germany, as always, will be a candidate for the podium as well."
North Korea defeated the U.S. 2-1 in extra time in the final of the inaugural U17 World Cup in 2008 in New Zealand.
South Korea won Asian qualifying this time and Canada defeated the Koreans 2-0 in their final warmup game before travelling to the tournament.
Rosenfeld was in charge of the Canadian side that lost to Germany in the quarter-finals two years ago.
"I think this squad has a lot of talent to be able to exceed what the team did in 2008," he said. "The only thing a little bit different this time around is we are stepping into I think a stronger group than we did in 2008. The challenges within the group will be great and we will require a lot of discipline and consistency to get through this group.
"And once that group stage is done and we have achieved our goal of qualifying into the quarter-final, because of some of the teams that we have beaten in friendly matches, I believe the confidence of the team is quite good, that they believe that each match after the group stage, they've got a good chance."
Rosenfeld calls his 2010 team "technically a stronger squad" than the 2008 edition.
They are also brimming with confidence, which dates back to the CONCACAF tournament.
The Canadians needed to beat the Americans in qualifying to book their ticket to the World Cup. A loss to Mexico left the Canadians in second in their qualifying group and needed to get past the Americans in the semifinal.
"The quality of that U.S. team was exceptional . . . so we knew we were going to be matched up definitely, we believed, with one of the best teams in the world on the day," Rosenfeld said.
The Canadians dispatched the Americans and then defeated Mexico in the final.
The Canadians lost left back Katherine Caverly and impact substitute Sabrina Hemond to injury prior to the tournament but Rosenfeld expresses confidence in their replacements.
Rosenfeld also had to rest several defenders against South Korea to allow them to recover from knocks in time for the start of the tournament.
Ottawa's Haisha Cantave will be counted on to use her power and pace to lead the attack while Chantale Campbell of London, Ont., and 2008 returnee Diamond Simpson also of London will spark the midfield.
Defender Nicole Setterlund of White Rock, B.C., captains the team.
The top two teams in each group advance to the quarter-finals. Should Canada move on, it will play a team from Group C which is made up of Japan, New Zealand, Spain and Venezuela.
Brazil comes into the competition as South American champion and Rosenfeld says the squad is vastly improved over the 2008 entry, which failed to survive the group stage.
"A lot of talented players, very typical Brazilian team," said Rosenfeld. "Very confident on the ball, and very dangerous one versus one players."
The Brazilians thumped Chile 7-0 in the South American final and outscored their opposition 41-3 in winning all six matches.
Rosenfeld credits the Irish for upsetting Germany in European qualifying, describing them as a confident team with heart, enthusiasm and "a hunger to win."
"They never stop. They're well organized. Perhaps not the same amount of athleticism compared to us, but at the same time very comfortable on the ball."
The Irish finished runner-up to Spain in Europe.
Ghana remains a mystery, "which definitely brings a little bit of concern because we've not seen anything on them."
The Africans prepared for the tournament at closed sessions in Alabama.
"It will be a very cautious match for us," Rosenfeld said.
The Canadians held their final camp in Florida, with Rosenfeld believing it helped his young players adjust to the temperatures in Trinidad and Tobago, where highs are expected in the low 30s.
NOTES— Defender Yazmin Ongtengco-Hintzen of Whitby, Ont., is ineligible Monday due a red card suspension dating back to CONCACAF qualifying. ... Ghana’s Ellen Coleman is back for her second U17 World Cup. Coleman, who doesn't turn 15 until December, was 12 when she made her tournament debut.
