Watch above: With Canada’s victory over Finland Friday night, the home team will now be playing in Montreal for a spot in the Quarterfinals. Ines De La Cuetara reports from the Dorval airport where eager fans greet the players.
MONTREAL – Team Canada received a warm welcome at Trudeau airport on Saturday afternoon, as Montreal soccer fans gathered at Arrivals to cheer on the under 20 Canadian soccer team.
This year Canada is hosting the FIFA women’s youth World Cup, and the promising young stars of tomorrow will be playing their third game at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium.
“They asked me what position I played,” said Brianna Coppola, a fan and soccer player who was there to greet the team. “They were really nice.”
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The team lost to Ghana in their first game but beat Finland on Friday night in Toronto. Now the girls are facing North Korea on Tuesday. The two teams happened to be on the same flight.
“We definitely know we can play much better,” said Andrew Olivieri, the team’s coach. “A little more consistent throughout the game. We got better in both matches as the game went on, and we ‘ll have to have better starts against North Korea.”
Team Canada played in front of nearly 17 000 people on Friday night. Players say it’s nice to see that women’s soccer is starting to gain more and more attention.
“Just the support that they’re giving us in our home country in this amazingly big tournament is just incredible,” said Janine Beckie, a player. “The way women’s soccer is growing in this country and all over the world is just great.”
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Members of the Dorval Soccer Club made it a point to be there; 60 per cent of that club’s members are girls.
“It’s important for young girls to be inspired, look up to these girls,” said Izzy Coppola, a soccer dad.
“And they were great,” he said of Canada’s team.
“You could tell when they came out they were happy to see the reception, and they were grateful. We really want them to go all the way.”
The team still has a long way to go, but fans and players say they’re glad the team will be playing on home turf.
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