COLUMBUS, Ohio - Canada is so concerned about Germany's powerful offense that it is pulling its all-time leading scorer off the front line so she can play defense in the World Cup opener.
Charmaine Hooper, with 56 international goals and considered one of the world's best strikers, will lead a four-woman defensive line that has never started as a unit in the first game of a Group C double-header Saturday that also features Japan against Argentina.
"In the back of my mind I am a little concerned. But I think we have had enough time together over the last week and half," Hooper said after practice Thursday. "Defense is going to be the key to beating Germany. If we can have a solid defense on Saturday hopefully the forwards will do their jobs."
Being able to use Hooper on defense is testament to how much the Canadians have improved since the last two World Cups in which they managed just one point in each tournament. They are currently ranked 12th in the world and are unbeaten in nine games.
A big reason for Canada's turnaround is new coach Even Pellerud, who won the Women's World Cup in 1995 with his native Norway at Sweden.
Pellerud said Canada needs Hooper's experience on defense more than her scoring potential if they are going to beat Germany, which is ranked third in the world. The Canadian back line has been hampered by injuries to defenders Randee Hermus and Breanna Boyd.
"We are well equipped up front," he said. "We still have two strikers that can play for her, otherwise we would not have done it."
Hooper and Christine Sinclair led Canada up front in this year's CONCACAF Gold Cup, which served as a World Cup qualifier. They each scored seven goals in five matches. Sinclair has 32 goals in 40 games with the Canadian national team.
Joining Sinclair up front against Germany will be Christine Latham, who has proven her toughness as a striker for the WUSA's San Diego Spirit.
Pellerud says one of the reasons Hooper is on defense is to help contain Germany's Maren Meinert, who was with the Boston Breakers and finished tied for the WUSA career scoring lead with Hooper, who played for Atlanta.
"She is the creative player, the passer," he said. "She sees opportunities that no other player sees."
But it's not just Meinert, who was WUSA's MVP last season, that scares him.
"I'm worried about everything. We're playing against one of the best teams in the world and they have proved themselves," he said. "We have so far not proven anything, so it will be a challenge."
Pellerud warned other teams not to discount Hooper just because she is playing defense.
"She is still an offensive threat with her passing," he said.
At practice Pellerud was intense as his team got ready for the Germans. At one point during a full-field scrimmage he hurled a soccer ball against a fence and yelled angrily at the players to hustle.
Pellerud teaches a physical, attacking style of soccer that has frustrated many opponents and angered others.
He says soccer at this level is physical and teams that are not prepared for that will not do well in the World Cup.
"(Physical play) is becoming more standard in women's soccer," he said. "I think when I coached Norway some coaches were caught by surprise. There are also coaches out there that just don't like it."
Meinert said the Germans know what to expect from Canada.
"It definitely will be a tough game for us because the Canadians play physically and play long balls," Meinert said. "They have some of the best WUSA players and it will be tough to beat them."
Hooper said defending against Meinert and the other German stars will test her skills.
"It's going to be a challenge. But I am ready for it," she said.
Since taking over as coach, Pellerud has had his team gain experience by playing China, Norway and United States over 20 times in the last three years.
"My first decision as coach was to get opponents of great caliber," he said. "I took advantage of all my contacts."
As a result Pellerud has his team believing they can beat anyone, even the highly favored German team.
"Even though Germany is a strong team - probably the best team I have played against - I feel that it is possible for us to do anything on any given day," Hooper said. "Hopefully we're going to rise to the occasion and take it to Germany."
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Charmaine Hooper, with 56 international goals and considered one of the world's best strikers, will lead a four-woman defensive line that has never started as a unit in the first game of a Group C double-header Saturday that also features Japan against Argentina.
"In the back of my mind I am a little concerned. But I think we have had enough time together over the last week and half," Hooper said after practice Thursday. "Defense is going to be the key to beating Germany. If we can have a solid defense on Saturday hopefully the forwards will do their jobs."
Being able to use Hooper on defense is testament to how much the Canadians have improved since the last two World Cups in which they managed just one point in each tournament. They are currently ranked 12th in the world and are unbeaten in nine games.
A big reason for Canada's turnaround is new coach Even Pellerud, who won the Women's World Cup in 1995 with his native Norway at Sweden.
Pellerud said Canada needs Hooper's experience on defense more than her scoring potential if they are going to beat Germany, which is ranked third in the world. The Canadian back line has been hampered by injuries to defenders Randee Hermus and Breanna Boyd.
"We are well equipped up front," he said. "We still have two strikers that can play for her, otherwise we would not have done it."
Hooper and Christine Sinclair led Canada up front in this year's CONCACAF Gold Cup, which served as a World Cup qualifier. They each scored seven goals in five matches. Sinclair has 32 goals in 40 games with the Canadian national team.
Joining Sinclair up front against Germany will be Christine Latham, who has proven her toughness as a striker for the WUSA's San Diego Spirit.
Pellerud says one of the reasons Hooper is on defense is to help contain Germany's Maren Meinert, who was with the Boston Breakers and finished tied for the WUSA career scoring lead with Hooper, who played for Atlanta.
"She is the creative player, the passer," he said. "She sees opportunities that no other player sees."
But it's not just Meinert, who was WUSA's MVP last season, that scares him.
"I'm worried about everything. We're playing against one of the best teams in the world and they have proved themselves," he said. "We have so far not proven anything, so it will be a challenge."
Pellerud warned other teams not to discount Hooper just because she is playing defense.
"She is still an offensive threat with her passing," he said.
At practice Pellerud was intense as his team got ready for the Germans. At one point during a full-field scrimmage he hurled a soccer ball against a fence and yelled angrily at the players to hustle.
Pellerud teaches a physical, attacking style of soccer that has frustrated many opponents and angered others.
He says soccer at this level is physical and teams that are not prepared for that will not do well in the World Cup.
"(Physical play) is becoming more standard in women's soccer," he said. "I think when I coached Norway some coaches were caught by surprise. There are also coaches out there that just don't like it."
Meinert said the Germans know what to expect from Canada.
"It definitely will be a tough game for us because the Canadians play physically and play long balls," Meinert said. "They have some of the best WUSA players and it will be tough to beat them."
Hooper said defending against Meinert and the other German stars will test her skills.
"It's going to be a challenge. But I am ready for it," she said.
Since taking over as coach, Pellerud has had his team gain experience by playing China, Norway and United States over 20 times in the last three years.
"My first decision as coach was to get opponents of great caliber," he said. "I took advantage of all my contacts."
As a result Pellerud has his team believing they can beat anyone, even the highly favored German team.
"Even though Germany is a strong team - probably the best team I have played against - I feel that it is possible for us to do anything on any given day," Hooper said. "Hopefully we're going to rise to the occasion and take it to Germany."
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/6812751.htm
