CANADA ANNOUNCES HOME & AWAY VS GERMANY  23rd March 2010

The Canadian Soccer Association announced today that it has organized a home-and-away series for the National Women's team against the reigning two-time world champion Germany.

The two countries have agreed to meet 15 September 2010 in Germany with a return match to be played in Canada the following year in 2011. The first match will help both programs' preparations for the FIFA Women’s World Cup to be held in Germany 2011, while the second match will be part of the preparations for the 2012 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.

“It is important that we continue to improve our international experience,” said national coach Carolina Morace. “Germany is a team with a long history as one of the best teams in Europe and in the world.”

Canada will travel to Germany this September for the first international friendly match. It will be the women’s team’s first trip to Germany since April 2005. This match will provide an excellent test before the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup, which is expected to take place in the last quarter of 2010 in North America. The 2010 CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup is the confederation qualifier for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011.

Canada and Germany have participated in each of the last four FIFA Women’s World Cups. Germany won the two most recent competitions, both at USA 2003 and China 2007. Germany will host the tournament in 2011; Canada is bidding for the next FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015.