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The squads for the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup were announced today, with all 16 teams naming their 21 players to reveal the 336 individuals who will be representing their country in Canada between 5 - 24 August.
The hosts have named several veterans of previous FIFA tournaments. Coach Andrew Olivieri is able to call on players with a wealth of experience at U-17 level, with all but six of his 21 having played at an U-17 World Cup. Indeed, Jessie Fleming captained the lower age group's squad in Costa Rica earlier this year, getting herself on the scoresheet in her side's opener against Germany.
Another star of Costa Rica, Nigeria's Uchenna Kanu, takes her place in Peter Dedevbo's 21 after impressing with three goals in her side's four games at the tournament earlier this year.
Take a closer look for yourself at all the sides at the official site of the tournament
Coach: Dorival BUENO (BRA)
: FIFA.com/u20womensworldcup.
The hosts have named several veterans of previous FIFA tournaments. Coach Andrew Olivieri is able to call on players with a wealth of experience at U-17 level, with all but six of his 21 having played at an U-17 World Cup. Indeed, Jessie Fleming captained the lower age group's squad in Costa Rica earlier this year, getting herself on the scoresheet in her side's opener against Germany.
Another star of Costa Rica, Nigeria's Uchenna Kanu, takes her place in Peter Dedevbo's 21 after impressing with three goals in her side's four games at the tournament earlier this year.
Take a closer look for yourself at all the sides at the official site of the tournament
DOB: Date of Birth (dd.mm.yyyy) POS: GK: Goalkeeper, DF: Defender, MF: Midfielder, FW: Forward
Friday 25 July 2014 11:24
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Canada 2014
List of Players
Brazil
# FIFA Display Name Last Name First Name Shirt Name DOB POS Club Height
1 NICOLE NASCIMENTO DE MEDEIROS Nicole NICOLE 14.08.1995 GK Team Chicago Brasil (BRA) 179
2 LETICIA SANTOS SANTOS DE OLIVEIRA Letícia LETÍCIA SANTOS 02.12.1994 DF Sao Jose (BRA) 158
3 THAYNARA DA CONCEIÇÃO FERRAZ Thaynara THAYNARA 25.01.1995 DF CR Vasco da Gama (BRA) 171
4 JULIA BIANCHI Julia JULIA 07.10.1997 DF Centro Olimpico (BRA) 167
5 GABI MORAIS DA ROCHA Francisca Gabriela GABI 05.04.1994 MF Sao Jose (BRA) 157
6 CAMILA MARTINS PEREIRA Camila CAMILA 10.10.1994 DF Kindermann (BRA) 161
7 DUDA FRANCELINO DA SILVA Maria Eduarda DUDA 18.07.1995 FW Sao Francisco (BRA) 174
8 DJENIFER BECKER Djenifer DJENI 25.06.1995 MF Kindermann (BRA) 159
9 BYANCA ALVES DE ARAUJO Byanca Beatriz BYANCA 23.11.1995 FW Foz Cataratas (BRA) 169
10 ANDRESSA CAVALARI MACHRY Andressa ANDRESSA 01.05.1995 FW Kindermann (BRA) 161
11 PATRICIA DA SILVA SOCHOR Patrícia PATRÍCIA 29.04.1994 FW Foz Cataratas (BRA) 169
12 LETICIA IZIDORO LIMA DA SILVA Letícia LETICIA 13.08.1994 GK Sao Jose (BRA) 174
13 NAGELA OLIVEIRA DE ANDRADE Nágela NÁGELA 21.01.1995 DF Ferroviaria (BRA) 179
14 CAROLINE DOS SANTOS GOMES Caroline CAROLINE 22.06.1995 DF No club affiliation 165
15 GABI LIRA LIRA Gabrielle Stephanie GABI LIRA 16.09.1994 MF Centro Olimpico (BRA) 157
16 TIPA VIEIRA BAPTISTA Fernanda TIPA 28.07.1994 MF Centro Olimpico (BRA) 175
17 NENE LANDRES DA PENHA SANTOS Dioneide NENÊ 30.04.1994 FW Ferroviaria (BRA) 163
18 CAROL MARTINS RODRIGUES Ana Caroline CAROL 28.10.1994 FW NJCAA (USA) 172
19 RAFAELA SILVA PEREIRA Rafaela Cristina RAFAELA 23.09.1995 FW Ferroviaria (BRA) 160
20 GABRIELLE JORDÃO PORTILHO Gabrielle GABRIELLE 18.07.1995 FW Kindermann (BRA) 157
21 BUSSATO BUSSATO Letícia BUSSATO 09.05.1994 GK Sao Jose (BRA) 174
Coach: Dorival BUENO (BRA)
: FIFA.com/u20womensworldcup.
Ticas out to ride Costa Rican wave
"I think back to that match every day. It's something I'll never forget," gushed Ticas star Melissa Herrera, who models her game on USA ace Alex Morgan. Some six months have been and gone since that epic encounter at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex in the Cayman Islands' capital George Town, but the young forward remains ever mindful that her dream of performing on the world stage hung perilously in the balance. "It was a real struggle to make it here. I scored my first competitive goal for my country in that game and I couldn't even celebrate it because we were losing. I cried my eyes out at half-time. It felt like it was all over, but 'el Profe' (Avedissian) gave us a talking-to," Herrera told FIFA.com.
Dressing-room inspirationThe power of coaches' team talks is a subject that never ceases to fascinate. What magic words did Rafa Benitez use to rouse his Liverpool players before their legendary comeback from 3-0 down against AC Milan in the 2005 UEFA Champions League final in Istanbul? How did Diego Simeone lift his charges at the Camp Nou when the La Liga title looked to be slipping out of Atletico's grasp on the last day of this season? Or, in the case at hand, what was Avedissian's message to his team?
"He told us that a lot of us hadn't fully grasped what was at stake. That it was our last shot and if we wanted to go to the World Cup, we had to wake up and go out there and give it our all. And so we came out for the second half with a whole new outlook and mentality," Herrera noted.
"It was one of those results that seems beyond belief, but it really happened. We showed our spirit and so, despite the common perception that Central American teams are a pushover, it should be a warning to other teams – we go all out," added the Saprissa schemer, laying down the gauntlet ahead of the big kick-off.
No shortage of ambitionIn what will be their second appearance at the U-20 World Cup, Costa Rica have been drawn in a group alongside Paraguay, New Zealand and a mighty France side that includes a number of players who tasted glory at the U-17 version of the event in Azerbaijan back in 2012. "All we can do is give it our best shot and try to give a good account of ourselves so that the whole country can be proud of us," said the attacker, going on to explain that she is particularly looking forward to taking on Les Bleuettes in her country's opener. "I can't wait for the France match, because they're a great team and I'm a big fan of several of their players. There's no point playing football if you don't enjoy it," she insisted, a broad grin on her face.
Las Ticas gained invaluable experience on their debut outing in the competition four years ago in Germany, despite suffering a clean sweep
The Central American country has already made waves this year after hosting the U-17 Women's World Cup and their stunning showing at the recent FIFA World Cup™. There is no reason why this run should not continue in Canada. After all, as another saying goes, all good things come in threes and, as Herrera makes clear, she and her team-mates will not need another wake-up call from their coach to get pumped up for the occasion. "We're very motivated," she concluded.
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