Legendary Canadian soccer broadcaster Gerry Dobson stacked it up against the greatest moments in Canadian sports history.

“These girls from across the country have won the hearts of Canadians everywhere,” the Sportsnet play-by-play guy said during the 2002 under-19 Women’s World Cup.

He recently added of Canada hosting that event: “Nobody was paying any attention to it.”

At first.

But after Canada cruised into the knockout stages more than a decade ago, interest grew. Attendance began to soar.

Then the final arrived — a showdown with the Yanks in front of close to 50,000 at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium.

Christine Sinclair, a wide-eyed teenager who won the Golden Ball, led the Canadians on to the pitch before an eventual 1-0 loss in extra time. Household names such as Kara Lang and Clare Rustad followed behind her. The emotion was breathtaking — akin to the excitement surrounding a world junior.

“We were a bunch of pony-tailed teenagers,” Rustad told the Sun a day ahead of the 2014 edition, which kicks off on Tuesday in Toronto with Canada hosting Ghana.

She looks back on the 2002 tournament often.

“People would stand up on patios and clap for us when we were walking as a team in the city.

“We never imagined that close to 48,000 people would show up to watch a bunch of teenaged girls play soccer.”

The interest will be the same, if not bigger, if this Canadian team, which drew inspiration from Rustad and others 12 years ago, navigates a group containing Ghana, Finland and North Korea.

Expect Montreal’s Olympic Stadium to be jam-packed if the young Canucks return to the final three weeks from now.

“I’m not sure there are many other countries that rally behind their youth national teams as much as Canada,” Rustad said.

“Part of it has to do with the attitude that I see in those who are supporting these teams. It’s hopeful and passionate about the future. Honestly, that extends beyond sports in Canada, but the support given to youth teams is a microcosm of a truly Canadian outlook on the world.

“We all love to be involved in laying the groundwork for a better future.”

The 2002 youth tournament laid the groundwork for Canada’s silver-medal run at the 2012 Olympics and, potentially, the 2015 women’s World Cup in this country.

There will be comparisons to Canada’s first Golden Generation of female footballers.

Is there another Golden Ball winner in the bunch? Is there another player who will break into the full national team?

“No,” Rustad reiterated. “There isn’t a Christine Sinclair or a Kara Lang in this group.

“There is, however, a Sura Yekka and a Kadeisha Buchanan and a Jessie Fleming and a Kinley McNicoll. That is what I am excited about. I am excited about the next generation. That is not to say that Christine and Kara aren’t enormously talented legends of soccer in Canada. They are ambassadors for women’s soccer all over the world and their contributions to the sport are immeasurable. What I’m saying is that this under-20 group has its own stars with its own unique skill set and approach to the game.”

Buchanan might be the closest thing to being the “Sinclair” of this youth World Cup. Those are the words of Canadian national team head coach John Herdman.

At 18, Canada’s Toronto-born centre back, who will likely be included in next year’s World Cup team, has already appeared for Canada’s full national team more than a dozen times.

She’s dangerous on set pieces and could eventually grow into being one of the top centre backs in the women’s game.

Having already gone toe-to-toe with some of the best strikers in the world, Buchanan will be instrumental in Canada progressing at this tournament.

Fullback Yekka, also of Toronto, will be next to her, having already earned a handful of senior caps at age 17.

Fleming, of London, Ont., as Rustad mentioned, is another player to watch, having excelled at the under-17 level for Canada. The Canadian midfielder has already appeared for Canada’s full national team at age 16.

“The 2011 Women’s World Cup blew me away with the quality of play,” Rustad, who will provide analysis for CBC throughout the tournament, told the Sun.

“I get a chance to really study the next generation of women’s soccer during the youth tournaments while it is developing. It’s fascinating to see how players grow, even during one tournament.”

Canada’s young women will need to be approaching peak form if they’re to get past the quarterfinal stage.

Expected to top Group A, the Canadians will likely meet one of Germany, the U.S. or Brazil in the last eight. All are top soccer nations. All have solid female programs.

As someone who has been in their shoes, Rustad has advice for a group of girls who are likely feeling an immense amount of pressure to perform at home.

“Just play,” Rustad said. “When you were a kid, you never stressed about going to the playground or what you were going to do at recess. You just played. Take that sense of freedom and joy into the game. At the same time, kick some a--. I challenge them to do better than our silver medal.”

Should both the U.S. and Canada win their respective groups, they wouldn’t have a chance to meet until the final in Montreal — a match that would surely be built up to proportions rarely seen in this country.

Proportions only witnessed more than a decade ago when a group of Canadian teens walked on to the Commonwealth pitch before a match now heralded as one of the greatest events in Canadian sports history.

“I think about it all the time,” Rustad added. “It was a huge part of all of our playing careers.”

It’s just the beginning for a group of 21 girls who will don the maple leaf beginning Tuesday night at BMO Field.

MEET TEAM CANADA

NO. Pos. Name Hometown Univ./Club team

1 GK Kailen Sheridan Whitby, Ont. Clemson University

2 D Sura Yekka Mississauga, Ont. Brams United

3 D Kinley McNicoll Oakville, Ont. University of Wisc.

4 D Kylie Davis L’Ile-Bizard, Que. Comètes de Laval

5 D Kadeisha Buchanan Brampton, Ont. Ottawa Fury FC

6 D Rebecca Quinn Toronto Duke University

7 M Ashley Campbell Bradford, Ont. Toronto Lady Lynx

8 M Jessie Fleming London, Ont. London NorWest SC

9 F Nichelle Prince Ajax, Ont. Toronto Lady Lynx

10 M Ashley Lawrence Caledon, Ont. Ottawa Fury FC

11 F Janine Beckie Denver, Col. Texas Tech University

12 D Victoria Pickett Barrie, Ont. Glen Shields

13 D Lindsay Agnew Dublin, Ohio Ohio State University

14 M Vanessa Gregoire Beaconsfield, Que. Comètes de Laval

15 D Jordane Carvery Richmond Hill, Ont. Glen Shields

16 M Sarah Kinzner Calgary Calgary Foothills

17 F Amandine Pierre-Louis Lava, Que. Comètes de Laval

18 GK Marie-Joelle Vandal Longeuil, Que. Dynamo de Quebec

19 F Valerie Sanderson Deux-Montagnes, Que. Comètes de Laval

20 M Emma Fletcher Victoria, B.C. Louisiana State U.

21 GK Rylee Foster Cambridge, Ont. Woodbridge SC

WORLD IS OURS?

This month’s FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup will serve as something of an appetizer to next year’s Women’s World Cup — and maybe more.

“It might be a little bit of a rehearsal,” FIFA president Sepp Blatter said in downtown Toronto on Monday afternoon. “I think Canada also has more opportunities than just to organize FIFA’s Women’s World Cup. Canada has the opportunity to show to the world how they can be good organizers of FIFA competitions.”

Canadian Soccer Association president Victor Montagliani has stated the organization’s interest in bidding for the 2026 Men’s World Cup — which just wrapped in Brazil last month. The tournament is set to head to Russia in 2018 followed by Qatar in 2022.

Although it’s believed the United States might also be in line to host the tournament in 2026, Blatter seemed to throw support behind a potential Canadian bid Monday.

“You are fighting to see if you can bring the famous FIFA World Cup we just played in Brazil to your country,” he added.

It seems next year’s 24-team women’s World Cup might not be the full course.