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When coach John Herdman took over Team Canada following a last-place finish at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany, he called it a “broken team.”

Canada lost all three games it played in Germany and scored only one goal.

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Following two games at this year’s World Cup, Canada has scored only one goal again. The difference this time is that Canada hasn’t allowed a goal — it gave up seven in 2011 — and has a win and a tie.

Heading into Monday’s final first-stage game against the Netherlands at Olympic Stadium (7:30 p.m., CTV, RDS), Canada sits atop Group A with four points, one point ahead of China and the Netherlands, and three points ahead of New Zealand.

Herdman has done a remarkable job turning Team Canada around, including a surprising bronze-medal performance at the 2012 London Olympics and a No. 8 FIFA world ranking heading into the World Cup. Herdman has done it with the help of assistant coaches, doctors, physiotherapists, nutritionists, injury-prevention specialists and even a “soccer scientist.” But a soccer scientist can’t kick the ball into the net.