Edmonton is both the beginning and the end, as far as the Canadian women’s national soccer head coach is concerned.

While he didn’t drop any early hints on Monday as to the roster that will open the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup against the People’s Republic of China on June 6, John Herdman was more concerned about who will be in the stands at Commonwealth Stadium.

“Look, Edmonton, we need 55,000 people,” he said. “If I could promise you a World Cup on our own, I’d tell you just to sit at home and watch it, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for people here.

“It’s never coming back in our lifetimes, this team needs you and we need the right people in that crowd. I’m not talking about just people who can afford to be there, I’m talking about making it happen for other people.

“Do something great and get people into Edmonton that can be inspired by our team in that stadium.”

The national women’s squad was certainly inspirational on the way to a bronze medal in the 2012 London Olympics, which marked Canada’s first podium placing in either men’s or women’s soccer since 1933.

But as far as soccer in Canada goes, were those Games gearing up for this year’s World Cup, or is this World Cup just another step toward the next Olympics?

“To Canada, the Olympics is one of the biggest sporting events on the calendar and I think Canadians truly connect regardless of what sport,” Herdman said. “I think with soccer, it’s die-hard soccer fans that will turn up to the stadiums, but I think being in Canada is the big change.

“If we were over in Germany or France, I don’t think this event would have the same pull for Canadians. I think the fact we’re on home soil, there’s something a bit more intimate about this team now being in Canada.

“Plus what happened at the Olympics, I think for a lot of people, they’re seen as the daughters of many Canadians, so they will want to get behind our team and I’m sure will connect our country.”

KNEE TO KNOW: With roster announcements still a week away, all eyes will be on midfielder Diana Matheson. After scoring the lone goal in that 1-0 win over France to reach the podium in London, she suffered an ACL tear in her left knee during a 3-0 loss to Japan in Edmonton last fall.

“We’ve got another week to find that time,” Herdman said, adding there have been some minor setbacks in her recovery. “Diana has been on a return to play and with that, there are always ups and downs. There are a few medical tests over the next four or five days that will give us a better indication of the probabilities of her playing.

“The reality is everyone wants Diana on the team. That’s what we need from an experience perspective but also her on the pitch, so we’re doing everything we can.”

Herdman also noted alternates can be named up to 10 days prior to the competition.

“The team has been on a journey now for three years since the Olympic games and right from the onset, we said it can’t be the same team that won a bronze medal that’s going to win a World Cup,” Herdman said. “We have to provoke change, whether that’s new players coming in, young players and all the players ready to be something different.

“And I think the team is on track.”

LAST DANCE FOR SINCLAIR?

Win it for Canada. Win it for Christine.

In a motivational speech in front of a crowd gathered for an Edmonton Chamber of Commerce lunch on Monday, Canadian women’s national soccer team head coach John Herdman said when it comes to veteran leader Christine Sinclair, his team is playing in the 2015 FIFA women’s World Cup as much for the name on the back of her jersey as for the Maple Leaf on the front.

“One of my driving true norths is this is probably Christine’s last big event,” said Herdman, pointing to a photo of a defeated Sinclair weeping on the pitch following a loss to the U.S. that knocked Canada out of gold-medal contention at the 2012 London Olympics. “It was on my wall for two years, because I never wanted her to feel like that again.

“And that woman deserves to go out in style. In her home country, I don’t want to see that picture. And we can help her do that.”

But Herdman made it clear to the small group of media gathered at the Westin Hotel – the Edmonton Oilers called a surprise press conference at the same time – that he wasn’t in Edmonton on Monday to formerly announce any retirements.

“I don’t think you can quote us on that, I think Sinclair will be playing until she’s 50,” Herdman said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play a home World Cup in the twilight years of your career.

“I mean, she may go on to play forever, who knows? But it will come to an end at some point and I think the reality for Christine is you’re never getting this back again.

“She’ll have dreamed of doing something like this and it almost feels like there is a fate about what’s going to happen here for her.”

gerry.moddejonge@sunmedia.ca