Women's World Cup could see latest chapter of 'bloodbath' United States-Canada rivalry

Martin Rogers | USA TODAY Sports

Show Caption Hide Caption Inside the fierce United States-Canada rivalry U.S. women's national team players discuss the intensity of the rivalry with their northern neighbors.

WINNIPEG, Canada – The World Cup has made a strong start in terms of entertainment and excitement but nothing would bring the event to life more than a match-up between women's soccer's fiercest modern-day rivals.

The United States and Canada have history in women's soccer – plenty of it – and given the not-always-friendly state of the rivalry a meeting of the two teams would be among the most-anticipated clashes in the tournament's existence.

While each squad is initially focused on getting past group play and setting themselves up for a deep run, both are keeping an eye on what is going on with their neighborly foes.

"They're the host country, they're going to bring it and it is not going to be easy," U.S. midfielder Carli Lloyd told USA TODAY Sports. She was made starkly aware of the intensity of clash between the U.S. and Canada right at the start of her international career.

"It was a bloodbath," she added. "I knew that when I got onto the field against Canada I had to roll my sleeves up and get ready to brawl."

If U.S. and Canada both win their groups they will be placed on opposite sides of the bracket for the knockout stages and could only meet in the final. However, if either falters then a mouthwatering meeting becomes not just possible, but highly likely.

While the U.S. currently leads Group D after defeating Australia 3-1 on Monday, a slip-up against Sweden – who it lost to in the group stage in 2011 – or Nigeria, could push it down to second spot.

Assuming Canada retains top spot in Group A following its opening game 1-0 victory over China, the teams would be on a quarterfinal collision course. If the U.S. tops its group but Canada finishes second, both would need to win two further matches before squaring off in a semifinal.

"It becomes personal," Canada goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc told Canada's National Post. "There's a story there. Obviously the Olympics made it an even bigger story."

At the 2012 Olympics the teams met at the semifinal stage and played out a classic encounter that remains a sore point north of the border. Canada went into the lead on three occasions courtesy of a Christine Sinclair hat-trick but the U.S. bounced back on each occasion, before finally clinching victory when Alex Morgan scored in the final seconds of extra-time.

Canada coach John Herdman raised the stakes heading into that game, claiming the Americans frequently used blocking tactics that were "highly illegal" when defending free kicks and corners.

During the match, with the Canadians leading late, Wambach felt that Canada goalkeeper Erin McLeod was stalling to protect the lead. So, each time McLeod held the ball, Wambach would position herself next to the referee and count loudly. The official fell for the ploy, whistled for a late free-kick, which led to a crucial equalizing goal and sent the game to extra time.

Those antics sparked fury in Canada, but Wambach loves the added pressure and physicality of the U.S.-Canada games.

"The Canadian team has come a long way over the last 25 years," Wambach said. "Gone are the days when the U.S. team beats Canada 5, 6, 7-0 – and that's just good for the game. Now that we can actually stir some sort of emotion not just from the U.S. fans but the Canadian fans."

There has been a large influx of American fans spilling over the border for the start of the tournament, a number that would only increase for a Canada matchup.

"That's the team we want more than any other," said John Hellinger, a member of the American Outlaws fan group from Portland, Ore. "If things were a little subdued from the crowd (against Australia), it would be totally different if we were up against those people from north of the border."

Canadian fans could also be counted on to get loud and proud, however, and even went so far as to target U.S. forward Sydney Leroux – born in Canada – for verbal abuse during a recent friendly international.

With the National Women's Soccer League featuring many players from both countries, there are some friendships between members of each squad. But those get firmly set to one side any time the teams meet.

Women's soccer now has a rivalry to match those in the men's game, and the World Cup would benefit if fate draws them together as the tournament progresses.

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