The group of women chosen to represent Canada on the soccer pitch in Brazil this summer is considerably different from the one that captured an Olympic bronze medal – and the hearts of many -- in London four years ago.

Aside from the fact two thirds of the names are new, there have also been significant alterations to the style Canada plays, ones coach John Herdman believes will give his team a chance to replicate its success from 2012.

“The group that we pulled together in London, we only had nine months preparation as a coach with them, to get to know them as a group,” Herdman said on a conference call Monday after Canada Soccer announced its 18-player roster for the Olympics in Rio De Janeiro (soccer begins on Aug. 3). “This group, we’ve been working for four years on tactical flexibility, which allows us to change our point of attack, how we build up our attack, our defensive style. And we can do that within games.

“From an attacking perspective, I believe we’ve added more pace throughout the team and we’ve added more craft and guile with the inclusion of some of those younger players and adding that to people like (Diana) Matheson and (Christine) Sinclair.”

Twelve of the 18 players on the roster will participate in the Olympics for the first time so Herdman will have to heavily rely on Olympic veterans Sinclair, Matheson, Desiree Scott, Melissa Tancredi, Sophie Schmidt and Rhian Wilkinson.

He’s familiar with the adage that to win at an Olympics, you have to have been at an Olympics, but believes this team could be an exception.

“The main part of this is the experience our veteran group brings, their openness to share good and bad experiences,” Herdman said. “One thing around the Olympics that’s interesting is you actually don’t spend a great amount of time in the village. For a lot of athletes that aren’t in the football bubble, they really do struggle with the fact that they are in a busy village, lots to do, lots going on, lots of pressure with other athletes either failing or performing.

“The football bubble is a little bit different. Once you are outside the village it actually feels like a FIFA tournament. These women have all experienced multiple FIFA tournaments and the rigors of those tournaments.”

Among the first-time Olympians are 18-year-old Jessie Fleming and 17-year-old Deanna Rose.

Defender Shelina Zadorsky, who will play in her first Olympics at age 23, said the young core of the team is taking the lead from the savvy veterans and hoping to carry that forward for years to come.

“It’s huge, vital for a team to have veterans who have had experience and who still produce such quality on the field,” Zadorsky said of Sinclair and Matheson. “They are great leaders off the field but on the field is where you can really look to them and learn from them each game. They’re definitely vital to holding it together and mixing in that new energy with that experience.”

Among those who were on the team in 2012 but are not named to this squad are goalkeeper Erin McLeod, along with Kaylyn Kyle, Lauren Sesselmann, Carmelina Moscato, Jonelle Foligno and Adriana Leon. Kyle was named an alternate Monday by Herdmann, along with third-string goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, Gabrielle Carle and Marie-Eve Nault.

Sheridan is on full alert as goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo is battling a hand injury. Herdman said D’Angelo is on track to be back on the field by July 20, but as Canada’s first Olympic game is Aug. 3 against Australia in Sao Paulo, Sheridan will need to be ready just in case.

The other keeper, who is expected to be the starter, is Stephanie Labbe.

Of the 16 forward players, 15 have previously scored goals for Canada, led by Sinclair with 162. Tancredi has 25 goals, Matheson 17 and Schmidt 16.

“The offence is a work in progress,” Herdman said. “You really have got to find that bit of X-factor. That’s a huge part of our preparation. Just make sure that all players have that sort of pace, and guile is going to be crucial. And have the confidence in moments where they have to stand up and take the opportunities.”

Canada will play in Group F along with Germany, Australia and Zimbabwe. Canada has lost all 12 of its previous matches with Germany and is 5-7-3 against Australia. Canada’s second game is Aug. 6 against Zimbabwe and the third is Aug. 9 against Germany.

“The group stage is going to be a challenge,” Herdman said. “We know there’s absolutely no room for error.”

Twyman@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/Ted_Wyman

SCHEDULE

Canada vs. Australia, Aug. 3, Sao Paulo

Canada vs. Zimbabwe, Aug. 6, Sao Paulo

Canada vs. German7, Aug. 9, Brasilia

ROSTER

GOALKEEPERS

Stephanie Labbe, Sabrina D’Angelo

DEFENDERS

Kadeisha Buchanan, Shelina Zadorsky, Josee Belanger, Allysha Chapman, Rebecca Quinn, Rhian Wilkinson.

MIDFIELDERS

Desiree Scott, Jessie Fleming, Ashley Lawrence, Diana Matheson, Deanna Rose, Sophie Schmidt.

FORWARDS

Melissa Tancredi, Janine Beckie, Nichelle Prince, Christine Sinclair.

Alternates: Marie-Eve Nault, Kailen Sheridan, Kailyn Kyle, Gabrielle Carle.