The 2014 FIFA World Cup is nearly behind us, a tournament thats been repeatedly called the best of all time. Joe Morgan Womens Jersey . And Canadians have bought in, consuming the games on radio and television, mounting flags to their cars and following the news from Brazil with great anticipation throughout. Theres only been one thing missing for fans in this country – Canada. No matter how big a soccer fan you are, theres just no doubt the tournament would take on a different kind of appeal if Canada had a stake in the game. The diversity of teams being followed across the country over the past month is a reflection of the mosaic that is Canada, which is fine. But wouldnt it be a heck of a lot more fun if we all had a common rallying point, from one coast to another? Our struggles in mens soccer are well documented, with just one World Cup appearance in 1986, despite the fact that participation levels for soccer players in Canada surpassed hockey during the late stages of the last century. The national mens team is currently tied with Bahrain for 110th in the world. Fortunately, the state of things in the womens game couldnt be more different. Which is why there will be a much different dynamic surrounding the 2015 FIFA Womens World Cup which will take place next summer in Canada. For while this will be a tournament about hosting the world in a global game at venues in Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal, Moncton, Winnipeg and Edmonton next June and July, it will also be about showcasing and getting behind Canadians in the sport of soccer. Team sports tend to get overshadowed at the Olympics. But there is no doubt the most compelling story of the 2012 Summer Games in London was Canada winning bronze in womens soccer. The Canadian women losing in dramatic -- and controversial -- fashion against the United States, and subsequently defeating France to win a medal were two of the most memorable international sporting moments in recent Canadian history. Throw in the fact Canada possesses a world-class star player in Christine Sinclair and you have the kind of dynamics behind which an entire country can rally. Canada currently ranks seventh in womens soccer worldwide, ahead of such traditional soccer nations as England, Italy and the Netherlands, countries our men couldnt touch on their best days. So the optimism about what Canada might accomplish is based on more than just the 2012 Olympic result and the fact that the tournament will be played here. At the top of the heap in womens soccer is the United States which, besides being the tournament favourite, also represents Canadas greatest rival. What will it be like when Canada and the U.S. play next summer? What kind of television audience will it draw? Well consider the factors that could make this one of the marquee events on the Canadian sporting calendar next season. First, the proximity of the U.S.to Canada means the U.S. will have a strong contingent of supporters along with them. Then there is the recent history, the bitterness of the Canadians and the raw feelings over the manner in which they were defeated by the U.S in London. Throw in the fact that the Canadian team is comprised almost exclusively of players who got their training in the U.S. and you can understand why the familiarity of this rivalry makes it so intense. But the real payoff to having the Womens World Cup is what it may mean to the sport of womens soccer in Canada in general. Weve seen the effect that the womens national hockey team has had on the growth of the sport among young girls and women. By its very nature, soccer is a more accessible sport than hockey, which means the potential to seed future generations of womens soccer players is immense. Its one thing to present the worlds game to Canadians and tell them to pick a country to get behind. Its something completely different, and far, far more compelling to tell them they can get behind their own. Soccer isnt a new game in Canada, and from widespread participation to the emergence of Major League Soccer in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal to the technology that allows fans to follow it around the globe, its become a significant part of the sporting fabric of Canada. But safe to say we have never experienced the sport like we will next summer. Erik Lorig Womens Jersey . Son scored in the 62nd minute, when he let fly from outside the penalty area to send the ball inside the top right corner. Three Gladbach defenders failed to close down the South Korean. Parys Haralson Saints Jersey .com) - Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick will likely return to the starting lineup Sunday against the New York Giants.The 2014 World Junior Hockey Championship wrapped up as the most-watched non-North American World Juniors ever and doubled the audience of last years tournament. Canadas 5-1 loss to Finland in the semifinal ranks as the tournaments most-watched game with a record 2.7 million viewers, the largest ever for a World Juniors game played outside of North America, and winning Saturday as the most-watched program on Canadian television. Overall more than 14.5 million Canadians – or 40% of the countrys population – watched some of the World Juniors on TSN and TSN2. Additional audience highlights: • TSN averaged more than 1.5 million viewers over seven Team Canada games – more than double last years total average audience• Sundays Gold Medal game attracted an average audience of 1 million viewers – the largest ever for a non-Canadian game played outside of North America• The most-watched preliminarry round game was Canada-Czech Republic on Saturday, Dec.Benjamin Watson Womens Jersey. . 28 with an average audience of 1.75 million viewers • TSN Digital platforms also set a single-day record for video views on Thursday, Jan. 2 (quarter-finals day), generating more than 1.5 million views on TSN.ca, TSN mobile apps, and TSNs official YouTube channel TSNs coverage of the World Juniors was complemented by the first live sports execution of Twitter Amplify in Canada. Sponsored by McDonalds Canada, TSNs official Twitter account (@TSN_Sports) shared exclusive video content of the biggest moments of the tournament, allowing hockey fans to instantly access video highlights from the tournament on Twitter. Overall, TSN delivered 6.54 million impressions over Twitter. TSN will deliver complete live coverage of the 2015 World Junior Hockey Championship from Montréal and Toronto beginning on Boxing Day, Dec. 26, 2014. ' ' '
