VANCOUVER -- John Herdman says Canada isnt good enough to win the womens World Cup at the moment, but the teams head coach adds it "absolutely" will be by the time the country hosts the tournament in 2015. Herdman made the comments on Friday morning at an event to mark the one-year countdown to the FIFA showcase that will be played in six cities across Canada. "At this point, no. Ill be blunt about that," Herdman said when asked if Canada is good enough to win the tournament right now. "In a years time, yes absolutely. Were close. Were getting closer. "We are getting closer in many things, but were not quite there yet. Thats why weve got a year to get that ready." Those preparations include a friendly for the senior team against Germany on June 18 in Vancouver and the womens under-20 World Cup, which Canada will host in August. Herdman predicted Canada would play the United States in the womens World Cup final on July 5, 2015, at B.C. Place Stadium, and made no apologies when a reporter suggested that might be a bold proclamation. "Youve got a home World Cup in Canada, youve got one chance to do this for the country," said Herdman. "It might never come around in our lifetimes again, so what are you going to say? Oh were going to go try our best? Were always going to try our best. You expect anyone who pulls a Canadian shirt on to do that. If weve got one chance to do this, were going to go try and win it. "Were not going to hide from that." The challenge for Herdman and his staff is one that has plagued Canadian coaches of both the mens and womens teams for years -- where is the offence going to come from? The team has relied on star striker Christine Sinclair since way back in 2000, but she will need help if Canada is going to have any chance of raising the womens World Cup trophy on home soil. "Its the little details now of scoring goals. We know that well defend as a team," said Herdman. "We know that well fight and well battle. Its about the craft now against those top teams of carving out more opportunities and scoring goals. Weve been working towards that." Canada, currently ranked seventh in the FIFA rankings, was named as the host country for the womens World Cup more than three years ago and Herdman said the pressure is beginning to ramp up with just 12 months to go. "Im starting to get those pre-wedding day nerves now ... cant run away from this one," the Englishman said with a laugh. "It is getting real and its intensifying in our environment as well. Youre starting to get serious about the squad, identifying people that need to be on the bus, starting to look at how we absolutely make sure we leave no stone left unturned. "Its almost like the big exams are coming around the corner and people are really starting to focus in now and get their heads into what its going to take." One of the players Herdman is high on for the upcoming under-20 tournament is defender Kadeisha Buchanan. The 18-year-old from Toronto has already played for the senior team and will be a big part of Canadas chances this summer, and quite possibly again in 2015. "I smile every time I talk about Kadeisha because shes just a kid that loves it," said Herdman. "She absolutely loves it and no challenge is too big, nothings too stressful. She just loves her sport. Shes had a tough background and she appreciates everything she gets." Canada won bronze at the 2012 London Summer Olympics, but it was the controversial semifinal loss to the United States that grabbed the nations attention. Herdman is hoping next summers group will create some new memories, beginning with his teams first game a year from Friday at Edmontons Commonwealth Stadium. "Well be ready to connect the country again around some amazing moments," said Herdman. "Well laugh together, well chew our fingernails together, well cry together ... and hopefully this time it will be tears of joy." Josh A. Smith Jersey . A last-minute leveler ensured the two-time defending champion remained nine points ahead of Roma, which drew 0-0 at bitter rival Lazio in the capital derby. Xander Bogaerts Red Sox Jersey .ca. The NHL Play of the Year showdown kicks off with some slick moves going head-to-head with a combination of soft hands and endless patience. https://www.cheapredsox.com/611z-marco-h...ey-red-sox.html. Kerber will next play Estonias Kaia Kanepi, who beat American qualifier Victoria Duval 6-1, 6-3. In other first-round matches, Lucie Safarova beat 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone 6-4, 6-4 and American Bethanie Mattek-Sands had a 6-4, 6-3 win over Canadas Eugenie Bouchard. Tim Wakefield Jersey . Pinch-hitter Tommy Medica singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the Padres beat the Seattle Mariners 2-1 in their first home game since Gwynn died of cancer Monday. Johnny Pesky Red Sox Jersey . Olsen, who is 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds, can play either centre or guard. The 25-year-old Olsen played 16 games and made four starts in 2012 with the New Orleans Saints.BEIJING -- Canadas Kevin Koe swept his games Thursday to qualify for the 1-2 Page Playoff game at the world mens curling championship. Koe and his Calgary-based team opened with an 11-5 win over Germanys John Jahr at Capital Gymnasium and then locked up second place with a 7-5 victory over Scotlands Ewan MacDonald. "We woke up today just worried about making sure that we made the playoffs," Koe said. "We lose that game and we could be in a tiebreaker or something. The big thing was just to win and get in the playoffs and if we were in the 3-4 game, that was fine with us. Weve done it before. "But to get in the 1-2 game with an extra life, thats a bonus for sure." The winner of Saturdays 1-2 game will advance straight to Sundays final. The loser will play the winner of the 3-4 Page Playoff game in the semifinal. The semifinal winner will play for gold and the loser will fall into the bronze-medal game against the 3-4 loser. Koe built a big early lead in the opening game after German fourth Felix Schulze crashed his last stone on a guard in the second end. That gave Canada a steal of four and Koe added four more points in the fourth end to put the game out of reach. In the afternoon draw, Scotland was out of playoff contention but still gave Koe a tough test. The veteran skip took the lead for the first time in the sixth end with a draw for two points. He sealed the win with a runback double takeout in the 10th end. "It seems like all of our games, either weve won easy or lost easy," Koe said. "So its good for us to have a battle, tied up or close the whole way through, and to pull it out with a shot in the 10th feels good." Norway (10-1) closed with a 7-6 extra-end victory over Switzerlands Peter De Cruz.dddddddddddd "Now weve got two chances to go to the final," Ulsrud said. "Ive never been world champion, so thats my dream." The Swiss team rebounded for an 8-5 win over the United States in the evening draw to earn the third seed with a 7-4 record. Sweden and Japan also finished at 7-4 and will play a tiebreaker for the other spot in the 3-4 game. The Czech Republic and host China were tied in sixth place at 6-5. Germany was next at 5-6, followed by the United States and Scotland at 3-8. Russia and Denmark were tied for last place at 2-9. Jahr announced his retirement after his German rink closed with a 10-3 rout of Scotland. Koe won gold in his lone previous appearance at this event, taking top spot at the 2010 playdowns in Cortina dAmpezzo, Italy. Ulsrud, who beat Koe 9-5 earlier this week, is hoping to win Norways first world mens gold since 1998. "I like where we are considering how hard weve had to battle," Koe said. "We havent always been at our best. If we can find our A game in the playoffs, I like our chances. And even if we keep playing the way we are, were kind of used to it. Im looking forward (to Saturday). "Theyre a great team and obviously theyve had a great week. I dont think the first time we played them that the score was indicative of the way the game was played, just a couple of missed line calls and it could have been anybodys game. "But I like our chances." Canada has won gold at this event in three of the last four years and has qualified for the championship game in each of the last nine years. ' ' '