Game Thread: Canada vs. New Zealand

Canada vs. New Zealand

9:00 PM Eastern

Commonwealth Stadium Edmonton, AB

CTV

The Headliner: Building Momentum

No matter what, three points against New Zealand will put Canada in the World Cup round of 16, and one step closer to their goal of winning a World Cup on home soil.

However, after a shaky start despite a win against China this game will also be important in terms of building momentum and confidence for the team. Canada will be looking to be more convincing in their acquisition of three points this time around.

New Zealand provide a good opponent to do it against, as they have yet to win a game at the Women's World Cup. However they will be no pushovers either as a result in this game would go a long way towards getting the Kiwis themselves a spot in the knockout rounds.

John Herdman supposedly knows the ins and outs of the team he used to coach, so that doesn't hurt either. This might be the side Canada is most prepared to play against in the entire tournament.

China beat the Netherlands earlier in the day by a score of 1-0 meaning that a win tonight would put Canada at the top of Group A.

It is also the third straight 1-0 result in a group that is quickly demonstrating why everyone has been calling it one of the closer ones in the tournament.

Here is a great picture of the Voyageurs watching the Canadian Men's National team game ahead of kickoff at Commonwealth Stadium.

So here we are at Commonwealth huddled around a phone watching #canMNT @thevoyageurs pic.twitter.com/CT3fYTJUO6

— Daniel Squizzato (@DanielSquizzato) June 11, 2015

The Lineup:

In prep for #CAN v #NZL, here's your #canWNT Starting XI Tune in starting at 9pm ET / 6pm PT #CanadaRED pic.twitter.com/4JT4BE0C1r

— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) June 12, 2015

There are no changes from the Canadian roster that beat the Chinese on Saturday, which is a bit of a surprise considering their performance, especially in the midfield area. Sophie Schmidt will once again be counted on to be the engine in the middle, and hopefully more successfully than the first match.

Follow along in the comments section below as Canada tries to stay undefeated on home soil at Canada 2015.