s admitted it was a bittersweet moment when the time came to hand

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." Seantrel Henderson Jersey . Cleveland released the troubled wide receiver on Wednesday, an expected ending after Bess was arrested in January for assaulting a law enforcement officer at an airport and other bizarre behaviour. Jamal Davis Jersey . Marian Gaborik had two goals and an assist and Martin Jones made just 17 saves to record his fourth shutout of the season as the Kings snapped a three-game losing skid with a 3-0 victory over the lowly Oilers on Thursday. http://www.cheaptexansjerseysauthentic.c...eg-mancz-jersey. -- The Vancouver Whitecaps remained unbeaten with a scoreless draw at the New England Revolution on Saturday. Cheap Texans Jerseys . Bostons bats exploded in Mondays opener, as David Ortiz belted a pair of two-run homers, Stephen Drew homered and drove in four runs and the Red Sox pummeled the Blue Jays, 14-1. Nick Martin Jersey . Beckham finished 2 for 4, adding a double in the first inning. Chicago has won eight of 12 to get back to .500 (27-27). The White Sox are 6-3 against Cleveland this season after losing 17 of 19 to their American League Central rival in 2013. Mike Aviles went 1 for 2 with a walk and drove in Clevelands run.Zach Johnson has admitted it was a bittersweet moment when the time came to hand the Claret Jug back to the R&A ahead of The 145th Open at Royal Troon. The defending champion parted company with the most coveted trophy in golf shortly before his noon news conference on Monday, although he will consider himself the Champion Golfer of the Year until Sunday evening. Get a Sky Sports Pass Dont miss The Open. Watch live on NOW TV for ￡10.99. No contract. Johnson, who edged out Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman in a play-off at windswept St Andrews last year, has enjoyed taking the Claret Jug to various places in his native Iowa, and he revealed he and his friends drank wine from the trophy at their guest house in Ayrshire. After handing the silverware back to R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers, Johnson said: It was something Ill never forget.I kind of parted ways emotionally with it at home, so once I got to the formalities of it, it really wasnt that difficult. Here are all the ways to watch The Open with Sky Sports But it was bittersweet. Bittersweet. More sweet, but the fact that youve got to give it back, you know its coming. I guess a portion of that sweetness is you still have an opportunity to get it back yourself.My thoughts now are 100 per cent positive in the sense that, technically, Im still Champion Golfer of the Year. Ive got to get the Claret Jug back, which I did. It was not pleasant, but theres still an opportunity to go out there and play. Thats what it is. Last year was last year, and now were moving on, shifting on mentally and excited for the week. Open on Sky Ways to watch The Open this week Asked when he last took a drink from the Claret Jug, he added: Im staying in a house with some buddies and we had a glass of wine out of it. Well, we didnt have a glass of wine; we had wine out of it. It is a Claret decanter, so it serves its purpose in that regard!Johnson was famously photographed using the Jug to hold an ear of corn when he returned to Iowa, and he then showed the trophy off at Kinnick Stadium - home of the Iowa University Hawkeyes football team. Johnson jokes about how he used the Claret Jug as a decanter Its been on the football field of Kinnick Stadium in my home state, on the 50-yard line, he added.dddddddddddd Thats probably not normal. My guess is, unless Im lucky enough to do it again, it probably wont ever happen certainly in my lifetime. Hopefully that happens again, but thats a rare viewing, if you will.I probably had the thing for three months, but Ive probably been around it for a lot longer than that because Ive been with it as far as where its been. But at home, it just hasnt been on St Simons Island that long, although when it was there, it was put to great use. Johnson won his second major after a play-off at St Andrews last season Just seeing family and friends and sponsors and fans of golf embrace it has been pretty awesome. That thing has a lot of, well, weight to it in the sense that it represents golf and sports, as far as Im concerned.The stories Ive been getting with the individuals that Ive entrusted it with, its been awesome to receive it, but its been even better to give it back because of the responsibility that comes along with it. And I get it. That makes complete sense. So theyve said that, but theyve also said, Yeah, Ill take it back. Its just so much fun having the ability to have that Claret Jug for a portion of your life.Johnson played in his first Open at Royal Troon in 2004, and he is looking forward to the challenge of defending the trophy on a course in which Americans have triumphed on the last six visits to the Ayrshire links. R&A chief Martin Slumbers takes custody of the Claret Jug from the defending champion The memories were brief because I only played two days, he said. I dont remember every hole, I certainly remember the Postage Stamp and 17 and 18 coming in, and a couple of other shots I remember.I think this tournament magnifies my weaknesses more than any other tournament, but it also magnifies your strengths. And I say that because you have to have every shot. Clearly youve got to hit it low in links golf, but youve got to hit high, too. Youve got to use the wind, and youve got to fight the wind depending on the situation. 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