A 4-2 win for the U-17s over Haiti in the third-place game of the CONCACAF Championships wrapped up what could be called a banner week for Canadian women’s soccer.

“The guys are in a good place, but we need to get out of here,” Miller said after Tuesday’s training session. “It’s getting claustrophobic. Guys are on top of each other, there’s a bit of chirping going on at training, as you would imagine. We’re now into our fourth or fifth week of preseason at this little place and it’s understandable that we need to get out and get some fresh air."

“It’s a tough test for us,” said Canadian women’s team coach John Herdman. “But, certainly, not a team that frightens Canada too much.”

But, on a windy Monday in Portugal, Canada got a 1-0 win over Iceland — and thanks to results elsewhere, it was good enough to claim top spot in the group and and a date in the tournament final against Brazil.

Heat. Many hours in the air and in airports. Moving from pristine grass pitches to new artificial turf to old artificial turf to grass pitches you’d wish would be replaced with artificial turf. That’s the North American soccer experience. And, for players coming from abroad, it requires a massive change in perspective.

But it was a notable opening week in MLS for Canadians: Cyle Larin scored in Orlando City’s remarkable comeback against Real Salt Lake; the Lions came from two goals down in second-half injury time. Toronto FC gave full 90s to Will Johnson and Jonathan Osorio in their 2-0 win at the New York Red Bulls. The Whitecaps started two Canadians.

Even though he’s been at Ottawa’s camp since the outset, the termination of his SKC contract and his new Fury deal were only just announced. The Fury deal only lasts till the break between the spring and fall seasons, so de Jong can look for a new club in the July transfer window. In fact, his wife and daughter have remained in Kansas City.

In fact, the more your teams sucks early in the season,the better your chances of seeing silverware at the end of it. So, Toronto FC fans, don’t worry about a long road trip to start the season; early-season losses are harbingers of big-time success down the road! And, for fans in the respective cities watching the Montreal Impact-Vancouver Whitecaps match, cheer for the other guys! It's the RIGHT thing to do!

“Same old Canada, we’re not scoring,” Herdman admitted. “When we get great opportunities. we’ve got to take them."

Even though Nik Ledgerwood has been in training camp on Alberta soil for the past three weeks, it still hasn’t really hit him that he’ll be playing home games this year, well, at home.