To finish third at a tournament, in which more than three teams were participating, without scoring a goal in open play? Impressive. With only one goal in three games? That takes effort. Not since the Seattle Sounders won MLS Cup in 2016 without getting a single shot on target before the penalty shootout has a team been rewarded for being as ineffective in front of goal. 

Right now, Canada is one win, one draw at the Algarve Cup because, really, their goal hasn't been threatened. That's not going to happen at the World Cup. At some point, the opposition will score. At some point, Canada might need to score two to win, or to find the net on that one great chance that comes to them in order to turn a 0-o draw into a 1-0 triumph.

Canada had attempts at goal, but none on goal in a 1-0 loss to Mexico. The Mexicans will face Spain in the final.

But, maybe most impressive is the number of shots on target that Canada allowed in the match. Through 90 minutes plus injury time, the Germans managed just one shot on target.

There are many, many excuses on offer for the Canadian team after the team closed its group stage of the U-17 Women’s World Cup with a 5-0 loss to Spain.

Off a corner, Kang came out to punch, but she only managed to push the ball towards Huitema, whose volley attempt soared high in the air, but dropped neatly over the goal line. With the keeper still trying to scramble back towards the line, the goal felt like it was happening in slow motion.

By the 60-minute mark, the score still at 0-0: "Really, Canada won this game 3-0?"

But, with yet another loss to the Americans in which the Canadians didn’t generate enough to be competitive, it’s OK to be nervous about what Canada will do when it gets to the World Cup.

The formality of World Cup qualifying is done and dusted for the Canadian women's team.

Canada will play Panama Sunday, with the winner getting one of CONCACAF’s qualification spots at the Women’s World Cup.