“It was definitely a difficult decision as I was playing with the U.S. team – the youth teams – but after talking to my coaches, my family, at this time I feel like this is the right move to develop myself as a player and continue to improve,” said Quon. “John and the Canadian team, all the women are great players. They’re knowledgeable at soccer and that is what contributed to my decision.”

“We get reminded about it every time we bump into people in airports. People won’t leave it alone – it’s unreal,” said national coach John Herdman after a spirited practice in front of a few hundred fans on Thursday night.

The Canadian Soccer Association is now working with FIFA to ensure that Quon is eligible to play. Herdman said that a national coach needs to invite a player to camp before the FIFA process can begin.

It used to be that a match against the English was pretty well in the territory of “automatic win” for Canada. But the English beat the Canadians in the Cyprus Cup final and dominated Sunday’s friendly. That’s right — dominated.

The Canadian national women’s team is beginning to get a knack for stunning the French with late goals. In 2012, it was Diana Matheson’s late shocker in the Olympic bronze medal match that gave Canada a 1-0 win over the French. Even though the stakes weren’t nearly as high on Thursday, this time it was Kaylyn Kyle’s turn to play …

But, despite what he’s seen from Buchanan and Lawrence, Herdman is concerned that there simply aren’t enough Canadian youngsters who will be technically able to keep up with the improving standards of play in the international game.

National team coach John Herdman said he has visions of 60,000 fans, all decked in red, packing Commonwealth for the first two Canada matches. “In 2002, at that special tournament, you saw them as babies. Now, you will see them again as women.”

Goals from Sophie Schmidt and Diana Matheson gave Canada a 2-0 win over Switzerland on Wednesday.

Coach John Herdman has announced the national women’s team roster for the pre-camp ahead of the 2013 Cyprus Cup.

A total of 45 players were selected — and every one of them carried American citizenship. And three teams passed on making sixth-round picks.