By Anil Jhalli
The Canadian women’s soccer team unveiled its 23-player lineup for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup on April 27 in Vancouver, and Ottawa Fury youth academy product Christina Julien wasn’t one of them.
“For as long as I can remember, I have been working my butt off to get this chance,” reflects Julien. “It would have been an amazing experience and would have been a dream come true.”
The 26-year-old says the news that she wouldn’t get to play in the World Cup on home soil was disappointing – adding that it’s still difficult for her to talk about – but she remains excited to see what the Canadians have in store for their opponents.
“The right players were chosen, and I have complete faith in the team,” Julien adds.
Julien was a starter alongside fellow striker Christine Sinclair in Canada’s qualifying run to the London 2012 Olympics, but has seen limited action with the national team since then, appearing in the late stages of games at March’s Cyprus Cup most recently.
After the Canadians’ letdown performance the 2011 World Cup, Julien was added to Canada’s roster for the Pan Am Games and went on to win a gold medal – a scenario that remains a possibility to repeat itself this year. The London 2012 Olympic alternate hopes to earn her way back onto Team Canada again in the future.
“Any chance you get to represent your country, it is an honour,” she underlines.
Julien currently plays her club soccer for FF USV Jena in Germany, enjoying the German culture and the opportunity to play in one of the top leagues in Europe.
While soccer has taken Julien to many different international destinations – including Australia, Russia and Sweden in recent years – adjusting to her new surroundings certainly came with its share of hiccups.
“I can speak German pretty well now,” she smiles. “Everyone here is very organized and very punctual, so that was something I had to adjust to. I was laid back before, but living here, it has changed me a bit.”
From her days as a youth – where she describes “destroying her parents’ living room with soccer balls” – to representing Canada at every opportunity she was given, Julien is now looking forward to helping the younger generation of soccer players develop their skills and work towards achieving their goals by hosting a soccer camp when she returns home to Cornwall in July.
“I want to help kids believe in themselves,” Julien details. “I want to help them get to where they want to be and help them reach for their goals.”
Former Fury make World Cup
Canada’s roster will feature a half-dozen players who competed for the now-defunct Ottawa Fury W-League team.
Kadeisha Buchanan, Ashley Lawrence, Robyn Gayle, Marie-Ève Nault, Diana Matheson and Rhian Wilkinson will all participate in the June 6-July 5 World Cup, which includes games in Ottawa.