Music: {allcanada} Sinclair: U.S. friendly not an Olympic rematch

TORONTO – Christine Sinclair wants to make one thing perfectly clear: It's not a rematch.

Sunday's international women's team friendly between Canada and the United States marks the first meeting between the sides since last year's memorable and dramatic semifinal showdown at the London Olympics.

You remember that game, don't you?

Sunday programming alert: Watch Canada vs. United States in an international women's team friendly from Toronto live on all four main Sportsnet channels. Coverage begins at 4:30pm ET/1:30pm PT.

It was the one that saw the U.S. pull out a 4-3 win in extra time at Old Trafford, coming back from a goal down three times to advance to the gold medal final. It was the one where Sinclair netted a hat trick that sealed her fate as Canada's Lou Marsh award winner for 2012. The one where American forward Abby Wambach counted out the seconds as Canadian goalkeeper Eric McLeod held the ball, thus influencing Norwegian referee Christiana Pedersen in making a controversial delay-of-game call.

The U.S. went on to win the gold medal. Canada claimed the bronze.

While soccer fans and media in Canada (and even the Canadian Soccer Association) have been touting this as an Olympic rematch and a chance for the Canadian women to avenge last year's heartbreaking loss, Sinclair views it much differently.

The 29-year-old native of Burnaby, B.C., admitted it's always special for her when she plays against the U.S. But for her, Sunday isn't about revenge. Instead, it's just one in a long line of games that the Canadian team must use to prepare for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup that will be staged in Canada.

"Obviously, every time we play the Americans, it's a big game. You don't get the chance to play against the best team in the world very often, especially on home soil. But we're trying our best to move on from the Olympics," Sinclair said.

"We're using this game as prep for the World Cup. If want to succeed in the World Cup, we have to learn how to beat teams like this."

Canadian defender Lauren Sesselmann agreed with Sinclair, Canada's captain and all-time leading scorer with 145 goals in 195 appearances.

"It's a great opportunity to play the number one team in the world. They are fantastic team, but so are we. Our semifinal game (at the Olympics) was so riveting, that people are making Sunday's game into something that it's not," Sesselmann offered.

"It's a big game for us. Anytime we play the U.S. we get really pumped up. But it's not a rematch. For us, all it is a great learning experience and a chance to grow."

Midfielder Kaylyn Kyle added: "It's not about the Olympics to us any more."

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The U.S. is the number one ranked team in the world, and the defending Olympic champions. They are the standard bearers, part of the elite class of sides in women's soccer. Canada wants to get to that level. In order to do so, it has to learn how to beat teams like the U.S.

It won't be easy, though, as the U.S. has dominated the series against Canada. According to official CSA statistics, the Americans have won 44 of 52 matches (with five draws) against their Canadian counterparts at senior level since 1986. Canada hasn't defeated the U.S. since March 11, 2001, and is winless in its last six home matches (five losses and one draw) against the Americans dating back to 1990.

Canadian coach John Herdman would like to win, of course. However, he's more focused on having his players achieve their personal best performances against the U.S. so they continue to grow and develop.

"We have an awful history against them," Herdman conceded.

"We're playing them on home soil (on Sunday) where people expect us to win. While we enjoy that, at the same time we have to say to ourselves 'what can we take from this game?'"

Herdman will also use Sunday's affair as an opportunity to road test a different formation and try out new tactical approaches.

"We have to get ready for 2015, because this is what life's going to be like," Herdman explained.

"What we've always done against the U.S. hasn't worked and we have to try new things. You know you're going to have to beat them to win a World Cup and we're going to start now with a few little changes to see whether we get a leg up on them."

During the team's training session on Friday, Herdman stressed to his players the importance of working the ball up the field with one or two passes, and making a quick transition from defence to attack when in possession.

Herdman wants to reinforce Canada's traditional strengths – what he calls the team's "DNA of power and precision" – by adding elements of quickness and control through passing.

"It's a three-year journey to increase this DNA strand of control," Herdman said. "We've improved out control, but the focus now is on power and precision. That's the thing you absolutely need to stay with the U.S."