The feelings might not be as heated, the dislike not as intense, but there hasnB次元官网网址檛 been a total thaw in the rivalry between the Canadian and U.S. womenB次元官网网址檚 national soccer teams.

Time and familiarity has dialled down the animosity that once prevailed between the two teams. But that doesnB次元官网网址檛 mean all will be forgiven when Canada hosts the U.S. Thursday night before a sold out crowd at BC Place Stadium in the first leg of a two-match international friendly series.

Canadian captain Christine Sinclair said playing for the Portland Thorns of the National WomenB次元官网网址檚 Soccer League has softened her attitude. She is teammates with some of the U.S. women and faces others on a regular basis.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been asked so many times this week about the rivalry between the two countries,B次元官网网址� Sinclair said during a news conference in advance of the match. B次元官网网址淔or me personally it has taken a little bit of a different path.

B次元官网网址淧layer for player things have changed. IB次元官网网址檓 friends with a bunch of them. Half of our national team plays in the NWSL with their players. ItB次元官网网址檚 changed in that sense.B次元官网网址�

Seeing the Canadian flags in the stands and hearing the national anthem does rekindle old fires.

B次元官网网址淥nce you put on the national team jersey, youB次元官网网址檙e playing for Canada against the U.S.,B次元官网网址� said Sinclair. B次元官网网址淎ll those friendships are forgotten for 90 minutes.B次元官网网址�

Some of the U.S. players the Canadians love to hate wonB次元官网网址檛 be on the pitch Thursday. Abby Wambach has retired. Hope Solo isnB次元官网网址檛 part of this team.

That doesnB次元官网网址檛 mean old grudges are forgotten.

B次元官网网址淭he rivalry is still there,B次元官网网址� said defender Becky Sauerbrunn, the U.S. co-captain. B次元官网网址淵es, we have a lot of new faces on both sides, but I think because of the history, that always stays within a team. ItB次元官网网址檚 always in the teamB次元官网网址檚 DNA.B次元官网网址�

One of the most famous games between the two teams was the 2012 Olympic semifinal in London, which the U.S. won in extra time despite a Sinclair hat trick. That match helped convinced young women on both sides of the border to take up the sport.

B次元官网网址淎 lot of the young ones (playing Thursday) watched games like the 2012 semifinal,B次元官网网址� said Sauerbrunn. B次元官网网址淭hey saw how heated that game was.B次元官网网址�

One reason the Canadians want to win so badly is because the Americans are very good B次元官网网址� and have beaten Canada a lot.

In 56 matches against the U.S., Canada has a record of three wins, 47 losses and six draws. CanadaB次元官网网址檚 last win over the U.S. was March 11, 20001, at the Algarve Cup in Portugal.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been on the wrong end of a lot of results against the U.S.,B次元官网网址� said Sinclair, who grew up in nearby Burnaby, B.C. B次元官网网址淚 would love to be able to change that, especially here in Vancouver.B次元官网网址�

The U.S. women are ranked No. 1 in the world by FIFA, soccerB次元官网网址檚 world governing body. Canada is ranked No. 5.

The U.S. women have won three WomenB次元官网网址檚 World Cup titles, four Olympic womenB次元官网网址檚 gold medals, seven CONCACAF Gold Cup wins, and ten Algarve Cups.

The Canadian women have been bronze medallists at back-to-back Olympics Games.

In the nine matches since John Herdman became the Canadian head coach he has a record of 0-7-2 against the U.S. Herdman channelled his inner Rocky Balboa when talking about playing the Americans.

B次元官网网址淚n the past itB次元官网网址檚 been like a Rocky movie, but unfortunately Rocky never wins,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hey are a hell of battle but there is never a happy ending for Canada.B次元官网网址�

U.S. head coach Jill Ellis understands the past between the two teams, but her focus is rebuilding after the U.S was upset by Sweden in the quarter-finals of the Rio Olympics.

B次元官网网址淓verything the past five or six days for us has been about our focus on ourselves,B次元官网网址� said Ellis. B次元官网网址淧laying such a great opponent gives us an opportunity to learn more about ourselves.

B次元官网网址淭hese are historically very competitive, very passionate games. For us in terms of where our team is, everything right now is about the future.B次元官网网址�

The second leg of the series will be played Nov. 12 in San Jose, Calif.

Jim Morris, The Canadian Press