Bev Priestman is becoming something of a juggler as she prepares CanadaB次元官网网址檚 womenB次元官网网址檚 soccer team for its next chapter.
As the head coach set her roster for an upcoming friendly against Nigeria in Langford, she not only had to think about celebrating the players who captured gold at the Tokyo Olympics last summer, but about what the squad will need going forward, too.
B次元官网网址淚 actually find it really difficult at the moment to get that group down,B次元官网网址� Priestman said. B次元官网网址淎nd thatB次元官网网址檚 going to be the interesting challenge, to get the blend right.B次元官网网址�
That blend can be seen in the 29-person roster Canada Soccer announced Monday.
It features all 22 players from the Olympic squad, including star forward Christine Sinclair, three-time medallists Sophie Schmidt and Desiree Scott, and Stephanie Labb茅, runner-up for the Best FIFA WomenB次元官网网址檚 Goalkeeper last year.
There are also seven up-and-coming talents: goalkeeper Sabrina DB次元官网网址橝ngelo, midfielders Marie-Yasmine Alidou DB次元官网网址橝njou, Victoria Pickett and Sarah Stratigakis, defenders Sura Yekka and Zoe Burns, and forward Clo茅 Lacasse.
Priestman knows not every athlete will get a chance to take the field when the sixth-ranked Canadians host Nigeria at VancouverB次元官网网址檚 B.C. Place on April 8 and at Starlight Stadium in Langford, on April 11.
But having both veteran champions and fresh faces in camp helps her prepare as the team works toward JulyB次元官网网址檚 CONCACAF W Championship. The crucial tournament will act as a qualifier for both the 2023 WomenB次元官网网址檚 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and the 2024 Paris Olympics.
B次元官网网址淚 want to widen the pool and make sure exactly as we did before we went to the Olympics, leaving no stone unturned to build for the future,B次元官网网址� said Priestman, who has a 10-4-6 record since taking over the womenB次元官网网址檚 team in October 2020.
Canada hasnB次元官网网址檛 faced Nigeria since a friendly in Spain in April 2019, a game the Canadians won 2-1.
Currently ranked 39th in the world, Nigeria will help Canada prepare for some of the player-to-player marking and transition threats theyB次元官网网址檙e likely to face at CONCACAF W, Priestman said.
B次元官网网址淣igeria will be a very tough test. TheyB次元官网网址檙e more organized than theyB次元官网网址檝e been before and they have an athleticism that will compete with ours,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 think thatB次元官网网址檚 definitely worth noting. We canB次元官网网址檛 underestimate them.B次元官网网址�
CanadaB次元官网网址檚 lineup for the friendlies will feature a number of stars, including Sinclair, who comes in with 308 international appearances.
The Vancouver game will feature a much-delayed celebration of the 38-year-old forward from Burnaby, B.C. Sinclair broke the international goal scoring record when she put away her 185th goal in January 2020 but plans to mark the milestone in April 2020 were scuttled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The matches will also offer the team and its fans a chance to say goodbye to Labb茅. The 35-year-old goalkeeper from Stony Plain, Alta., announced her retirement in January and has already wrapped her club career with Paris Saint-Germain.
B次元官网网址淭hat moment of being at home and with your fans, thatB次元官网网址檚 something this team didnB次元官网网址檛 get to experience in the moment you achieve something you work your whole career for,B次元官网网址� Priestman said.
B次元官网网址淚f I look at Christine, sheB次元官网网址檚 in her hometown, sheB次元官网网址檚 broken a record, sheB次元官网网址檚 got a gold medal, she didnB次元官网网址檛 get to share that in the moment. So I think being at home and connecting with our fans is very, very special. But at the same time, weB次元官网网址檒l also be focused on where weB次元官网网址檙e heading.B次元官网网址�
Canada roster:
Goalkeepers: Sabrina DB次元官网网址橝ngelo, Vittsj枚 GIK (Sweden); Stephanie Labb茅, Paris Saint-Germain (France); Erin McLeod, Orlando Pride (NWSL); Kailen Sheridan, San Diego Wave FC (NWSL).
Defenders: Kadeisha Buchanan, FCF Olympique Lyonnais (France); Vanessa Gilles, Angel City FC (NWSL); Zoe Burns, University of Southern California (NCAA); Gabrielle Carle, Kristianstads DFF (Sweden); Allysha Chapman, Houston Dash (NWSL); Ashley Lawrence, Paris Saint-Germain (France); Jayde Riviere, University of Michigan (NCAA); Sura Yekka, Havre AC (France); Shelina Zadorsky, Tottenham Hotspur (England).
Midfielders: Marie-Yasmine Alidou DB次元官网网址橝njou, SK Sturm Graz (Austria); Jessie Fleming, Chelsea FC (England); Julia Grosso, Juventus FC (Italy); Victoria Pickett, Kansas City Current (NWSL); Quinn, OL Reign (NWSL); Sophie Schmidt, Houston Dash (NWSL); Desiree Scott, Kansas City Current (NWSL); Sarah Stratigakis, Vittsj枚 GIK (NWSL)
Forwards: Janine Beckie, Manchester City FC (England); Jordyn Huitema, Paris Saint-Germain (France); Clo茅 Lacasse, SL Benfica (Portugal); Adriana Leon, West Ham United FC (England); Nichelle Prince, Houston Dash (NWSL); Deanne Rose, Reading FC (England); Christine Sinclair, Portland Thorns FC (NWSL); Evelyne Viens, Kristianstads DFF (Sweden)
B次元官网网址擥emma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
