Canada, boosted by the return of captain Christine Sinclair and Ashley Lawrence, take on a familiar foe in Brazil on Friday in the first of a two-game international friendly series.
The seventh-ranked Canadian women meet No. 9 Brazil in Santos first before the return match Tuesday in Sao Paulo.
Canada has an 8-9-9 record against Brazil since they first met in 1996.
Their most recent meeting was at the Tokyo Olympics where the Canadians prevailed 4-3 in a penalty shootout after the quarterfinal game finished knotted at 0-0.
B次元官网网址淚 think theyB次元官网网址檝e evolved since the Olympics Games,B次元官网网址� coach Bev Priestman said Thursday. B次元官网网址淚 can remember that game wasnB次元官网网址檛 the most exciting game. I think you had two fatigued teams B次元官网网址� I do think theyB次元官网网址檝e added legs to the team.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚t will represent what weB次元官网网址檝e always see from Brazil, which is a really tough game,B次元官网网址� she added. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e great on transition. WeB次元官网网址檙e going to have all of our standards and habits both defensively but also be brave in attack to unlock them and try and hurt them.B次元官网网址�
Canada also downed Brazil 2-1 in the bronze-medal game at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Priestman is once again missing players.
Janine Beckie (Portland), Vanessa Gilles (Olympique Lyonnais, France), Deanne Rose (Reading, England), Allysha Chapman (Houston Dash) and collegiate players Simi Awujo and Zoe Burns (USC), Jade Rose (Harvard) and Jayde Riviere (University of Michigan) are all unavailable.
The Canadian women are riding a four-game win streak going into the Brazil trip.
But Sinclair, Lawrence and Gabrielle Carle, missing in the October window that saw wins over No. 29 Morocco (4-0) and No. 76 Argentina (2-0), return to the roster for the games in Brazil.
The 39-year-old Sinclair and 27-year-old Lawrence have 428 Canadian caps between them.
B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檒l absolutely see both of those,B次元官网网址� said Priestman. B次元官网网址淚 think there might be like between six and eight games left before a World Cup kicks off. You look at those two players and theyB次元官网网址檙e a massive part of this teamB次元官网网址檚 success.
B次元官网网址淚 felt the impact of both of them very very quickly (in training). Ashley looks fresh, looks ready to go. And Christine just brings both the technical standard to the midfield but also the leadership B次元官网网址� and just the calmness, to be honest. SheB次元官网网址檚 very experienced and I think it makes everybody else around her feel that way too.B次元官网网址�
Both Canada and Brazil have qualified for next yearB次元官网网址檚 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The Canadians have been draw in Pool B with No. 13 Australia, No. 24 Ireland and No. 45 Nigeria.
Deanne Rose and Chapman remain out injured while Gilles is just returning from an injury layoff. Beckie is taking a B次元官网网址減lanned breakB次元官网网址� after a prolonged season that started with Manchester City and finished with the Portland Thorns.
The missing college players have school commitments.
With roster spots available, Priestman summoned three members of the Canadian under-17 team.
ItB次元官网网址檚 the first senior invites for fullback Ella Ottey and forwards Amanda Allen and Annabelle Chukwu. All three were among CanadaB次元官网网址檚 top performers at the recent FIFA U-17 WomenB次元官网网址檚 World Cup in India, where the young Canadians failed to make the knockout round after going 0-1-2 in pool play.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a really an exposure and a chance to see how they fit into this group. What I would say is they donB次元官网网址檛 look out of place at all,B次元官网网址� said Priestman.
PriestmanB次元官网网址檚 team is 10-2-3 this year with the losses coming to the top-ranked Americans (1-0) in the final of the CONCACAF W Championship in Mexico in July and No. 6 Spain in the Arnold Clark Cup in England in February.
In September, the Canadians won twice (1-0 and 2-1) in Australia.
Priestman noted the Canadian women have played a team from every continent in 2022.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know if thatB次元官网网址檚 been a thing in the past,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e also targeted more European opposition because of their presence at the World Cup.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淪o I think (the) Australia (series) and this Brazil test is something that we need,B次元官网网址� she added.
The Canadian women will not be returning to the Arnold Clark Cup in February, with No. 14 Italy, No. 17 South Korea and No. 20 Belgium joining host England, ranked fourth.
Priestman said she is looking for different opposition in the February window.
The Canadian men, ranked 41st in the world, are also in action Friday, taking on No. 85 Bahrain in Mamama. John Herdman does not have his full squad for the pre-World Cup warmup, with European clubs still in action.
CANADA
Goalkeepers: Sabrina DB次元官网网址橝ngelo, Vittsjo GIK (Sweden); Lysianne Proulx, SCU Torreense (Portugal); Kailen Sheridan, San Diego Wave (NWSL).
Defenders: Kadeisha Buchanan, Chelsea (England); Gabrielle Carle, Kristianstads DFF (Sweden); Ashley Lawrence, Paris Saint-Germain (France); Marie Levasseur, Fleury FC (France); Ella Ottey, National Development Centre Ontario; Bianca St-Georges, Chicago Red Stars (NWSL); Sura Yekka, Le Havre AC (France); Shelina Zadorsky, Tottenham (England).
Midfielders: Jessie Fleming, Chelsea (England); Julia Grosso, Juventus (Italy); Quinn, OL Reign (NWSL); Sophie Schmidt, Houston Dash (NWSL); Desiree Scott, Kansas City Current (NWSL); Christine Sinclair (capt.), Portland Thorns (NWSL).
Forwards: Amanda Allen, National Development Centre Ontario; Annabelle Chukwu, National Development Centre Ontario; Jordyn Huitema, OL Reign (NWSL); Cloe Lacasse, SL Benfica (Portugal); Clarissa Larisey, Glasgow Celtic (Scotland); Adriana Leon, Manchester United (England); Nichelle Prince, Houston Dash (NWSL); Evelyne Viens, Kristianstads DFF (Sweden).
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Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
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