by Johnathan Stack (21/6/23)
Above: The defending Olympic champions, Canada will be aiming to put off-field problems behind them to reach their potential in Australia. Photo: Canada Soccer.
Olympic champions Canada will be looking to put off-field problems behind them as the 2015 hosts look to go build on their performance in Tokyo to go further than before at the World Cup.
Squad
The current squad is made up of 25 players, to be reduced to 23 on 9th July.
Goalkeepers: Sabrina D’Angelo, Lysianne Proulx, Kailen Sheridan.
Defenders: Kadeisha Buchanan, Allysha Chapman, Vanessa Gilles, Shelina Zadorsky, Ashley Lawrence, Jadye Rivere, Jade Rose.
Midfielders: Marie-Yasine Alidou, Simi Awujo, Jessie Fleming, Julia Grosso, Quinn, Sophie Schmidt, Desiree Scott.
Forwards: Jordyn Huitema, Cloe Lacasse, Clarissa Larisey, Adriana Leon, Christine Sinclair, Nicelle Prince, Deanne Rose, Evelyne Viens.
Head Coach
Bev Priestman knows her team inside out. She led Canada to an Olympic gold medal as they beat Sweden on penalties in Tokyo in 2021. This was the extension of her previous roles with the North American side as head coach of Canada’s U-17 and U-20 between 2013-2018. She was involved at the last World Cup with England as Phil Neville’s assistant.
How they qualified
Canada came top of Group B of the 2022 CONACAF W Championship which was enough to secure their passage to Australia.
World Cup History
This is Canada’s eighth appearance in the World Cup having only missed the first tournament in 1991. At this time, their best finish was fourth place in 2003.
Key Player
This is surely the last World Cup for one of the most illustrious players in women’s football. The captain of Canada, now aged 40, has made over 300 appearances for her nation in a phenomenal international career and has 190 international goals to go with it. She has given everything to her country for the last 23 years.
One to watch
Cloé Lacasse. This is a player who has had an absolutely outstanding season with SL Benfica in Portugal scoring 31 goals in all competitions. Lacasse has a real eye for goal and will cause any defence problems. Having never been capped for Canada, she applied to represent Iceland in 2019 where she had citizenship, but FIFA turned down her application. But a couple of impressive seasons with Benfica have seen her subsequently pick up 19 caps for Canada.
Strengths
On their day Canada are capable of beating anyone, but it remains to be seen how much their campaign to ensure their National Federation pays its female and male national team players the same could be a distraction. Having won Olympic Gold, they are more than capable of using that experience to drive them well into the latter stages in Australia.
Development points
Canada has had a mixed run of results recently, with only one win in five games and only two goals scored. They need to fix up quickly otherwise it could be an early exit for them. It’s important to contextualise that these results were during a time when players wanted to strike over the lack of support they were receiving from their federation, only to play the matches in February when the federation threatened to sue. Though they have since come to an agreement, that cloud still looms.
Success would be
Making the last four as a minimum.
Prediction
Knockout stages. I don’t think Canada has enough to go all the way, but if they play to their potential consistently, then you never know. Their recent form leading into this World Cup is concerning, but they will be confident of getting out of a group featuring co-hosts Australia, the Republic of Ireland, and Nigeria.
Group B Fixtures
21st July – Nigeria, AAMI Park, Melbourne.
26th July – Republic of Ireland, HBF Park, Perth.
31st July – Australia, AAMI Park, Melbourne.
To read the other World Cup nation previews published so far, click on this link: https://impetusfootball.org/international-football/
Follow Impetus on social media – we’re @ImpetusFootball on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
impetusfootball.org 