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Desiree Scott and Janine Beckie are returning from long-term knee injuries to sign up for Canada at the SheBelieves Cup next month.
The four-team tournament, which will be held April 6-9 in Atlanta and Columbus, will feature the United States, ranked fourth, Japan, ranked seventh, and Brazil, which is ranked 10th.
Scott, 36, won one of his 185 caps for Canada in November 2022 in a 2-1 win over Brazil. Like Beckie, the current Kansas City midfielder missed the 2023 NWSL season after knee surgery.
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Beckie, 29, who has 36 goals in 101 appearances for Canada, underwent surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee after a fall in a Portland Thorns preseason game in March 2023.
Both players joined ninth-ranked Canada in recent camps, saw action, but continued their “return to play” protocols with the team.
Earlier this month, Beckie celebrated his return to action with two goals in a wasted cause as Portland lost 5-4 to Kansas City in its first game of the NWSL regular season.
“I think Janine is excellent,” Canadian coach Bev Priestman said.
Priestman expects Scott, who also had to deal with the death of his mother recently, to spend a few minutes with Kansas City this weekend.
“There’s the truth of what you might have in the tank to get into. I know. I know what I’m getting into with this,” Priestman said in a virtual availability. “But I also know what I’m messing with Desiree Scott. “
The Canadians will face Brazil on April 6, while the United States will face Japan in the SheBelieves Cup. The winners will face each other 3 days after the name, while the losers will fight for third place.
Priestman has named 23 players for the SheBelieves Cup, a list he will have to whittle down to 18 for the Paris Olympics, where Canada will open the defense of its name in Group A alongside France (3rd), Colombia (23rd) and New Zealand (28th). ).
The group of Olympians is joined by Sydney Collins, Nichelle Prince and Jayde Riviere, who are unavailable for the SheBelieves Cup due to injury.
All 3 are expected to be available for the foreign window from May 25 to June 1. Priestman’s hope is to play two games and then two more in the July 8-16 window before the July 25 opener. The Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.
Canada’s coach has what he has to do before his team faces France (3rd), Colombia (23rd) and New Zealand (28th) in Group A of the Olympics.
“We have more intensity than ever,” Priestman said. I think I’m having real (selection) headaches. “
The deadline for the 18-man Olympic roster is July 3. Priestman can also summon 4 replacements. Substitutes, one of whom will be the goalkeeper, can only be used in the event of injury, and once substituted, the player will not be allowed to return.
Canada recently reached the semifinals of the W Gold Cup, losing 3-1 to the United States on March 6 after a 2-2 draw.
Adriana León was the tournament’s most level-headed goalscorer with six goals, while Olivia Smith won the award for the most productive young player. Leon, midfielder/captain Jessie Fleming and fullback Ashley Lawrence were named in the tournament’s most productive XI.
Beckie joins a well-equipped offense that also includes Leon, Smith, Jordyn Huitema, Cloe Lacasse, Clarissa Larisey, Deanne Rose, and Evelyne Viens.
“For strikers, those who have shown they can play on the front line or as full-backs, they are becoming more and more valuable in an 18-man formation,” Priestman said.
“I don’t know how to get that (figure),” he added. Hopefully SheBelieves and the June window will help me with this headache. “
“It’s a wonderful place. The goals come from other places and other people are fit, but that makes (the national team) much more difficult, that’s for sure. “
The list includes nine players from the NWSL, 12 from Europe (including England) and two from the NCAA.
Canada has an all-time record of 11-11-9 against Brazil. The two last met in two friendlies in October, with Brazil winning 1-0 in Montreal and Canada 2-0 in Halifax.
This is Canada’s third time participating in the SheBelieves Cup.
The Canadians finished fourth with a 1-2-0 record in 2023 at the height of labor disputes with Canada Soccer. The Canadians finished third in 2021, with a 1-2-0 record.
Canada
Goalkeepers: Sabrina D’Angelo, Arsenal (England); Lysianne Proulx, Bay FC (NSWL); Kailen Sheridan, San Diego Wave (NSWL).
Defenders: Kadeisha Buchanan, Chelsea (England); Gabrielle Carle, Spirit of Washington (NSWL); Vanessa Gilles, Olympique Lyonnais (France); Ashley Lawrence, Chelsea (England); Jade Rose, Harvard (NCAA); Bianca St-Georges, North Carolina Courage (NSWL); Shelina Zadorsky, West Ham (England).
Midfielder: Simi Awujo, USC (NCAA); Jessie Fleming, Portland Thorns (NSWL); Julia Grosso, Juventus (Italy); Quinn, reign of Seattle (NSWL); Désirée Scott, Kansas City Current (NSWL).
Midfielder/Forward: Olivia Smith, Sporting CP (Portugal).
Forwards: Janine Beckie, Portland Thorns (NSWL); Jordyn Huitema, Reign of Seattle (NSWL); Cloé Lacasse, Arsenal (England); Clarissa Larisey, BK Häcken FF (Sweden); Adriana León, Aston Villa (England); Deanne Rose, Leicester City, England; Evelyne Viens AS Rome (Italy).
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This report via The Canadian Press was first published on March 28, 2024.
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