Desiree Scott and Janine Beckie will return to Canada’s women’s soccer team for next month’s SheBelieves Cup after taking a long break with a knee injury.
The four-team tournament, which will be played April 6-9 in Atlanta and Columbus, as well as the United States, Japan and Brazil.
Scott, 36, won his 186th and final match for Canada in November 2022, in a 2-1 win over Brazil. Like Beckie, the current midfielder for Kansas City of the Women’s National Soccer League (NWSL) missed the entire 2023 season due to knee surgery.
Beckie, 29, scored 36 goals and made 101 appearances for Canada. He underwent surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee after being injured in March 2023 in a preseason game with the Portland Thorns.
Both players joined the Canadian team in December, ahead of two friendlies against Australia in British Columbia. These marked the swan song of veteran captain Christine Sinclair.
Scott and Beckie didn’t play. Scott remains on the Current’s injured list.
The Canadians will face Brazil on April 6, while the United States will face Japan. The winners will face each other 3 days after the name, while the losers will fight for third place.
Head coach Bev Priestman has named 23 players for the SheBelieves Cup, but will have to whittle her roster down to 18 at this summer’s Paris Olympics. Canada will begin their name defense in Group A, along with France, Colombia and New Zealand.
The group of Olympians includes Sydney Collins, Nichelle Prince and Jayde Riviere, who are unavailable for the SheBelieves Cup due to injury.
“Now that we know that our Olympic adventure and the Games are getting closer and closer, everything we do now is geared towards the Paris Games,” Priestman said in a statement. Our recent delight with the Women’s Gold Cup has been the progression of the journey. Play. The SheBelieves Cup continues to build on that. “
Canada reached the semifinals of the Women’s Gold Cup, 3-1 in a penalty shootout against the United States after a 2-2 draw.
Beckie joins a well-equipped offense that also includes Leon, Smith, Jordyn Huitema, Cloé Lacasse, Clarissa Larisey, Deanne Rose, and Evelyne Viens.
The list includes nine players from the NWSL, 12 from the European ranks and two from American universities.
Canada is 11-11-9 against Brazil. The latter two met in two friendlies in October, with Brazil winning 1-0 in Montreal and Canada triumphing 2-0 in Halifax.
This is the third time Maple Leaf has participated in the SheBelieves Cup.
Formation
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 University (NCAA); Bianca St-Georges, North Carolina Courage (NSWL); Shelina Zadorsky, West Ham (England).
Midfielders: Simi Awujo, USC University (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).
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