June 8, 2023
  • June 8, 2023
Canada Women's National Team

Canada Names Women’s Roster For April Window Against France

By on March 29, 2023 0 487 Views

The 25-player roster reveals that another player from Manchester United will make the trip.

On Wednesday Bev Priestman revealed her 25-player roster for the April window and camp where the team will once again head to Europe to play France a top 10 country in Le Mans.

Jayde Riviere, who plays alongside Adrianna Leon, is back in the roster after coming back from an injury and Priestman met the media to field questions about the lineup.

“With the World Cup around the corner, this camp is pivotal,” she said. “We will get to do some real good work as a group, both tactically but also culturally. I’m excited to get the group together after a very difficult February window.”

It proved to be difficult as Canada played the SheBelieves Cup under protest after a labour dispute with Canada Soccer that is still ongoing, but the plane tickets are booked despite that.

Bev Priestman
Photo Credit: Canada Soccer

“We purposely targeted a one-game window, where we will rehearse a true Women’s World Cup lead-in and the associated processes,” said Priestman. “This camp is the last opportunity to see players in our environment before I have the difficult task of picking a 23-player World Cup squad in June.”

Canada will play Nigeria, Ireland, and Australia in Group B action this summer at the World Cup in Australia and will be based in Melbourne but their second game is being held in Perth.

France will host Canada at the Stade Marie Marvingt in Le Mans which is roughly one hour drive outside of Paris, and Priestman confirmed the team will stay just outside of Le Mans.

The France Football Federation has faced similar scrutiny as their president Noel Le Graet stepped down after a sexual harassment scandal and their head coach Corinne Diacre was fired.

She was fired after their captain Wendie Renard came out saying she would no longer represent her country after being mistreated by her coach and two more players in Marie Antoinette Katoto and Kadidiatou Diani followed.

Canada is currently 5-7-3 all-time against the French and 1-4-1 since beating them 1-0 in the Bronze medal game in London back in 2012, with the other in 2016 in the Olympic games in Rio.

France won their last two meetings against Canada 1-0 in Calais in 2020 and Rennes back in 2018. Canada remains without Deanne Rose, Nichelle Prince, and Desiree Scott who are out due to injury.

The biggest piece missing right now is Janine Beckie, who tore her ACL and will be out for quite some time. Priestman confirmed she caught up with her in Portland last week.

Beckie will travel to Florida to have her surgery and will be out long term, and Priestman felt so bad she even looked at options to bring her to Australia as a leader and technical staff.

In regards to the budget that was cut back in February, Priestman confirmed she submitted a new budget and that everything she needed was approved – from flights to hotels to the right number of staff.

Canada Soccer confirmed to the Northern Tribune the team will head overseas as early as April 2nd to begin the camp.

Header Image Photo Credit: Max Bell / Canada Soccer

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