Bev Priestman’s message to her squad in the course of the worldwide window is evident: simply be your self.
The Canadian girls’s nationwide soccer staff coach would not need her gamers to place extra stress on themselves as they combat for roster spots in two upcoming pre-Olympic friendlies in opposition to Mexico.
The No. 9-ranked Canadians host No. 31 Mexico on Saturday afternoon at Montreal’s Saputo Stadium earlier than a rematch on Tuesday at Toronto’s BMO Subject.
“In these moments you’ll be able to actually tense up as a participant, and I feel that is the very last thing I need,” Priestman mentioned Friday. “The competitors’s there, you needn’t discuss it. It is actual, I see it day by day.
“Belief me, I’ve walked off each coaching session scratching my head [about roster decisions], however on the finish of the day, I do know I simply have to select the staff that may assist Canada get on that podium.”
WATCH l Priestman analyzes the three groups Canada will face within the group stage in Paris:
Canadian nationwide staff head coach Bev Priestman analyzes the three groups her defending champion squad might be going through within the group stage of the Olympic girls’s soccer event in Paris this summer time. These three groups are third-ranked France, No. 23 Colombia and No. 28 New Zealand.
Priestman named a 25-player squad for the 2 video games in opposition to Mexico and mentioned she plans to make use of each substitution to provide everybody a chance. Solely 18 gamers plus 4 alternates will journey to Paris for this summer time’s Olympics.
Canada is predicted to play extra exhibitions in Europe in the course of the July 8-16 FIFA worldwide window earlier than opening its Olympic event July 25 in opposition to New Zealand. Priestman expects to call her squad on the finish of June.
“I simply wish to see gamers deliver their very own identification,” she mentioned of the Mexico video games. “I do not wish to do something totally different and I need them to work laborious for the staff.
Priestman notably invited eight forwards and one ahead/midfielder to camp. One of many attackers hoping to make her mark in entrance of family and friends Saturday is Evelyne Viens of L’Ancienne-Lorette, Que.
Viens led Italy’s Serie A with 13 objectives in 24 video games for Roma in her first season within the league. The 27-year-old performed for Canada on the Tokyo Video games and the 2023 World Cup, however has scored solely 5 instances in 29 showings internationally, albeit solely seven as a starter.
“I simply returned from a reasonably lengthy season in Italy, I skilled particular person success and success with my membership and I wish to deliver that offensive contact right here,” Viens mentioned. “My purpose is to qualify for the Olympic staff and to go for a medal.”
Tremendous-sub Viens
Priestman hinted at Viens being an impression participant for Canada in its place.
“You have received a No. 1 staff participant right here who’s like, ‘I do know my position, I am prepared coach, get me in and I will get a purpose,”‘ she mentioned. “I do know her tremendous power and that’s: the sport’s extra open, want a purpose, numerous crosses, and Eve comes on and customarily causes havoc.”
Past figuring out roster spots, Canada can be wanting to measure itself in opposition to a “harmful” Mexican facet.
The Canadian gamers and Priestman say Mexico has turn out to be a stronger staff lately. Mexico proved as a lot by gorgeous the juggernaut United States with a 2-0 victory within the group levels of the Concacaf W Gold Cup in February.
“That is no small feat,” Priestman mentioned. “They’re quite a bit fitter, they are often harmful, they’ll break, received a harmful entrance line and we have got to be prepared for that.
Centre again Vanessa Gilles thinks the Saturday and Tuesday matches will function a superb tune-up for Colombia, which Canada performs in its last Olympics group stage match on July 31.
“Enjoying this Saturday I feel for us it will be specializing in ourselves in opposition to a superb opponent,” Gilles mentioned. “I feel again to a staff like Colombia, they’re fairly related of their enjoying model.
“So prepping for the Olympics, going through a staff like that, whereas managing minutes as effectively and gamers being in numerous components of their seasons, goes to be what Bev’s gonna have on her thoughts whereas making an attempt to prep tactically for these upcoming Olympics.”
WATCH l Matheson on 2 new groups and newly named Northern Tremendous League:
Founder Diana Matheson explains how they got here up with the league’s title and broadcasts all of the groups that might be concerned within the first season.
