Against backdrop of labour dispute, Janine Beckie set to earn 100th cap for Canada
Janine Beckie can earn her a hundredth cap Sunday when Canada takes on Brazil in Nashville on the SheBelieves Cup. She would in all probability more likely to mark the milestone underneath totally different circumstances, nonetheless.
The 28-year-old Portland Thorn is likely one of the Canadian girls’s 4 staff representatives — together with captain Christine Sinclair, Sophie Schmidt and Quinn (who goes by one identify) — and has been entrance and centre within the staff’s ongoing labour battle with Canada Soccer.
Off the sector, Beckie is likely one of the staff’s most revered voices. On the pitch, she is a pacey ahead/winger whose potential to ship crosses has additionally seen play at fullback and midfielder.
“It’s a great milestone for Janine,” coach Bev Priestman mentioned in a digital availability Saturday night. “Her versatility, she could probably play right back, left back, right wing, left wing, midfield, to be honest. I actually think she’s played the (No.) 9 and goalkeeper.”
After scoring twice, Beckie took over in aim for Canada in a 5-2 win in opposition to Ecuador on the 2015 Pan American Games when ‘keeper Stephanie Labbe was despatched off.
“I think Janine’s true football quality is what makes her so versatile,” Priestman continued. “And then you go and add her athleticism. … She’s not only contributing to this team on the pitch but also off the pitch. She’s grown in her leadership and is just an incredible human being.”
Beckie has 36 targets and 17 assists since making her senior debut in November 2014 on the age of 20.
“There’s a long way to go for Janine, I think that’s the exciting thing,” mentioned Priestman. “She probably hasn’t reached her true potential yet albeit she’s had some incredible performances and been a key contributor to everything this team’s done.”
Beckie and the opposite Canadian gamers, who’re taking part in the event underneath protest, wore their coaching tops inside-out at follow Saturday in Nashville, as they did in Orlando, to cover the Canada Soccer crest.
The Canadian girls are demanding the identical preparation and backing forward of the World Cup in New Zealand and Australia this summer season as the boys did earlier than theirs in Qatar. Both the ladies’s and males’s groups need Canada Soccer to open its books and clarify cuts to each applications in 2023 at a time when the game is hovering again residence.
The labour unrest clearly unsettled Canada in its opening 2-0 loss to the top-ranked U.S. in Orlando on Thursday. The Americans ambushed the sixth-ranked Canadians early and went forward on a seventh-minute aim by Mallory Swanson.
Canada settled down halfway by way of the primary half, solely to reward Swanson a second aim within the thirty fourth minute. Sinclair mentioned after the sport that the squad “looked like a team that was tired, a team that’s mentally exhausted.”
Priestman mentioned whereas the transfer to Music City has offered new environment, it had not lifted the cloud of the labour strife.
“It’s new environment, fresh,” the coach mentioned of the temper. “But you already know, there may be nonetheless lingerings. I don’t assume I can cover from that. I nonetheless really feel that and see that.
“However, I think the group know we have to really push now from Game 1 into Game 2 and test ourselves.”
The Brazilians, who beat No. 11 Japan 1-0 of their event opener, are a well-known foe.
Brazil hosted a two-game collection with Canada in November, with every staff registering a 2-1 win. They had been the primary conferences between the 2 since Canada edged Brazil 4-3 in a penalty shootout within the quarterfinals of the Tokyo Olympics after the sport ended 0-0.
The Canadian girls maintain a slight 11-10-7 edge over ninth-ranked Brazil within the all-time collection.
Canada misplaced 2-0 to Brazil in its solely different look on the SheBelieves Cup in 2021. The Canadians completed third that yr, in Priestman’s debut as coach.
Brazil is making its third look on the SheBelieves Cup, having completed second in 2021 and fourth in 2019.
Sunday’s sport is at Geodis Park, the house of Nashville SC. It opened final May and, with a capability of 30,000, is the most important soccer-specific stadium within the U.S.
The Americans play Japan within the early sport.
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