Canada comeback falls short against France in Women’s World Cup tune-up
Canada coach Bev Priestman leaves the April worldwide window with maybe as many questions as solutions.
The injury-depleted Canadian ladies fell brief in an tried comeback Tuesday, crushed 2-1 by fifth-ranked France in a ladies’s soccer pleasant for his or her fourth loss of their final 5 outings.
Down 2-0, Jordyn Huitema pulled one again for sixth-ranked Canada within the 71st minute after French goalkeeper Constance Picard did not corral the ball and it fell to the toes of the Canadian striker for a easy tap-in for her sixteenth objective for Canada. The objective got here off a cross by substitute Jayde Riviere that was intercepted by a French defender whose contact again eluded her ‘keeper.
The Canadians rallied after the gifted objective, with substitute Cloe Lacasse coming shut with a header within the 74th minute. But they might not pull even.
“Disappointed at the two goals we conceded. We can do better,” stated Priestman. “But I’d rather learn this now (than at this summer’s World Cup).”
The French went forward within the 51st minute with Grace Geyoro, discovering separation from her marker, heading residence an correct cross from Delphine Cascarino. Sandie Toletti and Cascarino mixed on a pleasant give-and-go earlier than Cascarino, eluding each Sophie Schmidt and Allysha Chapman, performed supplier.
The objective spurred the French on earlier than an introduced crowd of 14,201 at Marie-Marvingt Stadium. And Lea le Garrec made it 2-0 within the sixty fourth minute, pouncing on an errant clearance from Kailen Sheridan to chip the out-of-position Canadian ‘keeper from simply outdoors the penalty field.
Priestman was with out the injured Kadeisha Buchanan, Janine Beckie, Deanne Rose, Nichelle Prince, Desiree Scott and Quinn, who goes by one identify. Veteran centre again Shelina Zadorsky is recovering from sickness.
Those seven gamers have a mixed 759 caps.
The absences have denied Priestman an opportunity to construct combos, with in all probability simply two closed-door matches to come back earlier than the July 20 begin of the World Cup.
The Canadian ladies are anticipated to reach in Australia firstly of July for a pre-tournament camp. Priestman, who has to declare her 23-woman roster by July 10, says she is going to possible take a much bigger group Down Under to make remaining roster personnel selections given well being issues.
“In many ways as a coach, you’d like to get rid of the clutter early. I don’t have that luxury,” she stated after the sport.
Beckie will miss the World Cup following knee surgical procedure however Priestman hopes the others will return in time.
Rose and Prince are recovering from Achilles accidents whereas Scott picked up an damage on the finish of the 2022 season that required surgical procedure. Quinn is coping with a leg problem.
Riviere, getting back from damage, got here in off the bench Tuesday.
France pressed the Canadians laborious in their very own finish from the get-go, typically producing turnovers. And they’d barely extra of the possession in a scoreless first half, utilizing their pace to assault down the flanks.
“We showed spells in the game,” stated Priestman. “I was really pleased with the reaction to the 2-0 score line. I think what you saw out there was probably we’re lacking a bit of experience. I said to the group I don’t mind losing as long as we learn and I think there’s been some warning signs in terms of overplaying. I think we got punished by that again and for me we can’t go into the World Cup, like that. … But I do know the World Cup’s not won in the April window. I think I see the bigger picture and some of the players that stepped in did a great job.”
Canada got here into the match having gained simply one in every of its earlier 4 video games, beating No. 9 Brazil (2-0) whereas dropping to the top-ranked U.S. (3-0), No. 11 Japan (2-0) and Brazil (2-1).
Tuesday’s sport occurred precisely 100 days from the kickoff of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Canada has been drawn in Group B on the World Cup with No. 10 Australia, No. 22 Ireland and No. 42 Nigeria. Australia served discover it will likely be a troublesome out at residence by defeating No. 4 England 2-0 in London earlier Tuesday.
Priestman began with a 4-2-3-1 formation with Sheridan behind a again 4 of Ashley Lawrence, Vanessa Gilles, Jade Rose and Chapman. Julia Grosso and Schmidt shielded the backline with Jessie Fleming deployed behind Adriana Leon, Huitema and captain Christine Sinclair.
The accidents made for an inexperienced bench with the 12 substitutes totalling 127 caps, with Riviere and Gabby Carle accounting for 72 of these.
The Canadians got here out carrying their new purple package, adorned with Maple Leafs, with black shorts and socks — and purple wristbands to represent their struggle for equality.
Priestman despatched on Riviere, Lacasse, Simi Awujo, Evelyne Viens, Clarissa Larisey and Sydney Collins, who earned her first senior cap, within the second half.
Both groups have gone by way of turmoil of late with the Canadian ladies battling for fairness of their labour dispute with Canada Soccer whereas the French ladies basically mounted a revolt in opposition to former coach Corinne Diacre.
France was coming off a 5-2 win over No. 26 Colombia on Friday in Clermont-Ferrand in Hervé Renard’s debut as coach.
Renard, who coached Saudi Arabia’s males eventually 12 months’s World Cup in Qatar, succeeded Diacre final month after she was fired within the wake of a number of key gamers, together with captain Wendie Renard, saying they might not participate within the World Cup if she remained in cost.
The Canadian ladies at the moment are 5-8-3 all-time in opposition to France and 1-5-1 since beating the French 1-0 within the bronze medal sport on the 2012 London Olympics. The one win over that interval got here within the quarterfinals of the 2016 Rio Olympics.
