Canadian women look to wrap up turbulent SheBelieves Cup with win over Japan
The Canadian ladies look to finish a turbulent SheBelieves Cup on a successful word Wednesday after they tackle No. 11 Japan in Frisco, Texas.
For coach Bev Priestman, it’s yet one more likelihood to check new partnerships and younger expertise on the pitch forward of this summer season’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The sixth-ranked Canadians enter play Wednesday in second place within the event standings, above No. 9 Brazil on aim distinction.
The top-ranked U.S. performs Brazil within the nightcap at Toyota Stadium, needing a win or a draw to win the event for a fourth consecutive 12 months and the sixth time total.
Under the cloud of their ongoing labour dispute with Canada Soccer, the Canadian ladies misplaced 2-0 to the U.S. in Orlando final Thursday earlier than bouncing again to defeat Brazil 2-0 in Nashville on Sunday.
Japan misplaced 1-0 to each Brazil and the U.S.
“They’ll be resolute. They’ll be hard to break down,” Priestman stated of Japan. “But I also think we’ll have to be patient and disciplined in the way that we defend. The minute you start chasing things independently as a group, they have the quality to break you down.”
It’s the primary assembly of the 2 since a 1-1 tie in Canada’s event opener on the Tokyo Olympics in July 2021. Japan made it to the quarterfinals in Tokyo earlier than shedding 2-1 to eventual runner-up Sweden.
Japan has modified coaches since then. Current coach Futoshi Ikeda favours a again 5, the identical defensive formation that Canada expects to see from Ireland at this summer season’s World Cup.
“It’s going to be good for us to test that,” stated Priestman.
The Canadian ladies are 4-7-4 all-time towards Japan.
Priestman stated one participant will endure a health check Wednesday morning forward of the sport. She didn’t determine the participant.
Quinn, a midfielder who goes by one identify, didn’t gown for the Brazil sport resulting from sickness.
Priestman, who used all her substitutes within the first two video games of the event, stated she deliberate to present Gabrielle Carle and Clarissa Larissey taking part in time Wednesday. They are the one two outfield gamers but to see the sphere on the event.
Carle has been managing an damage however may play Wednesday, stated Priestman.
Earlier Tuesday, Canada Soccer introduced the Canadian ladies will face fifth-ranked France in Le Mans through the April FIFA worldwide window. The April 11 sport is to happen at Marie-Marvingt Stadium.
The Canadian ladies need the identical backing and preparation forward of this summer season’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand as the boys did earlier than Qatar. Both ladies’s and males’s groups additionally need Canada Soccer to open its books and to clarify why their packages are being minimize in 2023.
The ladies refused to coach upfront of the SheBelieves Cup, solely to be pressured again to the sphere by threats of authorized motion by Canada Soccer, which stated they weren’t in a authorized place to strike. That shouldn’t be the case come April.
The Canadians got here out flat within the opening loss to the U.S. But they rebounded strongly towards Brazil, a workforce that has punished Canada on the counterattack in previous video games.
“We adapted some things and we learned from it,” stated Priestman. “I’m really pleased with how the team came out to get that two-goal (lead) up a Brazil team that’s very, very dangerous.”
Canada is making its second look within the SheBelieves Cup after ending third in 2021 in Priestman’s debut as coach.
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