Canada lost its opening match 0:1 at the Tournoi de France in Calais, France to host nation France on a goal from Vivianne Asseyi (55’). Canada will play three matches in seven days at the international tournament that will act as preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games this summer.
“I think we have a lot going into the next couple of games and it’s a good start from us and we can take a lot from this and move forward and really come out the team we know we are and the team that came out of the qualifying tournament,” said goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan. “We need to make sure for the next game we show up and are really prepared and we possess more.”
Canada will also use Tournoi de France as an opportunity to further assess its player pool as it looks to finalize its 18-player roster for the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament. For Canada, the match saw the return of veteran player Diana Matheson who made her first appearance for Canada in the second half after coming back from injury. Matheson last played for Canada in March 2019.
“I think there were a lot of good things. We’re disappointed we didn’t get the result, but, we’ll take a lot out of it for the next game,” Matheson said after the match. “I think we look at why there was as much time on the ball for France in that game and how we can tighten things up and then I think it’s about quality on the ball for the next game. It was nice to get that under the belt and it’s been nice to get back on the field.”
MATCH CENTRE, QUOTES & PHOTOS
All of Canada’s matches at Tournoi de France will be broadcast LIVE in Canada on OneSoccer.ca. Canada’s next match is Saturday 7 March against Netherlands in Calais, France (19.00 local / 13.00 ET / 10.00 PT). Fans will find extended coverage across Canada Soccer’s digital channels on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter featuring the social media hashtag #CANWNT.
On Wednesday, France started pressing early in the match, but Canada’s backline stayed solid defensively. In the 13’, France’s first chance came from a free kick just outside the box, but it was easily headed away by Buchanan.
France had another good opportunity in the 30’ when Amel Majri directed a shot towards net, but Sophie Schmidt mad a great sliding defensive effort to block the shot and sent the ball out for a corner.
Canada’s first real opportunity came three minutes later. Riviere sent a cross from the right side which was headed just over the bar by Captain Christine Sinclair.
Allysha Chapman was fouled by French defender Wendie Renard just outside the box in the 37’. Janine Beckie took the ensuing free kick, but the ball was headed away by France.
After a scoreless first half, France pulled ahead 1:0 on the Vivianne Asseyi goal from a free kick just outside the box which was perfectly placed to get past Canada’s goalkeeper, Kailen Sheridan.
Canada’s best chance after France’s goal saw Jessie Fleming look to find Christine Sinclair with a cross in front of the net in the 64’, but, it was just a step too far for Sinclair and the ball was captured by French goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi.
France continued maintaining pressure on Canada through the final minutes of the game but the backline stayed solid and continued denying France goalscoring opportunities.
Canada’s starting XI featured Kailen Sheridan in goal, Jayde Riviere at right back, Sophie Schmidt, Kadeisha Buchanan and Rebecca Quinn at centre back, Allysha Chapman at left back, and Desiree Scott, Ashley Lawrence, Janine Beckie, Jordyn Huitema, and Christine Sinclair from the midfield up through to the attack. In the second half, coach Head Coach Kenneth Heiner-Møller replaced Chapman with Jessie Fleming (46’), Huitema with Nichelle Prince (70’), Rivere with Gabrielle Carle, Scott with Julia Grosso and Beckie with Diana Matheson (83’).
CANADA RETURN HOME IN APRIL
Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team will come home this Spring when they face Australia in Vancouver on Tuesday 14 April. The home international soccer match will provide Canadian fans will an opportunity to see their favourite players live in action at BC Place (19.30 local kickoff).
Tickets are on sale now starting as low as $20 via Ticketmaster.ca (or by calling 1.855.985.5000), with complete information available via CanadaSoccer.com/tickets. Group discounts of up to 30% off the regular price are available for orders of 10 or more tickets using the Group Order Form. A special Me+3 ticket package can be purchased directly via Ticketmaster.ca.
OLYMPIC MEDAL WINNERS & CONCACAF CHAMPIONS
Canada are two-time Olympic bronze medal winners (2012 and 2016) and two-time Concacaf champions (1998 and 2010). In all, Canada have participated in seven consecutive editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ (1995 to 2019) and three consecutive editions of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament (2008 to 2016). At Rio 2016, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team were the first Canadian Olympic team to win back-to-back medals at a summer Olympic Games in more than a century.
WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM: https://www.canadasoccer.com/women-s-national-team-p144312
Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Youth Teams, meanwhile, have won four Concacaf youth titles: the 2004 and 2008 Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship, the 2010 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship, and the 2014 Concacaf Girls’ Under-15 Championship. Canada have qualified for seven editions of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup (including a silver medal at Canada 2002) and all six editions of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup (including a fourth-place finish at Uruguay 2018).
MEDIA CONTACT / CONTACT MÉDIAS
Brad Fougere
Corporate Communications | Gestionnaire, Communications corporatives
bfougere@canadasoccer.com
m. +1 613.299.1587
Richard Scott
National Teams Program | Programme des équipes nationales
rscott@canadasoccer.com
m. +1 613.818.0305