Canada Soccer announces roster for International Friendly match featuring #4 Canada against #5 France

Canada Soccer have announced their squad for an important Women’s International Friendly match against the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ 2019 hosts France. The match pits the […]

Canada Soccer have announced their squad for an important Women’s International Friendly match against the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ 2019 hosts France. The match pits the world’s fourth-ranked Canada against fifth-ranked France at Roazhan Park on 9 April, one of the nine venues for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™.
 
As Canada prepares for this October’s qualification phase to the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™, they are using each match of 2018 to prepare for both the Concacaf Women’s Championship and next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup™. The recent Algarve Cup gave Canada an opportunity to practice str­ategies around tight turnarounds that are the hallmark of major competitions. The France match as well as the upcoming home match against third-ranked Germany on 10 June in Hamilton will test Canada against some of the best nations in the world. The matches will help coaching staff to assess Canada’s current form and provide critical insight into what is needed heading into the upcoming major events.
 
“France is definitely on their way up with some young players well engrained into the team and strong veteran players, so they are planning for the FIFA Women’s World Cup they will be hosting next year and they are in good shape,” said Kenneth Heiner-Møller, Head Coach of Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team. “We feel this will be a very equal match and we are looking forward to getting to France and having a number of days to prepare for it.”
 
Canada’s 18-player roster for the France friendly represents a bulk of the core of Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team and is reduced from the 23-player roster that attended the Algarve Cup tournament in March.   
 
“All the players we are bringing to France performed very well in Portugal, so again we are bringing in four teenagers in Deanne Rose, Jessie Fleming, Jordyn Huitema and Julia Grosso,” said Heiner-Møller.  “It’s been very uplifting to see how the young players in our EXCEL Program have been able to integrate themselves in this squad, especially from a structural perspective.  Young players coming in can now step into a position on the Women’s National Team because the positions are managed the same way through our youth program.  The benefit of having that system in place is made obvious when you look at how well players like Huitema and Grosso have transitioned into the Women’s National Team.”
 
After Canada’s match against France, it will then play Germany, ranked third  in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings, at home in Hamilton, ON, on 10 June. Canada, the two-time Olympic Bronze Medal winners will welcome the reigning Olympic Champions to Tim Hortons Field for the Sunday afternoon match (14.00 ET / 11.00 PT).
 
Based on the recent FIFA Women’s World Rankings and projected from November 2017 to November 2018, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team will have played four of the world’s top 10 teams in a 12-month period (USA #1, Germany #3, France #5, Sweden#9). 
 
Beyond Canada’s home match in Hamilton this June, Canada are ultimately preparing for this year’s qualification phase to the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™. Canada will compete in the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Championship scheduled for 4 to 17 October in the United States.  From the competition, the top-three nations will all qualify for France 2019 while the fourth-place nation will advance to an intercontinental playoff against the third-place nation from South America. 
Fans can follow Canada’s journey on the road to the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ across Canada Soccer’s digital channels including CanadaSoccer.com, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Canada Soccer Women’s National Team Roster v France
Head Coach Kenneth Heiner-Møller

  1. GK Stephanie Labbé, age 31, from Stony Plain, AB/ Unattached
  2. GK Erin McLeod, age 35, from St. Albert, AB/ FC Rosengård (Damallsvenskan)
  3. FB Lindsay Agnew, age 23, from Kingston, ON/ Houston Dash (NWSL)
  4. FB Allysha Chapman, age 29, from Courtice, ON/ North Carolina Courage (NWSL)
  5. FB Ashley Lawrence, age 22, from Caledon, ON/Paris Saint German (Division 1 Féminine France)
  6. CB Shelina Zadorsky, age 25, from London, ON/ Orlando Pride (NWSL)
  7. CB Kadeisha Buchanan, age 22, from Brampton, ON/ Olympique Lyonnais (Division 1 Féminine France)
  8. M/CB Rebecca Quinn, age 22, from Toronto, ON/ Washington Spirit (NWSL)
  9. M Desiree Scott, age 30, from Winnipeg, MB/ Utah Royals FC (NWSL)
  10. M Sophie Schmidt, age 29,  from Abbotsford, BC/ FFC Frankfurt (Frauen-Bundesliga)
  11. M Jessie Fleming, age 19, from London, ON/UCLA (NCAA)
  12. M Diana Matheson, age 33, from Oakville, ON/Utah Royals FC (NWSL)
  13. M Julia Grosso, age 17, from Vancouver, BC / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite/ Canada Soccer Regional EXCEL Super Centre (British Columbia)
  14. F Christine Sinclair, age 34, from Burnaby, BC/ Portland Thorns (NWSL)
  15. F Deanne Rose, age 19, from Alliston, ON/ University of Florida Gators (NCAA)
  16. F Janine Beckie, age 23, from Highlands Ranch, CO/ Sky Blue FC (NWSL)
  17. F Nichelle Prince, age 23, from Ajax, ON/ Houston Dash (NWSL)
  18. F Jordyn Huitema, age 16, from Chilliwack, BC/ Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite/ Canada Soccer Regional EXCEL Super Centre (British Columbia)

 
Tickets for Canada vs Germany in Hamilton
Individual tickets to the Canada v Germany match will go on sale to the public on International Women’s Day, Thursday 8 March, via Ticketmaster.ca. The launch of ticket sales will be preceded by a 48-hour pre-sale for Canada Soccer Insiders. Tickets to the match start as low $20 (plus applicable fees) and fans will once again be able to take advantage of a ‘Me+3’ offer in select sections.
 
Ahead of the launch of the individual ticket sale phase, Groups of 10+ will have access to an exclusive advance window starting on Monday 26 February and running through Monday 5 March. All completed group orders received by 5 March will be processed ahead of the individual ticket sales phase. Groups of 10 or more will be eligible to receive up to 30% off regularly priced tickets. The group ticket program will continue to be offered during the individual ticket sales phase.
 
For complete ticket information visit migmultidev-canada-soccer.pantheonsite.io/tickets.
 
About Canada Soccer
Canada Soccer, in partnership with its membership and its partners, provides leadership in the pursuit of excellence in soccer, both at the national and international levels. Canada Soccer not only strives to lead Canada to victory, but also encourages Canadians to a life-long passion for soccer. For more details on Canada Soccer, visit the official website at migmultidev-canada-soccer.pantheonsite.io
 
Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team
 
Canada recently made history with back-to-back podium finishes at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games. At the last three major women’s tournaments, Canada finished third at the London 2012 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament, sixth at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™, and third at the Rio 2016 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.
Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team are the first Canadian team to win back-to-back Summer Olympic medals since 1908, and the first-ever women’s Canadian team.  
Fans can relive Canada Soccer Women’s National Team journey on FacebookTwitter and Instagram through highlights and team commentary videos. For our most recent photographs, please visit Flickr.com/canadasoccer.