By Canadian Press

Canada coach Bev Priestman names 25 players for April camp and friendly in France

Mar 29, 2023 | 12:55 PM

Canada can now boast two Manchester United players on its women’s national team roster.

Coach Bev Priestman has summoned fullback Jayde Riviere and forward Adriana Leon to her 25-player camp roster for the April international window.

The two Red Devils join captain Christine Sinclair and fellow stalwarts Sophie Schmidt, Jessie Fleming, Kadeisha Buchanan, Ashley Lawrence, Kailen Sheridan, Allysha Chapman and Quinn, who goes by one name, for a camp that will culminate with an April 11 friendly with France.

“With the World Cup around the corner, this camp is pivotal,” Priestman said in a statement Wednesday. “We will get to do some real good work as a group, both tactically but also culturally. I’m excited to get the group together after a very difficult February window.”

Difficult because the Olympic champion Canadian women took part in the SheBelieves Cup against a backdrop of job action and labour unrest.

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“We purposely targeted a one-game window, where we will rehearse a true Women’s World Cup lead-in and the associated processes,” said Priestman. “This camp is the last opportunity to see players in our environment before I have the difficult task of picking a 23-player World Cup squad in June.” 

Canada has been drawn in Group B at the World Cup with No. 10 Australia, No. 22 Ireland and No. 42 Nigeria.

Riviere signed with Manchester United in January but, recovering from injury, did not make the matchday squad until Saturday when she dressed for a 4-0 win over West Ham.

The 22-year-old from Markham, Ont., who has won 36 caps for Canada, announced in September that she had played her last game for the University of Michigan and was taking time to recover from an injury. Riviere last played for Canada in July at the CONCACAF W Championship in Mexico.

Leon, 30, joined Manchester United from West Ham in July.

Sixth-ranked Canada takes on play No. 5 France in Le Mans at Marie-Marvingt Stadium in the penultimate FIFA window before the World Cup, which kicks off July 20 in Australia and New Zealand.

The French women’s program has experienced turmoil of its own in recent days.

Coach Corinne Diacre, who led France to the quarterfinals of the 2019 World Cup, was fired March 9 after several players expressed their discontent.

“The numerous hearings conducted have made it possible to establish a very important gap with some top players,” the French soccer federation said. “This gap has reached a point of no return that damages the team’s interests.”

The move came after captain Wendie Renard and forwards Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Kadidiatou Diani said they were stepping away from the national team.

Diacre, who took over the national team in 2017 and was under contract until August 2024, captained the national team during a playing career that saw her make 121 appearances for France.

The Canadian women are 5-7-3 all-time against France and are 1-4-1 since beating the French 1-0 in the bronze medal game at the 2012 London Olympics. The one win over that period came at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

France has won the last two meetings, both by 1-0 scores, in Calais in March 2020 and Rennes in April 2018. 

The Canadians are still without Deanne Rose, Nichelle Prince and Desiree Scott, who are recovering from injury.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Sabrina D’Angelo, Arsenal (England); Lysianne Proulx, SCU Torreense (Portugal); Kailen Sheridan, San Diego Wave (NWSL). 

Defenders: Kadeisha Buchanan, Chelsea (England); Gabrielle Carle, Washington Spirit (NWSL); Allysha Chapman, Houston Dash (NWSL); Vanessa Gilles, Olympique Lyonnais (France); Sydney Collins, North Carolina Courage (NWSL); Ashley Lawrence, Paris Saint-Germain (France); Jayde Riviere, Manchester United (England); Jade Rose, Harvard University (NCAA); Bianca St-Georges, Chicago Red Stars (NESL); Sura Yekka, Le Havre AC (France). 

Midfielders: Simi Awujo, USC (NCAA); Jessie Fleming, Chelsea (England); Julia Grosso, Juventus (Italy); Quinn, OL Reign (NWSL); Sophie Schmidt, Houston Dash (NWSL).

Forwards Amanda Allen, NDC-CDN Ontario; Jordyn Huitema, OL Reign (NWSL); Cloe Lacasse, Benfica (Portugal); Clarissa Larisey, BK Hacken FF (Sweden);  Adriana Leon, Manchester United (England); Christine Sinclair (capt.),  Portland Thorns (NWSL); Evelyne Viens, Kristianstads DFF (Sweden).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 29, 2023.

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press