Canadian women look to get offence firing at CONCACAF W Championship in Mexico
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Loading... - Laoise Hogan
- 05 Jul 2022
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After being held to six goals in six games this year, the Canadian women’s soccer team is looking to kick its offence into higher gear at the CONCACAF W Championship.
And there’s plenty on the line as Canada, the defending Olympic champion currently ranked sixth in the world, open Tuesday night against No. 76 Trinidad and Tobago in Monterrrey, Mexico.
The eight-team tournament, which runs through July 18, serves as the qualifier in North and Central America and the Caribbean for both the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Previously World Cup and Olympic qualifying were separate in the region.
The Canadian women are coming off a disappointing 0-0 draw with No. 18 South Korea on June 26 in Toronto. In February, Canada managed just three goals against elite opposition at the Arnold Clark Cup in England where Priestman’s team tied No. 8 England 1-1, beat No. 5 Germany 1-0 and lost 1-0 to No. 7 Spain.
There was more firepower on display in April with a total of four goals in a win and tie with No. 39 Nigeria.
Canada relied on a stingy defence en route to Olympic gold last summer in Tokyo, outscoring the opposition 6-4 across six games with two of them finishing in penalty shootouts.
In the 10 games since the Olympics, Canada has scored more than one goal just three times while posting a 4-4-2 record.
“I know when it really matters this group can rise to anything,” said Canada coach Bev Priestman.
“If we just do us better than any other team does them, I’m really comfortable that this team, on their day with the right mindset, the right approach, can go and do exactly what the talent in the group represents,” she added. “And I think I’ve seen that over the last three days now. We feel ready. We can’t wait for that ball to roll … The goals will come, I’ve got no doubt about it, with the right people on the pitch and the right partnerships.”
Canada and Trinidad are playing in Pool B, along with No. 37 Costa Rica and No. 57 Panama. Group A is made up of the top-ranked U.S., No. 26 Mexico, No. 51 Jamaica and No. 60 Haiti.
The top two teams from each of the two groups move on to the semifinals, qualifying directly for the 2023 World Cup. The two third-place teams move on to a World Cup intercontinental playoff.
The CONCACAF W champion qualifies for both the 2024 Olympics and the inaugural CONCACAF W Gold Cup, also slated for 2024. The runner-up and third-place team will meet in a CONCACAF Olympic playoff, scheduled for September 2023, with the winner booking its ticket to 2024 Olympics and Gold Cup.
Priestman said 39-year-old captain Christine Sinclair, who did not play against South Korea, will be ready when needed
“It will just be a case of, over the course of the group stage, having Christine ready for when it really matters. I think that’s the important part,” she said.
“I’m pleased to say that people will see Christine in this first game,” she added.
The Canadian women have won all eight meetings with Trinidad and Tobago, outscoring the Soca Warriors 34-0.
Canada won 6-0 the last time they met, at the 2016 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship in Houston. That game saw Sinclair score her 159th international goal, moving her past Mia Hamm into second place on the world’s all-time scoring list.
Trinidad coach Kenwyne Jones is expecting a tough challenge from the Canadians.
“It’s no secret what their talents are and how good they are. But at the same time in order, to get to the goal that we want to get to, these are the teams that were going to have to play,” said the former Trinidad international striker. Read More...
