Desiree Scott and Janine Beckie will return to the Canadian women’s soccer team for next month’s SheBelieves Cup after being forced to take a long break due to a knee injury.
The four-team tournament, which takes place April 6-9 in Atlanta and Columbus, also features the United States, Japan and Brazil.
Aged 36, Scott, received his 185e and last Canadian selection in November 2022, in a 2-1 victory against the Brazilians. Like Beckie, the midfielder for the Kansas City Current of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) missed the entire 2023 season due to knee surgery.
Beckie, 29, has scored 36 goals in 101 appearances for Canada. She underwent surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee after being injured in March 2023, during a preseason game with the Portland Thorns.
Both players joined the Canadian team in December, ahead of two friendlies against Australia in British Columbia. These marked the international swan song of long-serving captain Christine Sinclair. Scott and Beckie didn’t play.
Scott remains on the Current’s injured list.
The Canadians will face Brazil on April 6 while the United States will face Japan. The winners meet three days later to decide the title while the losers compete for third place.
Coach Bev Priestman has named 23 players for the SheBelieves Cup, but will have to cut her roster to 18 for the Paris Olympics this summer. Canada will begin defending its title in Group A, alongside France, Colombia and New Zealand.
Adding to the pool of potential Olympic players are Sydney Collins, Nichelle Prince and Jayde Riviere, who are unavailable for the SheBelieves Cup due to injury.
“Now that we know our Olympic path and the Games are getting closer, everything we do from now on is based on the Paris Games,” Priestman said in a press release. Our recent experience at the Women’s Gold Cup tournament was crucial in developing the way we play. The SheBelieves Cup will continue to build on this. »
Canada reached the semi-final of the women’s portion of the Gold Cup, losing 3-1 in a shootout to the United States after a 2-2 tie.
Beckie joins a well-stocked attack that also includes Leon, Smith, Jordyn Huitema, Cloé Lacasse, Clarissa Larisey, Deanne Rose and Évelyne Viens.
The list includes nine players from the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), 12 from European teams and two from the American college ranks.
Canada is 11-11-9 against Brazil. The two teams last met in two friendlies in October, with Brazil winning 1-0 in Montreal and Canada triumphing 2-0 in Halifax.
This is the third appearance of the maple leaf representatives at the SheBelieves Cup.