Florianne Jourde may only be 17, but she already plays a role in the success of Canada’s under-20 soccer team. The youngest player in the qualifying tournament for the World Cup, she is a prospect to watch in our own backyard.
The Montrealer notably scored an important goal against Puerto Rico in March, in a match for third place against Puerto Rico in the CONCACAF U20 Championship. After the “penalty” goal from Zoe Burns, the midfielder confirmed Canada’s victory by making it 2-0, which also allowed hers to obtain their ticket for the 2022 World Cup.
PHOTO COURTESY / CANADA SOCCER / MEXSPORT
“It was really amazing, especially coming back from a heartbreaking defeat against Mexico. We knew it was our last chance to qualify and we came into the game confident. Throughout the tournament, I had many chances that I couldn’t finish. For this match, I arrived with my head free, telling myself to just play my match, ”she explained in an interview with the QMI Agency.
PHOTO COURTESY / CANADA SOCCER / MEXSPORT
Quebecer Florianne Jourde (7) celebrates her goal with her teammates from Canada’s under-20 women’s soccer team Annika Leslie (5) and Zoe Burns (2), March 12, 2022, in Santo Domingo , in the Dominican Republic.
Before getting there, Jourde rose through the ranks very quickly. She was spotted at the age of 11 and thus participated in the Quebec Games. After a successful stint at AS Monteuil in Laval, she joined the Quebec High Performance Center, which recently became the Women’s Excel Program.
“It’s a sport-study where we train every day with about 30 girls, and the national team has direct contact with the “coaches” of the Quebec teams. So that’s where I was seen, the first time when I was 14 years old. It was in 2019 and I was on the U17 national team, ”said the young woman who played under Quebecer Rhian Wilkinson.
She also praised the constructive and personalized approach of the former member of the senior team.
PHOTO COURTESY / CANADA SOCCER / MEXSPORT
Quebecer Florianne Jourde (right) celebrates the goal of Serita Thurton, both members of Canada’s under-20 women’s soccer team, on February 27, 2022, in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic.
Already ready
Jourde is not yet sure whether to participate in the U20 World Cup, scheduled for August 10-28. She will have to impress coach Cindy Tye enough in the coming months to be invited to Costa Rica. With three goals in just seven games at this level, the Quebecer already has good arguments.
She is also very happy to represent a country that has been popular in international soccer lately.
“People finally understood that Canada had hope internationally and that we could be a dominant country. We have the infrastructure and the players to do it. I find that really great. I hope that for the future, future generations, it will be even better,” she confessed.
Representing the Belle Province is also quite an honour, especially since very few Quebec women make it to the national team. Gabrielle Carle and Évelyne Viens are often called up by head coach Bev Priestman, while other players like Bianca St-Georges, Marie-Yasmine Alidou and Marie Levasseur snatch up red-and-white minutes.
“It’s really a source of pride and I wish there were more. I try not to put more pressure on myself,” said Jourde.
Being only 17, it should be remembered, she will evolve in an American university from January 2023. She will first have to finish her secondary 5, then find a way to reconcile the CEGEP courses at a distance with all the soccer she plans to play.