“That’s the question on everyone’s mind. »
No, Bev Priestman is not talking about Carmen Sandiego’s whereabouts, but rather Christine Sinclair’s status with the women’s national soccer team.
The international legend has once again been called up for the two friendly matches against Brazil, which will be played in Montreal and Halifax on October 28 and 31. The most prolific striker in history, now 40 years old, could play her 327th and 328th matches in a Canadian uniform.
Sinclair broke down in tears after Canada was eliminated from the World Cup last summer. Her eyes were wet again after Olympic qualification for Paris 2024, achieved last month in Toronto against Jamaica. We feel that each final whistle means the end of his career is getting closer and closer.
Especially since with Canadian talent pushing her behind, she is no longer a starter on Priestman’s board.
So we come back to the “question on everyone’s mind”. What’s next for Christine Sinclair?
The head coach of Canada, however, is delighted to know Sinclair is present in training with the young players, the next generation. “They have a camp with Christine Sinclair,” she says. They can see her quality and what she brings to the team. »
Although it is almost morally impossible to exclude a healthy Sinclair from the selection, Canada has an obligation to prepare the ground for a future without her. A future that could be very near.
And we’ve said it: this Canadian team is full of talent. It is not for nothing that Quebecer Évelyne Viens, on fire in Europe for two years, has not managed to carve out a starting position under Priestman.
Again on Wednesday morning, with AS Roma in the Champions League, Viens scored in a 6-1 victory over Vorskla Poltava, a Ukrainian club. All competitions combined, that makes four in five matches since September 30.
She wants to see a “rotation” and “several faces” on the pitch for these two matches against Brazil. What emerges will give him initial information to determine who will go to Paris.
Priestman jokes that she is going to ask the media participating in this video conference call for help in choosing her team for the Games.
“When you look at [our options], it’s exciting, but I wonder how I’m going to make my choices! »
This will be a first visit to Montreal since October 2021 for the Canadian women’s team. She then beat New Zealand 1-0 at Saputo Stadium, as part of the Canadian tour following winning the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
Priestman notes that this match played on the weekend “will be a great experience for everyone”.
She adds that several players on the women’s team are from the region. In addition to Viens, Lysianne Proulx, Gabrielle Carle, Vanessa Gilles, Bianca St-Georges and Marie-Yasmine Alidou are from Quebec. To this group of players already called up several times is added this time Mélissa Dagenais, a goalkeeper from Saint-Hubert playing at the University of Miami.
“It will be a great opportunity for them,” Priestman said. It’s so great to be able to have this team travel to different places across the country. The players are delighted to be able to play in Montreal and Halifax. »