Canada names roster for camp ahead of Women’s World Cup

TORONTO — The fight for places on the Canadian women’s World Cup team is going to go down to the wire in some cases.

Canada coach Bev Priestman has chosen 25 players for a camp in Australia before next month’s tournament, including several players who have been racing to get fit.

The camp starts June 28 on the Gold Coast, with the sixth-ranked Canadians playing a final tune-up game against No. 4 England on July 14 behind closed doors.

The two teams could meet again in the round of 16 at the tournament.

Priestman will announce her final 23-player roster on July 9, one day before the FIFA deadline. Sixth-ranked

Canada opens Group B play July 21 against No. 42 Nigeria in Melbourne before facing No. 22 Ireland on July 26 in Perth and No. 10 Australia on July 31 back in Melbourne.

“Listen, at this point if I could name 23, I definitely would have,” Priestman told a virtual media availability Thursday, saying the “more clutter” that can be shed before getting on the plane, the better.

But there are question-marks over midfielder Desiree Scott and forward Nichelle Prince, both of whom have been invited to camp. Prince has been recovering from an Achilles injury, while Scott picked up an injury at the end of the 2022 season that required surgery.

Priestman says the two “are the tightest to the timelines that we’re talking about here.” Scott, a hard-nosed defensive midfielder, has won 186 caps for Canada while Prince, a speedy attacker, has 90.

There is better news on forward Deanne Rose, who saw brief action recently with England’s Reading after a lengthy absence due to an Achilles injury.

“Fingers crossed, touch wood, that Deanne should and could and is able to push through,” said Priestman.

Midfielder Quinn, who goes by one name, is also back from a leg issue while veteran centre back Shelina Zadorsky has recovered from illness that kept her out of the last camp.

Priestman said barring injuries or positional needs, her roster will come from those at the camp. There is a standby list of players, if needed.

She has already had tough conversations with Gabby Carle and Bianca St-Georges, both of whom didn’t make the camp roster. The 24-year-old Carle, who was part of the Canadian gold-medal team at the Tokyo Olympics, has won 24 caps.

Priestman said Jade Rose’s versatility, plus the return of Zadorsky and Kadeisha Buchanan, played a big part in her decision.

Midfielder Marie-Yasmine Alidou-D’Anjou, who has one cap, is part of the pre-tournament camp.

“I just see huge potential in what [she] can bring. She’s athletic, she’s technical,” said Priestman. “You could say she has a little bit of Desiree Scott in her.”

The pre-tournament roster contains a wealth of experience, led by Christine Sinclair. The team’s talismanic captain, who turns 40 on Monday, is preparing for her sixth World Cup.