Four Canadians amicably watching over South Korea

The Canadian women’s team is preparing for an incredibly important summer.

Next month’s Concacaf W Championship in Mexico will qualify for the 2023 FIFA World Cup, where four berths are at stake. Canada will need to finish in the top two to compete in groups with Trinidad and Tobago, Panama and Costa Rica to advance to the semi-finals and punch tickets to the World Cup.

The Concacaf W Champion will also automatically participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The 2nd and 3rd place teams will face each other in September at the region’s second Olympic berth.

However, before that, Canadians will play an international friendly match against South Korea at BMO Field in Toronto. This is the only tune-up match that precedes the Concacaf tournament.

Here are four Canadian players to watch in the match against Koreans on Sunday.

Jessie Fleming

The women’s team includes captain Christine Sinclair (310), midfielder Sophie Schmidt (212), Desiree Scott (175), defender Kadeisha Buchanan (118) and Ashley Lawrence (118). There are active players. 105). Midfielder Jessie Fleming will officially join the elite group when he makes 100 appearances in Canada on Sunday.

Fleming, a 24-year-old from London, Ontario, has just finished an epic campaign in Chelsea. At Chelsea, he won his second British League Championship and FA Cup in his second season as a professional.

Her outstanding form at the club level did not escape the attention of Canadian women’s team coach Beverly Priestman earlier this year. When Sinclair failed to compete in the Allan Clarke Cup, a four-country tournament held in England in February, Priestman relied on Fleming to captain Canada in the opening match against the host country.

“I’ve seen hunger and desire, and she became herself last year,” Priestman said.

Keren Sheridan

This current Canadian team has lost veteran goalkeeper Stephanie Labe for the first time since 2008 after retiring in April. Goalkeeper Erin McLeod (120 caps) is also absent. With the disappearance of Labbé, Kailen Sheridan has taken over her first job online in Canada.

“It’s been documented to some extent that Kairen was chosen as number one. She had a great season, and so did Sabrina. [D’Angelo]”Priestman said.

“When I participate in this tournament, I think No. 1 will sit with Kairen, but at the same time, all players need to get the right to start. I don’t want to close the door to the person pushing Kairen. But Kairen has had a great season and is very consistent in our environment. ”

Indeed, 26-year-old Sheridan from Pickering, Ontario, enjoys an outstanding NWSL campaign at San Diego Wave, recording four shutouts with the expansion club taking first place after 10 games.

Christine Sinclair

Christine Sinclair did not play in the last two Portland Thorns games after suffering a lower leg injury. However, there was no doubt that Canada’s iconic captain would be nominated for Priestman’s 28-player list in this match against South Korea.

Born in Burnaby, British Columbia, 39-year-old Sinclair is the highest scorer in international football history, scoring 189 goals in Canada since his debut at the age of 16 in 2000. A previous appearance for Canada during the international window in April when she saw a rare cameo appearance as an alternative to the bench.

“For me, when I saw the last international window, it told everyone that this team needed Christine Sinclair,” Priestman said. “she is [substitute]It was my first time [substitute] For me, and do you wonder how she reacts to that role? She took 3 minutes and she went and scored. ”

Julia Grosso

How many years will it be for midfielder Julia Grosso? A 21-year-old from Vancouver scored a winning goal in a gold medal game at the Tokyo Olympics last summer with a Canadian penalty shootout victory over Sweden.

Grosso turned professional when he signed a short-term contract with Juventus last December to help Turin-based clubs win the Italian League Championship and the Italian Cup. She also made her UEFA Champions League debut after Juventus reached the quarterfinals and bowed to her final champion, Olympique Lyonnais.

Juventus was so impressed with Grosso that he signed an extension contract with Grosso until 2024, connecting her to the club. This is a great story of a player who was still playing NCAA football a year ago and was once described as someone by Christine Sinclair. While she was still at the University of Texas, she said, “You can do whatever she wants with this game — she’s very talented.”

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John Molinaro is one of Canada’s leading football journalists and has been featured in games for over 20 years in several media outlets including Sportsnet, CBC Sports and SunMedia. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief of TFC Republic, a website specializing in detailed coverage of Toronto FC and Canadian football. TFC republic can be found here..