Canada name final squad for World Cup in France

Picture: Canada Soccer

Canada Soccer announced its final 23-player squad for the 2019 FIFA World Cup on Saturday after their friendly with Spain.

Diana Matheson and Erin McLeod both miss out with injuries; the duo of 321 caps between the team of them.

Teenager Jade Rose and Vanessa Gilles both were dropped from the team after the 3-0 win over Mexico at BMO Field last weekend in Toronto.

Kadeisha Buchanan, Sabrina D’Angleo, Jenna Hellstrom, and Shannon Woeller came in after joining up with the squad in Europe this week.

Whitby-native Kailen Sheridan replaced McLeod in goal for her first World Cup, while Rebecca Quinn comes in for Gilles.

Christine Sinclair will be attending her fifth World Cup and sits on 181 goals, just five shy of surpassing U.S. forward Abby Wambach for the record.

She is one of nine returning players as Buchanan, Stephanie Labbem Allysha Chapman, Jessie Fleming, Desiree Scott, Ashley Lawrence, Sophie Schmidt, and Adriana Leon remain in the squad after the 2015 tournament.

Kenneth Heiner-Møller named 14 debutants to the squad with the likes of Quinn, Sheridan, Jordyn Huitema, Gabrielle Carle, Julia Grosso, Janine Beckie, and Markham’s Jayde Riviere.

The team tied 0-0 with Spain on Friday in their final game before the tournament begins with their first game on June 10 against Cameroon in Montpellier. They will face New Zealand in Grenoble on June 15 and lastly the Netherlands on June 20 in Reims.

Of the 23 players in the squad, nine play in Europe, nine play in the NSWSL, four play in the NCAA, and one plays locally in Ontario for Markham SC.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Stephanie Labbé (NC Courage), Kailen Sheridan (Sky Blue FC), Sabrina D’Angelo (Vittsjo GIK).

Defenders: Allysha Chapman (Houston Dash), Kadeisha Buchanan (Lyon), Jayde Riviere (Markham SC), Shannon Woeller (Eskilstuna United), Rebecca Quinn (Paris FC), Shelina Zadorsky (Orlando Pride), Ashley Lawrence (PSG), Lindsay Agnew (Houston Dash), Jenna Hellstrom (KIF Orebro).

Midfielders: Jessie Fleming (UCLA), Gabrielle Carle (Florida State University), Julia Grosso (University of Texas at Austin), Desiree Scott (Utah Royals), Sophie Schmidt (Houston Dash).

Forwards: Christine Sinclair (Portland Thorns), Nichelle Prince (Houston Dash), Jordyn Huitema (PSG), Deanne Rose (University of Florida), Janine Beckie (Manchester City), Adriana Leon (West Ham United).