Three of Canada’s most-followed national teams were in the news throughout recent days. This is what to know:
Women’s basketball: Taking the scenic route to the Olympics
Canada definitely realize that its street to Paris will go through one of the four Olympic qualifying tournaments to be held in February 2024. But the world’s fifth-positioned group was expecting to shorten that way at the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup in Mexico, where an immediate pass to the Olympic qualifiers was up for grabs for the top finisher other than the United States. The powerhouse Americans secured an Olympic compartment with their triumph in last year’s Women’s Basketball World Cup.
Despite being without WNBA players Kia Nurse, Bridget Carleton and Laeticia Amihere, the Canadians did their part in the primer round by going 4-0 with a tournament-best plus-137 point differential to win Group B. That should have permitted them to try not to confront the U.S. until the final, but the highest level Americans (also missing their WNBA players) surprisingly positioned second in Group A subsequent to losing to 13th-positioned Brazil.
As a result, Canada ran into the U.S. in the semifinals and lost 67-63 preceding rebounding to beat Puerto Rico in Sunday’s less-meaningful bronze game. Brazil won the other semifinal to get the spot in the Olympic qualifiers prior to upsetting the Americans again in the final to come out on top for the continental championship prize.
Canada must now go through an Olympic “pre-qualifying” occasion in November to arrive at the qualifying tournaments legitimate. That shouldn’t be an issue, but it will require a touch more work.
Men’s soccer: Thwarted again by the U.S.
Disappointing draws against little Guadeloupe and unheralded Guatemala constrained an exhausted Canadian group to win its group-stage finale vs. Cuba last week just to arrive at the knockout round of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. That triumph set up last night’s quarterfinal matchup with the opponent Americans in Cincinnati.
Normally, a Canada-U.S. showdown in an elimination game at the continental championship tournament would be must-see television. But the two teams sent skeleton rosters to this year’s Gold Cup. Canada gave Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, Cyle Larin, Tajon Buchanan and other standouts a break after their long European club season, while the American absentees included star midfielder Christian Pulisic.
Still, the teams produced an emotional consummation last evening. Canada’s Steven Vitória sent a 1-0 coordinate to additional time with an extra shot late in regulation and the two teams scored in additional time before the Americans won in a shootout.
It was Canada’s second high-profile loss to the U.S. in under a month, following the Americans’ 2-0 triumph in the CONCACAF Nations League championship on June 18 in Las Vegas.
The Canadian men now turn their attention to qualifying for the 2024 Copa America. The always-wild South American championship, featuring World Cup victor Argentina and lasting power Brazil, is being hosted by the United States the following summer and six CONCACAF teams will be welcomed. Those will be concluded in the 2023-24 Nations League, which kicks off in September. Canada has a bye to November’s quarterfinals, where a success will procure them a spot in the Copa America — and some valuable tuneup matches for the 2026 World Cup.
Women’s soccer: World Cup roster announced
Despite some significant injuries, mentor Bev Priestman described her 23-player Canadian roster for the upcoming tournament in Australia and New Zealand as “dynamic and energizing” upon uncovering it yesterday. “It’s an incredible blend of veterans, experienced and new players who can all bring something unique,” Priestman said.
The large cut was Desiree Scott, a tough veteran defensive midfielder who played in the last three World Cups and Olympics — including Canada’s gold-decoration triumph in 2021 in Tokyo. The 35-year-old is still recuperating from a knee injury suffered late in the 2022 season.
Significant forward Janine Beckie was ruled out of the World Cup months prior due to a torn leg tendon, while rising 20-year-old safeguard Jade Rose needed to pull out prior to instructional course because of an injury. But speedy forward Nichelle Sovereign recuperated from an Achilles issue so as to make the group.
Eighteen-year-old midfielder Olivia Smith is among the notable World Cup rookies on the roster. The veterans are driven by 40-year-old skipper Christine Sinclair, who will be participating in her sixth World Cup and attempting to add to her unsurpassed record of 190 international goals.
The Canadian group, positioned seventh in the world, is currently in camp on Australia’s Gold Coast. Canada will play a final warmup match Friday vs. No. 4 England prior to confronting No. 40 Nigeria on July 20, No. 22 Ireland on July 26 and No. 10 host Australia on July 31.