CanWNT Predicted Lineup Against El Salvador to Start Competition

The CanWNT predicted lineup against El Salvador will be a historic one, as it will be the very first one in the Concacaf W Gold Cup. However, expect Canada to play around a little bit without making too many changes for the game on Thursday night at Shell Energy Stadium.

CanWNT Predicted Lineup in Houston, Texas

Sinc Starts! 👊

Your @CANWNT Starting XI! 🇨🇦@CANWNT x @GE_Canada pic.twitter.com/8CP2ffvX4c

— CANWNT (@CANWNT) December 6, 2023

Looking at the lineups, there has been a tendency to use a 3-4-3 formation, including when Christine Sinclair started in her final game. In that final game, Sinclair, Nichelle Prince, and Cloé Lacasse played in the front for the team.

In the Jamaica game on the road, as the Canadian Press article explains that “Priestman fielded a 3-4-3 formation, that at times flowed into a 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 based on the situation in the first match against Jamaica,” in the road leg at Independence Park. They also used the 3-4-3 formation against Australia in the FIFA Women’s World Cup and also in the December 1 game against Australia.

The two players who helped Canada win Gold in Tokyo 2020 are most likely starting with both Kadeisha Buchanan and Vanessa Gilles as centre-backs. Jade Rose will be the other defender as she will take the right-back position. Rose is an exceptional player. An example can be seen two years ago against Australia where Rose helped Adriana Leon score a goal. For the left-back position, giving it to an experienced NWSL player like Bianca St-Georges, would work well with the other national team players.

This is while Buchanan can link up plays with Quinn, Ashley Lawrence, and Jessie Fleming in the midfield. Two of the three forwards at the top with Nichelle Prince and Adriana Leon, can be looked at. Leon has a knack to be at the right place at the right time, while Prince is known for her incredible speed and scored a big goal against Jamaica at Independence Park in Olympic qualifying. The other forward at the top, Lacasse, is also a player playing well, as she plays for Arsenal and scored very recently on December 1 against Australia.

There is also a case for Deanne Rose or Evelyne Viens to be in the starting 11. Sabrina D’Angelo can also be in the starting 11 as a goalkeeper. However, since Kailen Sheridan is the likely starting goalkeeper, expect her to start the first game. However, it would not be surprising if D’Angelo started for Canada in the game on Sunday against Paraguay.

Recent Form and Tactics (4-0-1)

The CanWNT has been on fire recently, winning five of their last six games. In those games, there has been some changes in tactics. However, with Priestman, it is added motivation after a disappointing 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign (source: Neil Davidson of the Canadian Press):

“We’ve had a tough year, a very very tough year,” she said after Tuesday’s year-ending 1- 0 win over No. 11 Australia in Sinclair’s international swansong. “And what matters the most is actually how much we’ve reapplied ourselves, got back up.”

The Canadians finished with a 1-1-1 record in the group stage and struggled in the 2023 SheBelieves Cup before that. However, with a number of games played since the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Canada should feel more confident and more prepared to face this challenge as they did in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Still, without Sinclair or Sophie Schmidt does make this team potentially more vulnerable. There has been a tendency though for a 3-4-3 formation, but Priestman can change things a bit if she wants to do a 4-3-3 formation for the game against El Salvador.

CanWNT Injuries to Consider

Unfortunately, for the CanWNT, injuries have hit them somewhat hard in this competition. Jayde Riviere has been an important part of the team, winning Gold in Tokyo 2020 and participating in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and also starting in the December 5 game against Australia.

Canada Soccer can confirm that Sydney Collins has sustained an ankle fracture while in preparation camp with Canada.

Bianca St-Georges will be joining the #CANWNT at the inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup as a replacement for Collins.#CanWNT #CanXNT pic.twitter.com/InSvZm3cJR

— Har Journalist (@HarJournalist) February 21, 2024

Sydney Collins will also not participate because of injury. Also, as mentioned in the roster reveal, article Desiree Scott and Janine Beckie will also not be part of the team.

To watch the game tonight, it will be available live on OneSoccer, Telus, and FuboTV Inc. The game kicks off at 8:00 PM ET and will take place at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, Texas.