Sydney Collins Injury Causes Bev Priestman to Shuffle Canadian Olympic Squad – Equalizer Soccer

(Photo credit: Gerard Franco for Canada Soccer)

Canada has made changes to the selection five days before his first competition at the Olympic Games in Paris.

North Carolina Courage defender Sydney Collins had been recovering from a broken ankle she suffered earlier this year. But in her first game with Canada since her injury, Collins broke her left leg during a closed training match against Nigeria on July 18.

As a result, head coach Bev Priestman has called up defender Gabrielle Carle to Canada’s active roster and midfielder Desiree Scott has been called up as a reserve.

“Our hearts go out to Sydney during this difficult time,” Priestman said in a statement from the Canadian Olympic Committee. “She has worked incredibly hard to be back in time for Paris 2024. While this is a setback, we know she will come back stronger. She will be in our thoughts every step of the way. With the depth and resilience of our roster, it’s a next-player-up mentality. The experience of Gabby and Desiree will be invaluable to our team’s success.”

Attacking midfielder Olivia Smith, who was thought to have a strong chance of making Canada’s first Olympic squad, was surprisingly left off the alternate list again.

This is the second time Carle has been named to Canada’s Olympic roster for the opening competition. Carle was named as a reserve at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, but she was called up for the latter tournament after rosters expanded due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (The 2020 Olympics were also postponed until 2021 due to the pandemic.)

The Levis, Quebec native made her Olympic debut on July 27, 2021, coming on as a substitute and playing 10 minutes in the group stage against Great Britain.

The versatility that Carle brings will add to Canada’s depth. She can be used as a midfielder and as a fullback who can attack on the wings. This will allow Priestman to mix and match her lineup depending on the opponent and the phases of each match.

The 25-year-old Carle has started all 16 games with the Washington Spirit this season, playing 1,340 minutes. She is second on the team with 26 tackles.

Scott, 36, has recovered from a torn meniscus that sidelined her last season and meant she would not be fully fit for the 2023 World Cup.

Scott is the only Canadian player to win three consecutive Olympic medals with Canada: bronze in 2012, bronze in 2016 and gold in 2021. The Winnipeg native is beloved by her teammates, coaches and support staff. Scott’s positivity, resilience and trust in her teammates will contribute to the culture and environment of the team. Scott’s presence will help Canada come together as a team.

One of the biggest questions about Scott, though, is how much she can bring if Canada has more injuries at the Olympics. She has made five appearances for the Kansas City Current this season, playing a total of 31 minutes.

Scott, known as “The Destroyer,” played in both of Canada’s farewell games against Mexico in June. She came on as a second-half substitute in each game, playing 15 and 19 minutes.

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Scott’s inclusion on the alternates list comes as Smith was not selected. The 19-year-old is one of Canada’s most promising emerging players. In a tournament where young players often shine and take the next step in their development, it is a notable omission that Smith is not available as an alternate.

Canada opens the Olympic tournament on July 25 with a match against New Zealand in Saint-Etienne, France.