Canada celebrates Kadeisha Buchanan’s goal against the USWNT in May. (©CanadaSoccer / by Douglas Portz)
Canada head coach John Herdman announced his 20-player roster for upcoming home friendlies against world champion Japan, and it features once again the inclusion of youngsters Jessie Fleming, Sura Yekka and Kadeisha Buchanan.
Japan also announced its roster, which will see several late arrivals to camp in Canada.
Canada will play Japan on Saturday at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton and then again on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at BC Place in Vancouver. Both stadiums are 2015 World Cup venues, with BC Place being the home of the final next July.
“We’ve brought players that have that experience but also have that blend of youth,” Herdman said. Canada began its residency camp last month.
Japan won the last meeting between these two teams, a 2-1 victory in each team’s opening match of the 2012 Olympics.
Also of note for Canada: Sweden coach Pia Sundhage tells The Equalizer that Sweden will travel to Los Angeles in November for two games against Canada, on Nov. 24 and Nov. 26. Canada chose Los Angeles as the place to meet, and Sundhage wants her team to get used to the jetlag of significant travel, which Sweden will face at next year’s World Cup. The matches are believed to be closed-door games.
Canada and Japan rosters for October matches:
CANADA
GK- Stephanie Labbe | SWE / KIF Orebro
GK- Erin McLeod | USA / Houston Dash
D- Kadeisha Buchanan | USA / West Virginia University
D- Allysha Chapman | SWE / Eskilstuna United DFF
D- Rhian Wilkinson | CAN / Comètes de Laval
D- Sura Yekka | CAN / Brams United
D- Emily Zurrer | SWE / Jitex BK
D- Carmelina Moscato | USA / Seattle Reign FC
D- Rachel Quon | USA / Chicago Red Stars
M- Jessie Fleming | CAN / London NorWest SC
M- Kaylyn Kyle | USA / Houston Dash
M- Ashley Lawrence | USA / West Virginia University
M- Diana Matheson | USA / Washington Spirit
M- Sophie Schmidt | USA / Sky Blue FC
M- Desiree Scott | ENG / Notts County FC
F- Adriana Leon | USA / Chicago Stars
F- Christine Sinclair | USA / Portland Thorns
F- Melissa Tancredi | USA / Chicago Red Stars
F- Josée Bélanger | CAN / Comètes de Laval
F- Jonelle Filigno | USA / Sky Blue FC
Japan
GK
1 FUKUMOTO Miho（Okayama Yunogo Belle）
21 YAMANE Erina（JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies）
DF
2 KINGA Yukari (Arsenal Ladies FC/England）*
3 IWASHIMIZU Azusa（Nippon Television Beleza）
5 SAMESHIMA Aya（Vegalta Sendai Ladies）
18 ARIYOSHI Saori（Nippon Television Beleza）
19 KAWAMURA Yuri（Vegalta Sendai Ladies）
4 KUMAGAI Saki（Olympique Lyonnais/France)***
MF
7 ANDO Kozue（FFC Frankfurt/Germany)***
8 MIYAMA Aya（Okayama Yunogo Belle）
9 KAWASUMI Nahomi（INAC Kobe）
12 KAMIONOBE Megumi（Albirex Niigata Ladies）
6S AKAGUCHI Mizuho（Nippon Television Beleza）
14 TANAKA Asuna（FFC Frankfurt/Germany）***
13 UTSUGI Rumi（Montpellier Herault Sport Club/France）****
20 NAGASATO Asano（Turbine Potsdam/Germanuy）***
FW
11 OHNO Shinobu（Arsenal Ladies FC/England)*
17 OGIMI Yuki（Chelsea Ladies Football Club/England）**
22 SUGASAWA Yuika（JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies）
15 TAKASE Megumi（INAC Kobe）
16 IWABUCHI Mana（FC Bayern Munich/Germany）*****
– Players’joining info
*going with squad from Japan
**joining squad on 20 October
*** ～ ***** joining squad on 21 October
