Also in today’s Roundup, Steph Labbe clears the DRO, and Cyprus Cup rosters for Austria, Belgium, Finland, and Wales
Canada has announced a home friendly on June 10 against reigning Olympic champion Germany. The match at Tim Horton’s Field in Hamilton will be the side’s first home fixture of 2018 and the first under new coach Kenneth Heiner-Møller.
“This is a huge match for us as Germany are one of the top teams in the world, but also a side that has shown continuity in their ability to perform, get to the top, and stay there,” Heiner-Møller said. “The match is critical for us leading into our FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign as it will test the relationships the players have developed, but it was also test us to see where we are as a team.”
Heiner-Møller took over last month when John Herdman took the men’s job with the Canadian Soccer Association. His first matches as Canada coach will be at the end of this month at the Algarve Cup in Portugal. Canada’s group opponents are Sweden, Russia, and South Korea.
Canada and Germany met twice during the 2016 Olympic tournament. The Canadians rallied for a 2-1 win in group play that helped them finish atop Group F, but in the semifinal rematch Germany picked up a 2-0 win. Germany then defeated Canada 2-1 in a friendly last April in Erfurt, Germany.
Steph Labbe clears DRO
Steph Labbe’s name passed by all nine NWSL clubs this week and all nine passed on claiming her NWSL rights. Labbe was dropped from Canada’s allocation list and the Washington Spirit passed on retaining her rights. She was then put through the Distribution Ranking Order where the other right teams also passed. Labbe is now eligible to be claimed as an NWSL Discovery Player and is also free to sign elsewhere. Her Thursday tweet seemed to imply she had another job lined up outside NWSL.
Thank you to the @WashSpirit organization for giving me the opportunity to play in front of the best fans (@SpiritSquadron) and to all my teammies for the good times! Can't wait to share what's next for me… stay tuned? Thank you for all the support ✌?❤⚽️
— Stephanie Labbé (@stephlabbe1) February 15, 2018
Labbe joined NWSL in 2016 when she was allocated to the Chicago Red Stars. But the Red Stars traded for Alyssa Naeher and wound up agreeing to trade Labbe to the Spirit before her allocation was announced. She was the Spirit’s starter until leaving for the Olympics after which Labbe never saw the field again, instead backing up Kelsey Wys. It appeared she and the Spirit were headed for a split until Wys tore her ACL playing in Australia and Labbe returned as the starter in 2017. She missed the end of the season on a personal medical leave but has since played for Canada.
More Cyprus Cup rosters
Below are Cyprus Cup rosters for Austria, Belgium, Finland, and Wales. Included on the Welsh team is the country’s most capped player ever, Seattle Reign FC’s Jess Fishlock.
AUSTRIA ROSTER BY POSITION
Goalkeepers (3): Jasmin Pal (FC Wacker Innsbruck), Jasmin Pfeiler (USC Landhaus), Manuela Zinsberger
Defenders (6): Verena Aschauer (SC Sand), Virginia Kirchnerger (MSV Duisburg), Sophie Maierhofer (University of Kansas), Katharina Naschenweng (SK Sturm Graz), Katharina Schiechtl (SV Werder Bremen), Carina Wenninger (FC Bayern Munich)
Midfielders (6): Jasmin Eder (SKN St. Pölten Frauen), Laura Feiersinger (SC Sand), Nadine Prohaska (SKN St. Pölten Frauen), Jennifer Klein (SKN St. Pölten Frauen), Sarah Puntigam (SC Freiburg), Sarah Zadrazil (1. FFC Turbine Potsdam)
Forwards (4): Nicole Billa (TSG 1899 Hoffenhim), Nina Burger (SC Sand), Stefanie Enzinger (SKN St. Pölten Frauen), Simona Koren (Sunderland AFC Ladies)
BELGIUM ROSTER BY POSITION
Goalkeepers (3): Nicky Evrard, Diede Lemey, Justien Odeurs
Defenders (8): Maud Coutereels, Laura Deloose, Laure De Neve, Heleen Jaques, Davina Philtjens, Nicky Van Den Abbeele, Silke Vanwynsberghe, Aline Zeler
Midfielders (5): Tine De Caigny, Kassandra Missipo, Lenie Onzia, Charlotte Tison, Justine Van Haevermaet
Forwards (8): Jassina Blom, Janice Cayman, Jana Coryn, Yana Daniёls, Celien Guns, Davinia Vanmechelen, Sarah Wijnants, Tessa Wullaert
FINLAND ROSTER BY POSITION
Goalkeepers (3): Tinja-Rikka Korpela (Vålerenga IF), Minna Meriluoto (HJK), Kreeta-Liisa Yli-Säntti (LB 07)
Defenders (5): Olga Ahtinen (Brøndby IF), Tuija Hyyrynen (Juventus FC), Katarina Naumanen (HJK), Anna Westerlund (Lillestrøm SK), Tiia Peltonen (PK-35 Vantaa)
Midfielders (6): Emmi Alanen (Vittsjö GIK), Nora Heroum (Brescia Calcio Femminile), Emma Koivisto (Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC), Natalia Kuikka (Florida State University), Ria Öling (Brøndby IF), Julia Tunturi (Eskilstuna United)
Forwards (8): Anna Auvinen (FC Honka), Kaisa Collin (PK-35 Vantaa), Adelina Engman (Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC), Sanni Franssi (Juventus FC), Vilma Hakala (HJK), Tia Hälinen (AC Sparta Praha), Juliette Kemppi (Lillestrøm SK), Linda Sällström (Vittsjö GIK)
WALES ROSTER BY POSITION
Goalkeepers (2): Laura O’Sullivan, Claire Skinner
Defenders (3): Loran Dykes, Rhiannon Roberts, Amina Vine
Midfielders (12): Gwen Davies, Charlie Estcourt, Jessica Fishlock, Kayleigh Green, Natasha Harding, Elise Hughes, Angharad James, Sophie Ingle, Hayley Ladd, Hannah Miles, Kylie Nolan, Rachel Rowe
Fowards (6): Chloe Chivers, Gemma Evans, Melissa Fletcher, Ellie Lake, Nadia Lawrence, Helen Ward