Canada has made roster substitutions five days out from its first match at the Paris Olympics.
North Carolina Courage defender Sydney Collins had been working her way back from a broken ankle suffered earlier this year. But in her first match with Canada since her injury, Collins fractured her left leg during a closed-door 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 an alternate.
“Our hearts go out to Sydney during this difficult time,” Priestman said in a statement released by the Canadian Olympic Committee. “She has worked incredibly hard to return in time for Paris 2024. While this is a setback, we know she will come back stronger. She will be with us in spirit every step of the way. With the depth and resilience of our roster, it’s a next-player-up mentality. Gabby and Desiree’s experience will be invaluable to our team’s success.”
Attacking midfielder Olivia Smith, who was thought to have a strong chance to make Canada’s initial Olympic roster, was surprisingly left off the alternate list again.
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This will be the second time that Carle has been added to Canada’s Olympic roster before the opening match. Carle was named as an alternate at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, but she was called up for the latter tournament after rosters were expanded due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (The 2020 Olympics were also postponed to 2021 because of the pandemic.)
The Levis, Quebec, native made her Olympic debut on July 27, 2021, when she came on as a substitute and played 10 minutes against Great Britain in the group stage.
The versatility that Carle brings will add to Canada’s depth. She can be used as a midfielder as well as a fullback who can attack on the flanks. This will allow Priestman to mix and match her lineup depending on the opponent and the stages of each match.
The 25-year-old Carle has started all 16 games with the Washington Spirit this season, playing a total of 1,340 minutes. She ranks second on the team with 26 tackles.
The 36-year-old Scott has worked her way back from a torn meniscus that sidelined her last season and resulted in her not being fully fit for the 2023 World Cup.
Scott is the lone Canadian player who has won 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 confidence in her teammates will add to the culture and the team environment. Having Scott there will add to Canada’s connectivity as a team.
However, one of the biggest question marks with Scott is how much she can bring to the pitch if Canada has further injury challenges at the Olympics. She has made five appearances with the Kansas City Current this season, playing a total of 31 minutes.
Known as “The Destroyer,” Scott played in both of Canada’s send-off matches against Mexico in June. She came on as a second-half substitute in each match and played 15 and 19 minutes.
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The inclusion of Scott on the alternates list comes with Smith not being selected. The 19-year-old is one of Canada’s most promising up-and-coming players. In a tournament where young players often shine and take the next step in their development, not having Smith available as an alternate is a glaring omission.
Canada will kick off its Olympic tournament on July 25 against New Zealand in Saint-Etienne, France.
