Reviewing the CanWNT/CanXNT's first 2 games of their 2021 Olympic gold medal celebration tour
The CanWNT/CanXNT kicked off their 2021 Olympic gold medal celebration tour on a high note this past week, picking up 2 key victories over New Zealand. Here's what stood out from those games.
It was a return to remember.
After a big summer, one where they managed to climb atop the soccer world, the CanWNT/CanXNT made their long-awaited return home to Canada this past week, where they took on New Zealand in the first 2 games of their 2021 Olympic gold medal celebration tour in Ottawa and Montreal.
Returning home for the first time since May of 2019, when they took on Mexico at Toronto’s BMO Field for a send-off game ahead of the 2019 World Cup, many expected these games to be special, as fans finally got to welcome a team that has accomplished so much since that last game.
Because of that, the anticipation was high ahead of these matches, as fans prepared to reunite with a team that many have cheered so hard for despite the long time away, making sure to follow along from a distance whenever possible.
So it was no surprise to then see Canada get a chance to play in front of 2 strong crowds in Ottawa and Montreal, as they kicked off this celebration tour, which is expected to continue with games across the country in the coming months, with aplomb.
By coming out with 2 strong victories over New Zealand, one statement 5-1 victory in Ottawa, and a 1-0 nailbiter in Montreal, they made sure that those who were in attendance for these matches would leave with memories that they won’t soon forget, showing how they were able to achieve what they did over the summer.
And as they continue their journey towards their next quest, which is qualifying for and winning the 2023 World Cup, that’s exciting, because they showed that while they’re happy to celebrate their achievement of this past summer, that’s just the start of what they seek out to accomplish, the journey towards which starts now.
So with all of that in mind, here’s a look at what stood out from this camp, one that should prove to be key for Canada in the long run, as their journey towards 2023 kicked off with gusto, making the start of the celebration tour one to remember.
A heroes welcome:
And to begin, it’s worth noting how good the welcome was for these games, as fans made sure to show up in pretty solid numbers to see their heroes, giving them a proper welcome.
That was reflected in the attendance numbers, as just over 16 000 fans made it to Ottawa’s TD Place, which holds 24 000, before just under 11 500 fans made it to Montreal’s Stade Saputo, which holds 20 000, making for 2 good crowds.
And while at first, those numbers might seem a bit low, it’s worth noting that in context, there’s a lot to like with both.
First, by getting 16 386 in Ottawa, that was actually better-attended than any Ottawa Senators (NHL), Ottawa Redblacks (CFL) or Atletico Ottawa game in the nation’s capital this year, just getting an idea of how solid an attendance number that actually was.
Because of that, it made for a good crowd, one that got really loud at certain moments, including before and after the game, and during all of the goals.
Other than a slight issue where security in the stadium reportedly told Canada’s supporter’s section, the Voyageurs, to limit the chanting and flag-waving that they’re known for during the game, it was a pretty good atmosphere other than that, as Ottawa certainly showed up for their national team.
Then with the Montreal game, while there was a significant drop in numbers, as the official attendance at Stade Saputo was only 11 323, it’s worth noting that there was some nasty rain and wind in the city on the day, which along with it being a midweek game, made it a tougher draw than the Ottawa game, which was on a sunny Saturday.
And despite there being fewer numbers, the atmosphere was actually quite loud and festive, as Montreal made up for the lower attendance by singing all sorts of chants and bringing the noise, providing a rocking atmosphere.
So overall, both cities certainly showed up for these games, making sure that Canada would be welcomed home in a memorable manner, showing the support for this team in this country, and in turn, they managed to repay them with 2 great victories.
Plus, they also made sure to interact with the fans at every opportunity, as several players stayed out to take pictures and sign autographs with fans long after the final whistle blew in both games, doing their best to show their appreciation for the support, which along with their performances, gave those who attended plenty to remember.
Considering how long it’d been since Canada had played on home soil (in fact, it’d been so long that this was the first time that a few Canadian players, along with their head coach, Bev Priestman, had even played in the country), that’s positive, and shows why it’s so exciting that there are plenty more games like this on the horizon for this Canadian team going forward.
Which version of the offence can we expect?
And speaking of their performances, as we shift to talk of what they showed on the pitch this camp, one thing to keep an eye on for after these games will be on Canada’s offence, which was arguably the team’s biggest question mark heading into this window, and based on what we saw, not much has changed in that regard.
On one hand, Canada showed a lot of good things in the final third, especially in the first game, where the floodgates open for them en route to their 5-1 win, which indicates that they’re certainly making progress in that part of the game.
At the same time, though, they also reverted to some old habits at times, especially in that second game, where they found goals hard to come by in their 1-0 win, showing that they still have work to do before becoming a top offensive team.
Because of that, it’s hard to know what version of the team to judge, because while the 5-goal outburst shows that they’ve got the ability to score on their day, the 1-0 victory also shows why they only scored 6 goals in 6 games at the Olympics, where they mostly won the gold medal off the back of their strong defence.
But when judging the two games side-by-side, there are a few things worth considering, which do give a better idea of where Canada truly are at offensively.
First, it’s worth noting that of the two games, they did play their stronger lineup in that first game, deploying basically a carbon copy of the lineup that they deployed in the Olympic final against Sweden, with the lone exception being to insert Deanne Rose for Ashley Lawrence, who missed this camp with a knock.
So while they didn’t necessarily make any grand alterations to their lineup in their second game, the fact that they made 4 changes to that squad did make a difference, as Canada just didn’t have the same rhythm in the second game as they did in the first one.
Secondly, it’s also worth noting that New Zealand also just adjusted nicely to how Canada wanted to play in the second game, as they didn’t appear quite ready for how attacking Canada came out in the first game, and adjusted accordingly for the second.
Because of that, New Zealand allowed a lot fewer high-danger chances in that second game, doing well to limit Canada to certain areas, in which they couldn’t really hurt their opponents.
Lastly, it’s also worth noting that the conditions also appeared to play a bit of a role, too, because the fact that they went from a sunny day on the turf in Ottawa to a rainy evening on the grass in Montreal did make things more difficult for them, even if it wasn’t hugely noticeable.
Yes, their struggles at executing plays in the second game were mostly of their own doing, but the fact that they went from a dry surface to one that was very slick certainly didn’t appear to help them, and was probably reflected in all of the mistakes that they made in the second game compared to the first one.
Overall, when comparing both games, that’s how they ended up scoring fewer goals (5-1), generating fewer shots (24-10), getting fewer of those shots on target (11-3), all while holding less possession (57%-56%) and connecting less of their passes (84%-82%), showing the stark difference in numbers.
Because of that, it helps explain why Canada just couldn’t threaten New Zealand’s goal in the second game the same way that they did in the first, and while there is no Expected Goals (xG) data to back that up, all the other numbers certainly paint the picture of what went wrong for them.
So now, the goal for Canada has to be to figure out how to continue what they showed in their first game going forward, because while they might not go out and score 5 goals every night, if they can keep generating chances as they did in that one, they should be well off most nights.
Not only were they generating chances, but they were playing some great soccer, so while that went away a bit in the second game, it’s encouraging that they showed what they did in the first, which demonstrates that they do have that sort of play in their locker.
Ultimately, this is going to be process, one that isn’t figured out all night, but that they showed some of the positive signs that they did is a good start, provided that they find a way to keep on improving from here on in.
The defence continues to roll along:
And the good news about the offence is that they’ve got time to figure things out there, because while they’ll want to find a way to best maximize their offensive weapons before World Cup qualifiers come around next summer, they do still have one of the best defences in the world to help them along in that process in the meantime.
There’s a reason why they were able to win the Olympics this summer despite just scoring 6 goals in 6 games, and that’s because they only allowed 4 goals across that span, keeping 2 clean sheets, both of those coming in the knockout stages, showing their defensive prowess.
So to see them pick up where they left off in the Olympics in this camp was huge, as they did well to just allow 1 goal across 2 games this camp, keeping 1 clean sheet, and not allowing any open play goals in the process (the 1 goal came via the penalty spot), which played a big role in both victories.
But that was just business as usual for Priestman’s Canada. Much as they have all year, they just did what they needed to in order to make sure that they kept their opponents at bay, doing a good job of sticking to their strong defensive identity.
Starting with their personnel, which is led by Kadeisha Buchanan, Vanessa Gilles and Sheila Zadorsky, who help form one of the best defensive units in the world, their enthusiasm for defending extends to the rest of the team, who all relish getting stuck into duels across the field.
As a result of that, that’s allowed them to employ a strong team-first defensive approach, one that sees all 11 players on the pitch involved in how Canada defend, playing a big role in everything from how the team presses, where they position their defensive lines, and how they set up in certain moments, among others.
So when considering that, it’s almost no surprise that in these 2 games, they only allowed 12 shots, just 4 of them being on target, keeping New Zealand to an average of 44.5% possession and 74.5% pass completion, and their overall execution was a big part of that.
Thanks to that, they have now only conceded 5 goals over their last 12 games, keeping 7 clean sheets, showing why they are one of the best defensive teams in the world right now, one that many attackers probably dread having to face when they find out they’re playing Canada.
So while there are certainly question to be had in terms of if Canada will be able to maintain such stingy defensive numbers as they figure out how to score more, the good news is that in those last 12 games, they’ve also actually had 4 instances where they scored 2 or more goals, which does show that it is possible.
And that’s key. As long as they keep defending like this, Canada will only really have to score 1 or 2 on most nights to guarantee victory, so if they can find out how to do that consistently, watch out.
As seen during the Olympics, when Canada locks in defensively, it’s hard to stop them, showing why it’s a part of their game they want to keep on prioritizing as they continue to prepare for the World Cup.
Offence wins games, but defence wins championships, and Canada has stuck to that mantra quite strictly, and that was no exception this camp, which was nice to see.
Canada’s players sing the Canadian national anthem ahead of their game vs New Zealand in Ottawa (Martin Bayzl/Canada Soccer)
Individual honours:
Otherwise, though, while there was a lot to like with Canada’s game from a team perspective, there were also some individuals that certainly stood out in these games.
Here’s a closer look at a few of those names.
Player of the camp: Janine Beckie
And to start, it’s worth shouting out the one player who arguably had the biggest impact across the two games, and that’s Beckie, who showed why she’s one of Canada’s most important players during this camp.
Usually a winger for Canada, she had to fill in at right back during both games with the absence of Lawrence, yet she looked no worse for wear despite that, putting up 2 key performances.
In the first game, she seemed to be everywhere both offensively and defensively, adding 2 assists at one end of the pitch, while also making some key interventions at the other.
Then, in the second game, she was a little quieter offensively in terms of counting stats, but she still found a way to get forward at every opportunity, helping set up her teammates on a few occasions, while also once again doing her job defensively.
But that’s Beckie for you.
Somehow, it feels strange to point out that she was actually directly involved in all 6 of Canada’s goals this camp, because she did so in such an efficient manner, just quietly finding a way to get things done each time she touched the ball. Ditto with her work defensively, because while Canada only conceded once across both games, you could almost be forgiven for forgetting that Beckie played a big role in that, too, as she just went about her work with such ruthlessness.
Yet, that’s just how she operates for Canada. When she’s on her game, she’s one of Canada’s most important players, yet it doesn't feel like she always gets the praise that she deserves, just finding herself flying under the radar.
She doesn’t seem to care about that, though, nor do her teammates, because she knows her skills, and so do those around her, and it’s that confidence that plays such a big role in how she plays.
And when that confidence is flowing watch out, because as she showed this camp, when she gets rolling, she’s hard to stop, something that her opponents quickly learned the hard way.
Honourable mention: Adriana Leon
Breakout player of the camp: Adriana Leon
Moving on, though, to the breakout player of the camp, that nod goes to Leon, who across both games, bagged 3 out of Canada’s 6 goals, climbing to a tie for first in terms of the team’s goalscoring charts in 2021 with 4 goals, with only Jessie Fleming matching her tally for this year.
But considering that all 4 of Leon’s goals have been via open play (3 of Fleming’s 4 have been via spot-kicks), her tally all of a sudden looks quite impressive, showing how good she’s been for Canada this year.
Having scored one of her countries biggest goals at the Olympics, which was the opening tally in a draw against Great Britain, she picked up where she left off there in this camp, first scoring a key brace in the first game, before adding the one and only goal in the second game.
And what was great about all 3 goals was how they were scored, too, as all 3 came via good finishes inside the box on high xG chances, 2 of them being on her first touch, all coming off the back of some good runs that she made, showing her ability to be a true striker.
Arguably one of Canada’s best pure #9s on her day, she showed that with the instinct that she showed on the goals, which were all very just rewards for her, showing why some have been calling for her to get more minutes for a while now.
It makes a lot of sense, too, because on a Canadian team that arguably doesn’t deploy a true #9 these days (Christine Sinclair used to be one, but plays more like a #10 now), Leon showed that she can be that player if called upon, and that all of a sudden opens up all sorts of questions for Priestman.
Considering their quest to score more goals, would it not make sense to deploy a player that has shown to be able to get into the box and finishes chances make sense, provided that they can get her the service that she needs?
On paper, it makes all sorts of sense, and based on what we saw from these two games, the eye test backs it up as well, so it’ll now be interesting to see if Leon fights for more minutes going forward, because based on what we saw this camp, she certainly would deserve it.
Honourable Mention: Deanne Rose
Unsung player of the camp: Kadeisha Buchanan
Lastly, it’s important to shout out someone who maybe didn’t get as much praise as she should have this camp, and that’s Canada’s star centre back, Buchanan, who was one of just 2 players to play every minute this window.
Thanks to that, she’s now played every minute in 10 consecutive Canadian games dating back to June of this year, showing her importance to this Canadian team.
Regard as one of the best centre backs in the world thanks to her play with Lyon, she always finds a way to translate that play over to whenever she dons the Canadian shirt, and this camp was no exception, helping highlight her talent.
From the work that she did defensively, including some key tackles and all the aerial and ground duels that she soaked up, to the work that she did offensively, especially in terms of helping Canada play out of the back, she just found a way to stamp out her influence on both games, making it no surprise that they had as much defensive success as they did.
As Buchanan goes, so does Canada, and considering how consistent she is, it’s no surprise that they’re undefeated in all 10 of the games that she’s played in this year, helping them go on a 12-game undefeated run which is the longest in their history.
So while she might not always grab the headlines as a player in a different position might, make no mistake, she’s every bit as important as anyone on this team, and that was the case once again in this camp.
And still only 25 years of age, this is somehow still just the start of what she can accomplish, which feels wild for someone who already has 4 Champions League titles and 1 Olympic gold medal, yet shows how good Buchanan has been so far in her career, and what potentially lies ahead.
That’s exciting for Canada, who will want to rely on her for as long as she’s productive, because as we saw in these matches, when she’s on her game, it can be pretty hard to stop her.
Honourable Mention: Quinn
Looking Forward:
Overall, it was a pretty successful camp for Canada, both on and off the field, as they marked the first leg of their celebration tour in a memorable way, giving their fans plenty to take home.
Having been away for so long, it could’ve been easy for them to be overwhelmed by the occasion, but instead, as they did during the summer, they responded well to the pressure, showing their chops as a top team.
And that’s exciting as they continue their preparations for 2023, which as mentioned earlier, properly began this camp, as they really believe that they’ve got a shot at winning that World Cup, and based on what we’ve seen from them this year - why not?
So now, it’ll be interesting to keep following them along in that journey, which according to reports, should continue later in November with games in Vancouver and possibly somewhere else on the West Coast, kicking off leg 2 of this tour, giving more people a chance to both celebrate this team’s accomplishments from this summer, while also following along their preparations for 2023.
Currently sitting atop the summit of soccer, their plan is to now stay there for as long as they can, with that next World Cup being the next target, and based on what we saw here, the beginning of that journey has already started off on the right foot.
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Canada’s players huddle ahead of their game vs New Zealand in Ottawa (Martin Bayzl/Canada Soccer)