BECKIE MAKING MOST OF TIME AT MAN CITY
Dynamic midfielder to face club teammates when Canadian women take on England
Janine Beckie is arguably the most dynamic player on the Canadian women's national soccer team.
And three seasons with Manchester City in England have made the attacking midfielder an even bigger offensive threat for Canada heading toward the Tokyo Olympics.
Beckie, 26, will make her 75th international appearance for Canada on Tuesday in an exhibition game against England (2:15 p.m. ET, Onesoccer) at Stoke-ontrent, where she will be going up against a number of her club teammates.
“It's been an incredible three seasons at Man City,” Beckie said Monday. “When I look at who I was as a player when I got there to where I am now, the change has been massive for me. It's an environment where I'm constantly challenged, an environment where if I'm not at my best, I'm not on the pitch (playing). For me, that's been the biggest thing, driving that consistency every single day.”
Born in Highlands Ranch, Colo., to Canadian parents, Beckie has scored 31 goals for Canada, putting her fifth on the national team list. Christine Sinclair, who is the all-time international goals leader with 186, is the only active Canadian player ahead of Beckie on the list.
A speedy winger with impressive offensive instincts, Beckie has become a catalyst in the Canadian attack and set up a goal in the 3-0 win against Wales on Friday, coming in as a second-half substitute. Beckie is expected to get the start against England, which lost 3-1 to France on Friday.
“It's a huge measuring stick for us and it's probably the best test we could have for now,” Beckie said. “About 90 per cent, if not all of their players, are in season right now, whereas for us it's very different.
“They're a Tier 1 team, so any time you come up against England it's a big test. This one will be especially difficult, they're coming off a difficult loss against France, so they'll be motivated to come out and get a big win, and we have lots of momentum from our last game. When you bring those two things together, it'll be a very competitive game.”
Many of Canada's players are just beginning their club seasons as the National Women's Soccer League in the United States is getting underway. Beckie and a handful of other Canadian players who play in Europe are heading toward the end of their domestic seasons.
England has 12 Manchester City players on its roster.
Beckie made the move to Manchester in 2018 after spending two seasons with the Houston Dash and another with Sky Blue FC of the NWSL. In 36 appearances with Man City, Beckie has five goals. She most recently scored in a 2-1 UEFA Champions League victory against Barcelona in the second leg of a quarter-final. Unfortunately for Beckie and Man City, the win was not enough to overturn a 3-0 defeat in the first leg.
“Just being surrounded by world-class players every day and being challenged by them in training, I think the biggest thing for me is my technical ability has been more consistent over the last two seasons,” Beckie said. “My first season, I struggled quite a bit with that. But as I was engulfed in that culture day in and day out, it becomes a bit second nature. I've seen a big change in my game in that respect and it's just giving me loads of confidence when I come into this (national team) environment.”
Canada is looking to medal for a third consecutive Olympics. The team won bronze in 2012 in London and then repeated the feat four years later in Rio.
While a handful of veterans still remain a fixture of the squad, Beckie represents the next generation of talent hoping to change the colour of medal at these Games.
The game against England is one of five for Canada and new head coach Bev Priestman and the last scheduled before the Olympic tournament.
Canada beat England in an exhibition game before the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. It was the last time Canada beat a highly ranked opponent.
“This is a massive test in that regard,” Beckie said. “If you keep a clean sheet (shutout) then you give yourself a chance to win and that's the priority, the clean sheet, and on top of that it's about what us attackers can do on the pitch to put the ball in the back of the net.”
Sinclair was injured in the win against Wales and may not play against England. Regardless, Priestman has a number of talented attacking options for the contest, led by Beckie, who has been playing on the right wing.