Christine Sinclair’s quest to become the all-time leading scorer in international women’s soccer continues next week when Canada takes on Japan in a friendly. Canadian coach Kenneth Heiner-Møller on Thursday announced his 24-player roster for the match slated for Oct. 6 in Shizuoka, which included Sinclair, Canada’s iconic captain. A 36-year-old native of Burnaby, B.C., Sinclair has scored 182 goals in 286 appearances since making her national team debut as a 16-year-old in 2000. She needs just two goals to tie retired U.S. star Abby Wambach’s scoring mark. Sinclair has been stuck on 182 goals since scoring against the Netherlands in Canada’s last group-stage match at this summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in France. It was her lone goal of the tournament. Heiner-Møller recalled the majority of players who featured at the World Cup in France, while centre backs Vanessa Gilles and Jade Rose were also named to the team. Forward Jessica De Filippo, an 18-year-old forward from the University of Louisville, has earned her first national team call-up. Missing from the roster are midfielder Diana Matheson (203 caps) and goalkeeper Erin McLeod (118). They both sat out the World Cup due to injuries, and last played for Canada at the Algarve Cup in February. Matheson is the only player other than Sinclair to make over 200 appearances for Canada. McLeod made her senior debut in 2002 (playing in four World Cups and two Olympics), and Matheson earned his first cap in 2003 (playing in four World Cups and three Olympics). Both have suffered a number of serious injuries over the last few years, so it’ll be interesting to see if this pair of veterans eventually return to try to help this Canadian team qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Also missing is Nichelle Prince who underwent knee surgery in July. Prince (11 goals, 53 caps) scored in Canada’s 2-0 win over New Zealand at the World Cup. Canada is seventh in the current FIFA world rankings, four spots above Japan, who won the World Cup in 2011. The friendly in Shizuoka will be Canada’s first game since losing to Sweden in the round-of-16 at the World Cup this summer. Canada and Japan have faced off 14 times in international play since their first encounter in 1995, their most high-profile matchup coming during the group stage of the 2012 Olympic tournament in London, which Japan won 2-1. Canada beat Japan 2-1 at the 2018 Algarve Cup, the most recent meeting between the two nations. The Japanese lead the all-time series against the Canadians, with six wins and three draws. Canada boasts a record of seven wins, three draws and two losses in 2019.
CANADA'S SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Sabrina D'Angelo, Stephanie Labbé and Kailen Sheridan Defenders: Kadeisha Buchanan, Vanessa Gilles, Rebecca Quinn, Jade Rose, Shannon Woeller, Shelina Zadorsky, Lindsay Agnew, Allysha Chapman, Ashley Lawrence and Jayde Riviere Midfielders: Julia Grosso, Jessie Fleming, Sophie Schmidt, Desiree Scott and Gabrielle Carle Forwards: Deanne Rose, Janine Beckie, Jessica De Filippo, Jordyn Huitema, Adriana Leon and Christine Sinclair

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