The players have done all that they can do on the pitch. Now, the ball is at the feet of Bev Priestman.

The head coach of Canada’s women’s soccer team is tasked with selecting the roster that will defend gold at the Paris Olympics. Priestman must choose 18 players, along with four alternates, to represent Canada at the Games.

“I said to the group, ‘You’ve made my life so difficult,’ and that’s credit to them,” Priestman told the media on Tuesday.

The Canadians are coming off a pair of friendlies at home against Mexico as part of the Summer Send-Off Series. Canada, ranked ninth in the world, beat Mexico 2-0 on Saturday in Montreal before settling for a 1-1 draw in Toronto on Tuesday.

These friendlies were the last matches before Priestman selects her roster.

“Being in camp, I’m like, ‘I don't know how I'm going to do this,’” Priestman told TSN last week. “There's not going to be a right call because, ultimately, top players are going to miss out.”

Priestman stressed the importance of striking a balance with this Olympic team.

“It might not be the very best 18 players. It might be the very best squad to get the best out of this team to go and win,” Priestman said.

“How many of those are great at finishing games? How many of them can run all day, in a two-day turnaround tournament? How many of them can play multiple positions? Because I think where you've got multiple-position players, it buys you an extra player in some ways.”

Complicating the matter are various injuries. Quinn, a regular starter in the Canadian midfield, missed this camp due to a knee injury. Defender Sydney Collins featured in five of Canada’s final six matches of 2023, including four starts, before fracturing her ankle at the beginning of this year.

“I don't want to say I'm overly stressed about the injuries,” Priestman said. “I have faith that by the time I have to pick that roster, there's a month really to go until the opening game, and then you've got the four alternates.”

More injuries arose during this past camp. Forward Nichelle Prince, who returned recently from a calf injury, was held out of both matches this window due to what Priestman described as “precautionary reasons.” Fellow forward Deanne Rose also did not feature in either match and was seen training separate from the rest of the team on Monday.

Priestman had a similar tough call before last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, with both Prince and Rose returning from Achilles injuries, which had kept them out long-term. Priestman named both to the 23-player roster, but they ended up being limited. Rose played just over 90 minutes across two games, while Prince managed only nine minutes against Nigeria in Canada’s opening match.

“My reflection on the World Cup – it might have been more about trying to put round pegs in square holes, rather than maybe a system that gets the best out of the talent in the group that we've got,” Priestman said.

“So, there's a lot to consider, but I'm committed to making bold calls, doing what's right for the team.”

Priestman is no stranger to making tough calls. She was on the job for less........

© TSN