Veteran Canadian defender Vanessa Gilles will be sidelined for the upcoming women’s soccer friendlies against Denmark due to a muscle injury sustained while with Bayern Munich. Gilles, a 30-year-old Olympic champion, has represented Canada in 63 matches and was honored as Canada Soccer’s women’s player of the year in 2024.
In her absence, Élisabeth Tsé, a defender for Washington Spirit, has been selected to step in for Gilles. The ninth-ranked Canadian team will face off against No. 12 Denmark on two occasions – first at Stade Saputo in Montreal next Friday and then at BMO Field in Toronto on October 12.
These matches are crucial for Canada as they serve as the team’s final preparation before the CONCACAF W Championship. In the tournament, Canada is set to take on Panama in the quarterfinals on November 28. This championship acts as a qualifying event for both the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
