England face Canada tonight at the Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough to kick off the inaugural edition of the Arnold Clark Cup.
After a series of one-sided World Cup qualifiers this season, England are set to be tested against Olympic champions Canada as Sarina Wiegman’s side step up their preparations ahead of hosting the European Championships in July.
The four-team tournament, which also includes top-10 sides in Germany and Spain, has been created to give England more matches against top-ranked opposition.
Coached by formed England assistant manager Bev Priestman, Canada defeated Sweden on penalties to win the Olympic gold medal in Tokyo and defeated England 2-0 in a friendly last April.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match tonight.
When is England vs Canada?
The match will kick off at 7:30pm on Thursday 17 February at the Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough. The match between Spain and Germany will take place at the same ground earlier in the day at 2:30pm.
How can I watch it?
It will be shown live on ITV 4, with coverage getting underway at 6:45pm. The match will also be available to stream live on the ITV Hub.
Team news
Leah Williamson, Lucy Bronze and Ellie Roebuck are back in the squad after missing November’s internationals through injury, but Steph Houghton and Beth England are unavailable. Arsenal defender Williamson has been named captain in Houghton’s absence.
Goalkeeper Roebuck and right-back Bronze could make their first appearances under Wiegman, with Williamson potentially forming a centre-back partnership with Chelsea’s Millie Bright. Keira Walsh and Jordan Nobbs could play in midfield, with Beth Mead, Fran Kirby and Lauren Hemp behind England’s record goalscorer Ellen White in attack.
Canada will be skipped by Chelsea’s Jessie Fleming, while Manchester City’s Janine Beckie and Reading’s Deanne Rose are the other Women’s Super League stars who could make an appearance. Record international Christine Sinclair is not involved in the squad due to personal reasons.
Predicted line-ups
England: Roebuck; Bronze, Williamson, Bright, Daly; Walsh, Nobbs; Mead, Kirby, Hemp; White
Canada: McLeod; Lawrence, Gilles, Buchanan, Chapman; Fleming, Scott, Quinn; Beckie, Rose, Prince
Odds
England: 3/4
Draw: 9/4
Canada: 16/5
Prediction
England 1-1 Canada
