Casey Stoney is looking forward to returning to B.C. Place Stadium when Canada hosts Argentina in the first of two women's soccer friendlies against the South American side next week.
For one, it will mark her first outing on Canadian soil as coach of seventh-ranked Canada. And she has fond memories of Vancouver.
"It's a full-circle moment for me," said the former England captain. "Because being back in this stadium was actually where we knocked Canada out as England in 2015 in the World Cup … But I'm extremely proud now to be standing on the touchline for Canada and representing this country and this team."
Jodie Taylor and Lucy Bronze scored for England as Canada's defence, which had been breached just once in its four previous games, gave up goals in the 11th and 14th minutes before a crowd of 54,027.
Christine Sinclair cut the lead with her 155th international goal. Stoney, who retired in February 2018 after winning 130 England caps, came in off the bench in stoppage time.
England won 2-1 and ended up finishing third at the tournament, beating Germany 1-0 after extra time after losing 2-1 to Japan in the semifinals.
Canada hosts No. 33 Argentina in Vancouver on April 4 and at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., on April 8.
The Canadian women are coming off winning the Pinatar Cup in February in Spain where they defeated No. 28 Mexico 2-0 and No. 42 Taiwan 7-0 after drawing No. 17 China 1-1 in Stoney's debut as coach.
The April games are the first for the Canadian women at home since a pair of outings against Mexico in June 2024 ahead of the Olympics. They are the first in B.C. since Sinclair's international farewell in games against Australia at the same venues in December 2023.
Quinn, who has not played for Canada since the Paris Olympics, returns from injury for the Argentina series. Stoney says calling in the influential 29-year-old midfielder, now with the Vancouver Rise of the new Northern Super League, was "a decision that was obvious to me."
"This year is a big year for me, to be able to see everybody in the environment, see how they perform. And bringing Quinn back in was a big part of that."
Quinn has earned 104 caps for Canada and played in all four games at the Paris Olympics in a year disrupted by a knee injury and concussion.
Leicester City forward Deanne Rose also returns from injury.
Stoney is still missing injured defenders Kadeisha Buchanan (Chelsea, England) and Sydney Collins (North Carolina Courage, NWSL), midfielder Simi Awujo (Manchester United, England) and forwards Jordyn Huitema (OL Reign, NWSL) and Cloé Lacasse (Utah Royals, NWSL).
Canada is 6-0-0 all-time against Argentina, outscoring the South Americans 14-1. Canada won 2-0 the last time they met in October 2022 in Cadiz, Spain.
Veterans on the roster for the Argentina series include captain Jessie Fleming, defenders Vanessa Gilles, Ashley Lawrence and Shelina Zadorsky, midfielder Julia Grosso and forwards Adriana Leon, Nichelle Prince, Janine Sonis (née Beckie) and Rose.
The squad features 21 players from the Pinatar Cup roster.
Stoney is coming off an "extremely positive" stint with Jesse Marsch's coaching staff at the CONCACAF Nations League.
"I think it's quite unique actually for a female coach to be invited into a male environment," she added. "It doesn't happen often. It's never happened in my lifetime before … They involved me in all the process. It was great to be around it, to see how their environment runs, to see the togetherness of their environment and see that it's quite apparent across the Canadian soccer landscape that there is a real togetherness across both men's and women's games, which is great."
Asked about the current political tension between Canada and U.S., Stoney cited "the immense pride" her players have in representing their country.
"For me, just being able to give players an opportunity to represent their country at the highest level is a privilege," she said. "Obviously I'm very aware I'm not Canadian. But I take my responsibility very seriously about learning about the country, the culture, the landscape, the players, the people. And submerging myself in that is really, really important to me."
Stoney will add to her Canadian experiences during the Argentina series. A social media moment is planned for the coach's first taste of poutine, she said.
"Hold this space," she said.
Former assistant coach Andy Spence, who ran the team at the Paris Olympics after Bev Priestman was sent home over the drone-spying scandal, has left Canada Soccer to join the NWSL's Gotham FC as assistant head coach.
Stoney wished him well, calling him a "fantastic assistant."
Canada Roster
Goalkeepers: Sabrina D’Angelo, Aston Villa (England); Lysianne Proulx, Juventus (Italy); Kailen Sheridan, San Diego Wave (NWSL).
Defenders: Gabrielle Carle, Washington Spirit (NWSL); Vanessa Gilles, Olympique Lyonnais (France); Ashley Lawrence, Chelsea (England); Jayde Riviere, Manchester United (England); Jade Rose, Harvard University (NCAA); Bianca St-Georges, Utah Royals (NWSL); Shelina Zadorsky, West Ham (England).
Midfielders: Marie-Yasmine Alidou, Portland Thorns (NWSL); Jessie Fleming, Portland Thorns (NWSL); Julia Grosso, Chicago Red Stars (NWSL); Quinn, Vancouver Rise (NSL); Emma Regan, AFC Toronto (NSL); Carly Wickenheiser, BK Häcken (Sweden).
Forwards: Clarissa Larisey, Crystal Palace (England); Adriana Leon, San Diego Wave (NWSL); Nichelle Prince, Kansas City Current (NWSL); Deanne Rose, Leicester City (England); Olivia Smith, Liverpool (England); Janine Sonis, Racing Louisville (NWSL); Evelyne Viens, AS Roma (Italy).
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 27, 2025
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
