Canada and Brazil face each other in the second semifinal of the 2024 SheBelieves Cup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday afternoon.
A close contest should be expected between teams who are close together in the world rankings and have played several tight matches against each other of late.
Canada's women's team is the +110 odds favorite to progress to the final of the SheBelieves Cup with a 90-minute victory over Brazil in Atlanta, but it is extremely tough to pick between the well-matched teams and the tie has value at +225.
The FIFA women's world rankings give the first indication that there is not much between the teams in terms of quality as they are separated by just one place, with Canada ninth and Brazil 10th in the list, which is currently headed by Spain.
They have also had almost identical fortunes at their last two major tournaments, the 2023 Women's World Cup and the 2024 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup.
Both nations disappointed at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, finishing third in their groups to make an early exit from the tournament.
Canada finished behind co-hosts Australia and also Nigeria, beating only the Republic of Ireland, while Brazil also made an unexpected early departure after placing third behind France and Jamaica in Group F.
Both teams put in improved showings at the CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup, finishing first and second in the group rankings as both posted three straight shutout wins.
Canada and Brazil both won their quarter-finals but had their championship chances ended by the United States in consecutive games despite giving the USWNT a tough time.
The Canadians went out in a semi-finals penalty shootout against the Stars & Stripes with their match having been level at 1-1 after 90 minutes and 2-2 after extra-time.
In the final, Brazil also made the Americans work hard, having more possession and shots, but losing 1-0 to a Lindsey Horan goal in added time at the end of the first half.
The teams split a pair of friendly matches last October, with Brazil winning 1-0 before Canada struck back with a 2-0 success and it may need more than 90 minutes of play to separate them on a neutral field in Georgia.
With the last three head-to-head meetings between the teams producing only five total goals and both teams demonstrating impressive defenses at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, another tight encounter looks likely when they meet in Atlanta.
Both teams were scoring well in that tournament with Canada netting 13 goals in three group games against Paraguay, Costa Rica and El Salvador, while Brazil fired seven past Puerto Rico, Colombia and Paraguay without reply.
However, with two strong defenses on the field together, the offensive players should be in for a tougher afternoon than they had in those matches against weaker opposition. If the game is tied after 90 minutes, a goalless or 1-1 score seems more likely than anything more extravagant.
Canada's Adriana Leon won the Golden Boot at the Women's CONCACAF Gold Cup after scoring six goals and if anyone is going to break the deadlock in this contest it is likely to be her.
The winger plays her club soccer for Aston Villa in the English Women's Super League and remains in fine form. She has been a regular goalscorer for her nation with 37 goals in 110 international appearances since making her debut in 2013.
Leon netted the dramatic late equalizer in extra-time against the United States in the semi-finals of the Women's CONCACAF Gold Cup having scored a hat-trick against Paraguay in the group stage.
Canada | +110 |
Draw | +225 |
Brazil | +200 |
Adriana Leon | +275 |
Christine Sinclair | +275 |
Debinha de Oliveira | +275 |
Cloe Lacasse | +300 |
Jordyn Huitema | +300 |
Latifa Abdu | +300 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
Soccer
Canada Women's National Team Profile
The Canada Women's National Soccer Team has consistently held a top-10 place in the FIFA World Ranking for the past decade, and it made good on that status as 2020 Olympic champions.
bet365 News Team
Feb 13 2024
