Bev Priestman's message to her team during the international window is clear: be yourself.

The coach of Canada's women's national soccer team doesn't want his players to put extra pressure on themselves as they fight for a spot on the team for the next two pre-Olympic friendlies against Mexico.

The Canadiens (No. 9) will host Mexico (31) Saturday afternoon at Stade Saputo in Montreal before a rematch Tuesday at BMO Discipline in Toronto.

“Right now, you can really be tense as a player, and I think that's the last thing I want,” Priestman said Friday. “The competition is there, there is no need to talk about it. It’s current, I see it every day.

“Believe me, I come out of every workout scratching my head.” [about roster decisions]But at the end of the day, I know I just have to pick the team that will help Canada get on that podium.

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Priestman named a 25-man squad for the two games against Mexico and said he planned to use every substitution to give everyone a chance. Only 18 players and four substitutes will travel to Paris for this summer's Olympic Games.

Canada is expected to make further exhibitions in Europe during the FIFA international window July 8-16 before opening its Olympic tournament July 25 against New Zealand. Priestman hopes to name his team by the end of June.

“I just want to see the players bring their own identity,” he said of the Mexico Games. “I don’t want to do anything different and I want them to work hard for the team.

“I think bringing those two things and putting every player in the right position to be selected and some of those things are beyond their management.”

Priestman invited eight forwards and one striker/midfielder to the camp. One of the attackers hoping to make her mark in front of friends and family on Saturday is Evelyne Viens of L'Ancienne-Lorette, Que.

Viens led the Italian Serie A with 13 goals in 24 games for Roma in his first season in the league. The 27-year-old played for Canada at the Tokyo Games and the 2023 World Cup, but has scored just five goals in 29 international matches, but just seven as a starter.

“I come back from a pretty long season in Italy, I had success individually and with my club and I want to bring that attacking touch here,” Viens said. “My goal is to qualify for the Olympic team and aim for a medal. »

Come super under

Priestman hinted that Viens would be an impact player for Canada as a backup.

“Here you have a number one player on the team saying, ‘I know my role, I’m ready to be a coach, take me on and I’ll score a goal,’” she said. “I know her super strong point and that is that the game is more open, she needs a goal, a lot of crosses, and Eve comes in and generally wreaks havoc.”

Beyond determining roster spots, Canada is also eager to face a “dangerous” Mexican team.

Canadian players and Priestman say Mexico has become a stronger team in recent years. Mexico demonstrated this by surprising the American giants with a 2-0 victory in the group stage of the Concacaf Gold Cup W in February.

“It’s no small feat,” Priestman said. “They are much fitter, they can be dangerous, they can break, they have a dangerous front line and we have to prepare for that.”

“We have a good team on our hands.”

Central defender Vanessa Gilles believes Saturday and Tuesday's matches will be good preparation for Colombia, against Canada in their final match of the Olympic group stage on July 31.

“I think for us playing this Saturday, we will focus on ourselves against a good opponent,” Gilles said. “I think of a team like Colombia: they are quite similar in their style of play.

“So preparing for the Olympics, facing a team like that, while managing minutes and players being at different points in their season, will be what Bev will have in mind as she tries to prepare tactically for these next Olympic Games.”

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