Canada star Janine Beckie to miss World Cup after suffering knee injury

FIFA WWC Canada star Janine Beckie to miss World Cup after suffering knee injury

Ifeanyi Ufomadu 16:04 - 18.03.2023

Canada star forward Janine Beckie has sustained a knee injury that will now see her miss the 2023 Women's World Cup

Janine Beckie suffers torn ACL, to miss World Cup with Canada

Janine Beckie who plays for the reigning NWSL champions Portland Thorns has suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee, her club has announced. 

The  28-year-old prolific striker, with 36 goals for Canada in 101 caps, will be gutted with the setback. 

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"Heartbroken is an understatement," Beckie wrote in a Twitter post on Friday.

She picked up the injury in the first half of a Wednesday warm-up game between the Thorns and the US under-23 women's squad. She tried to regain possession in the 17th minute and went down in pain.

Beckie is now expected to undergo surgery in the coming weeks and will carry on with rehabilitation in Portland under the direction of the Thorns team medical staff.

"Having worked so hard during off-season for what was set to be one of the biggest seasons of my career, defending the title for Portland Thorns and of course playing in the World Cup for Canada, being out for an extended period of time is a difficult pill to swallow," Beckie tweeted.

"I'll be supporting my teammates for both club and country this season and it goes without saying I'll be back better and stronger than ever!"

Big picture for Canada

Canada will be competing in the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and will have to find the goals without Beckie.

Canada Women's striker Janine Beckie

They are in group B with Ireland, Nigeria and co-host Australia and will begin their campaign against Nigeria in Melbourne on July 21.

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