Canada’s ‘heartbroken’ Beckie to miss Planet Cup just after ACL injury

March 18 (Reuters) – Canada and Portland Thorns forward Janine Beckie will miss this year’s Women’s Planet Cup just after she confirmed on Friday that she has torn the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her suitable knee.

In a statement on their web page, reigning National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) champions Thorns stated Beckie will miss the remainder of the 2023 season and added that she will “have surgery in the coming weeks to repair the injury.”

The 28-year-old, who was element of the Olympic gold medal-winning group at the Tokyo Games in 2021, has scored 36 targets in 101 appearances for Canada.

“Heartbroken is an understatement,” Beckie, who has also played for Manchester City and Houston Dash, stated in a post on Instagram.

“Getting worked so tough through off-season for what was set to be one particular of the most significant seasons of my profession, defending the title for Thorns and of course playing in the Planet Cup for Canada, getting out for an extended period of time is a complicated pill to swallow.

“I will be supporting my group mates for each club and nation this season and it goes without having saying I will be back greater and stronger than ever!”

Beckie’s injury will be a massive blow for Canada, who are searching to win their maiden Planet Cup at this year’s showpiece occasion, which is getting co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia from July 20 to Aug. 20.

They start their campaign in Group B against Nigeria on July 21 prior to facing Ireland and hosts Australia.

Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru Editing by William Mallard

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.