(Vancouver) Christine Sinclair’s parting words at the meeting following her final practice with Canada’s women’s soccer team were: “Go get me a World Cup.”
She will have been competitive until the very end.
Sinclair has never won the World Cup. In six appearances with the maple leaf, the nation’s best result was a fourth place in 2003. But Sinclair checked all the other boxes.
Olympic gold, silver and bronze medals. A world record of 190 goals on the international scene. The Order of Canada. Canada’s Walk of Fame. Canadian Player of the Year 14 times. NWSL champion. Not to mention a flawless, even admirable, reputation off the field.
The 40-year-old from Burnaby, British Columbia, will end her international career on Tuesday at the end of a friendly match against Australia in Vancouver which is likely to leave a lot of room for emotions.
Some 45,000 spectators are expected at B.C. Place, which hosted a record crowd of 30,204 for a Whitecaps home match last month against Los Angeles FC. Already on Monday, the stadium was decorated with signs reading “Thank you Sinc”.
“It’s going to be a roller coaster of emotions,” said Desiree Scott, who plays in midfield.
“It’s moving. I think we don’t realize it yet, added striker Jordyn Huitema. She’s been involved since the start of my career with the national team and I don’t know what it will be like without her… She means a lot to me. »
“We will all hold back tears. Probably unsuccessful,” goalie Kailen Sheridan said.
Sinclair, who has been used as a substitute in five of her last six games with the national team, should be in the starting lineup for a 313e and last time, Tuesday, on the occasion of its 331e selection.
Around ten members of the Canadian bronze medal team at the 2012 London Games will form a guard of honor when she leads the troop onto the field before the match.
Sinclair seemed zen during his meeting with the media on Sunday, accompanied by Sophie Schmidt. Canada head coach Bev Priestman, however, believes the floodgates could open on Tuesday.
“She’s definitely a strong person, but she’s a human being,” Priestman said. I have no doubt it’s going to hit her hard at some point. »
Canada Soccer indicated that more than 50 former players who represented Canada, both for women and men, will be present.
Her current teammates will no doubt try to make her score a 191e goal to improve his world record.
“She delivers the goods in big moments,” Priestman said.
Sinclair’s last goal was on July 25, 2022 in a 6-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago. She has failed to make a difference in her last 19 matches with Canada, while her role has gradually changed since Priestman took office. The latter can count on young attackers, which allowed it to use Sinclair in depth.
Sinclair entered the field to the sound of the song Any Man of Mine, by Shania Twain, but also the clicking of cameras on Monday. Before practice, she and Schmidt received honorary Whitecaps jerseys.
“Two great legends,” commented Priestman.
Schmidt, 35, will also play his last match for Canada. But like Sinclair, she wants to play one last season with her club.
Both will be honored Tuesday, as will goalkeeper Erin McLeod, who announced her retirement in January. McLeod will watch the game from the sidelines.
The goal is to say goodbye to them with a victory.
“It’s going to be an incredible night,” Priestman said. I know all the players are going to run 20 or 30 yards more than necessary to highlight what these players have done for our program.
“What we do and how we play is absolutely focused on [Jeux olympiques de Paris en 2024]. But there is also the reality of what [le match de mardi] represented. So it’s like a juggling act. »
The Canadians have already qualified for the Paris Games.