As the countdown begins to the final match of Christine Sinclair’s international career, coach Bev Priestman said the Canada captain’s impact will be felt even after her retirement.
“I heard him say the team was in good hands. I think that’s what she accomplished, Priestman said after Canada’s practice on Friday, before their duel against the Brazilians on Saturday. She always arrives at meetings with a notepad. There are some high-level habits that she showed to lead by example and that has never changed. Everyone follows her. »
Priestman noted Sinclair’s work during a recent practice.
“We have two new players (goalkeeper Mélissa Dagenais and midfielder Emma Regan) and the other day, the best player in history was doing extra time at the end of the session. These little things set the tone. »
The Canadians, tenth in the world, will face the Brazilians, ninth, at Saputo Stadium on Saturday and at the Wanderers Ground in Halifax on Tuesday.
Sinclair will then end his Canadian career with two matches against Australia, 11e, At her place. The first will take place at Starlight Stadium in Langford on December 1, and the second will be held at BC Place in Vancouver on December 5.
The 40-year-old British Columbian wants to play one last season with her National Women’s Soccer League team, the Portland Thorns.
The Canadians trained in a light drizzle at Saputo Stadium on Friday morning.
Defender Gabrielle Carle trained solo, with tape around her left leg. Priestman said Carle would be available, but was dealing with a minor injury.
Sinclair did not speak to the media Thursday, but she was the topic of conversation.
The first question Priestman faced was how she would use Sinclair in the remaining four matches. The coach said Sinclair made her feelings clear.
“She told me she didn’t want to take anything away from this team’s preparation and their Olympic preparation,” Priestman said.
Priestman called it “a balancing act between (paying attention to) the future, but also paying absolute tribute to the greatest player this country has ever seen.”
“During these four matches, fans who come to see ‘Sinc’ will be able to see her in action,” she added.
Sinclair leads all players in history, both men and women, with 190 international goals. And her 327 national caps place her just behind the 354 of retired American Kristin Lilly.
Canada beat Brazil 2-0 in their last meeting in February in Nashville at the SheBelieves Cup.
The Canadians are 12-10-7 against the Brazilians. Two of these victories came on penalties, including one in the quarter-finals of the Tokyo Olympics.
Priestman mentioned that she had a conversation with Sinclair after the most recent World Cup “about Christine’s role on the team.”
“But she was absolutely determined to get this team to the Olympics and that’s where she left it. »
The Maple Leaf representatives, Olympic champions, are coming off a 4-1 victory on aggregate goals against Jamaica in an Olympic qualifying playoff in September. Priestman said Sinclair told him after the return game in Toronto: “I’m done, but I want a game at BC Place.” »
“And it all started from there,” she observed.
Sinclair has suggested she has no interest in competing at the Paris Olympics, after winning gold in Tokyo.
Midfielder Quinn said Sinclair’s impending departure sparked emotions throughout the team.
“She changed the game so much for me and she was a leader on this team,” said Quinn, who played for Canada 93 times. It’s really moving. It’s emotional when one of our players leaves, but someone of her caliber, with everything she’s done for the team, it certainly is. »
Priestman did not name a possible replacement for captain, although midfielder Jessie Fleming wore the captain’s armband when Sinclair was not a starter.
“I see similarities between both players in terms of humility and letting their work on the field do the talking,” Priestman said. And Jessie has thrived in that role as well… Whoever has those big shoes to fill will help this team move forward. »
The Halifax game is already a full house. The women’s national team’s last game in the Maritimes took place in May 2012, when Canada defeated China 1-0 in Moncton, New Brunswick.