In July, Canada Soccer announced the official squad for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023. Led by Head Coach Bev Priestman and captain Christine Sinclair, the 23-player women’s team was a force to be reckoned with.
“I know every single person has given their all to make this squad. It’s a great mix of veterans, experienced and new players who can all bring something different this summer,” said Bev Priestman in a press release.
This was Christine Sinclair’s sixth Women’s World Cup, making her a seasoned veteran. She is credited for scoring in all five previous editions of the competition to boot.
But she wasn’t the only veteran with multiple Women’s World Cup experiences. Sophie Schmidt, Allysha Chapman, Adriana Leon, Kadeisha Buchanan, Jessie Fleming, and Ashley Lawrence also made the squad battle-tested.
Who better to represent Canada than these Canadian powerhouses? Having secured the Gold Medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021, the team hoped to do the same this summer.
The Bigger They Are, The Harder They Fall
Unfortunately, the team’s dream was cut short after a crushing 4-0 loss to Australia on Monday. The moment the whistle blew, Canada was on the ropes.
Australian winger Hayley Raso made quick work of Canada’s defences, putting two shots in the back of the net. One Australian goal was ruled offside, bringing the score to 2-0 in the first half.
Canada could not respond to Australia’s offensive pressure and failed to get on the board in the first half. This set the tone for the rest of the game.
Australian striker Mary Fowler scored in the 58th minute of the second half. A foul against Canadian midfielder Jessie Fleming set Australian defender Stephanie Catley up for a penalty, which she scored.
The match ended 4-0, leaving Canada in shambles. Sophie Schmidt, who announced she would be retiring after the World Cup, said she was “gutted, heartbroken,” by the loss.
“I feel really terrible. I feel like we let down Canadians who woke up early to watch that game…Australia came out strong, and executed their game plan perfectly. They built momentum,” continued Sophie Schmidt.
What’s Next For Canada?
Canada was ranked seventh going into its match against Australia. The team needed a draw or a win to move into the round of 16, also referred to as the knockout round.
Unfortunately, neither outcome was in the cards. Canada could have survived losing against Australia if Ireland defeated Nigeria, but their match ended in a 0-0 draw.
The team is headed home after three games in this year’s Women’s World Cup. Overall, Canada finished third in Group B with a 1-1-1 record.
“I didn’t come here today thinking I was going home, that we were going home. But these are the moments that make you. And it hurts like hell now but we’ll learn from it,”
said Bev Priestman.
Canada is now the first depending Olympic champion not to get out of the first round of the Women’s World Cup. Adding insult to injury, this is Canada’s worst finish in the tournament since 2011, when it went winless and finished last.
After such a brutal defeat, will other Canadian veterans follow Schmidt’s lead and retire? Canadian superstar Christine Sinclair has 190 goals notched on her belt and is the all-time leading scorer in international football.
At 40 years old, is the Canadian icon ready to call it quits? Who knows. After her match with Australia, Sinclair took some grass from the field as a souvenir. When asked what was next for her, she stated she didn’t know.
Canada had a target on its back, and Australia hit the mark, but this isn’t the end for Canada. The team is set to face Jamaica in late September for the final spot at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
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