Olympic bronze, bronze and gold. The world record is 190 goals. Order of Canada. Walk of Fame. 14-time Canadian Player of the Year. National Football League Champion. Not to mention an impeccable reputation, and even admiration off the field.
The 40-year-old from Burnaby, British Columbia, will have the time of her international career on Tuesday night against Australia in a friendly that promises to be an emotional farewell in her own backyard.
About 45,000 spectators are expected to attend the match, which will be held at BC Place, which will be renamed “Christine Sinclair Place,” in the evening. The stadium, which attracted an MLS record home attendance of 30,204 fans for last month’s playoff match against Los Angeles FC, was already decorated on Monday with banners around the field reading “Thank you.”
“It will be an emotional game,” said veteran midfielder Desiree Scott.
“It’s emotional. I think it hasn’t started yet,” added striker Jordin Heitema. “My whole career with the national team has been linked to her and I don’t know what it would be like without her… She means a lot to me.”
“We’re all going to be holding back some tears. Maybe he’s not feeling well,” goalkeeper Kaylen Sheridan said.
Sinclair, who has come off the bench in five of her last six games, is expected to lead the team on Tuesday for the final time in her 331st cap and 313th start. Dozens of members of Canada’s bronze-medal-winning team at the 2012 London Olympics will be waiting as lookouts. honor.
Sinclair was relaxed in Sunday’s media encounter with Schmidt. But Canada coach Bev Priestman said the floodgates could open at some point.
“She’s a strong person, but she’s a human being,” Priestman said. “I have no doubt that at that moment she will probably hit her big time.”
Canada Soccer says more than 50 former women’s and men’s international players will attend.
There is no doubt that her current teammates will do everything they can to achieve her 191st goal, adding to her world record total.
“She delivers in the big moments,” Priestman said.
The captain’s last goal was on July 25, 2022, in a 6-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago. She has been held scoreless in her last 19 games in Canada, although her role has changed recently with Priestman able to choose from a number of young forwards and deploy Sinclair deeper as needed.
Sinclair took to the BC Place court to the sounds of Shania Twain’s “Any Man of Mine” and the cameras clicking on Monday. Before practice, she and veteran midfielder Sophie Schmidt were given framed jerseys from the Whitecaps.
“Two absolute legends,” Priestman said.
The 35-year-old Schmidt, who has 225 international caps, is playing her final game for Canada, but like Sinclair is planning another season with her club team.
The pair are being honored on Tuesday alongside 40-year-old goalkeeper Erin McLeod, who announced her international retirement in January after 119 caps. McLeod will be watching from the sidelines.
The goal is to send them out on a winning note.
“It’s going to be an unbelievable night. But I know every player is going to run the extra 20 or 30 yards they need to run to accomplish what these players did in the program,” Priestman said.
“What we are doing and the way we are playing is definitely Paris (2024 Olympics) in mind. But there is a reality to what it is (Tuesday) as well, so it is just juggling.
Australia coach Tony Gustafsson fielded a trial lineup against Canada on Friday in Langford, British Columbia, losing 5-0. The starting lineup did not include any starters from the Matildas’ squad at the World Cup in Melbourne in July, when host Australia won 4-0 to send the Canadians home early.
Gustafsson, who was an assistant coach with the U.S. national team when it defeated Japan 5-2 before 53,341 at BC Place to win the 2015 World Cup, said Tuesday’s starting lineup will offer a “different look in terms of lineup.”
Priestman expects a different Test for Australia on Tuesday.
“More high pressure and intensity. “Obviously they have some world-class players playing week in, week out in the Women’s Super League,” Priestman said. “Once the whistle blows, whether it’s on the night or not, I can imagine “It will be a great match, between two teams on a trip to the Olympics.”
Friday’s win improved the 10th-seeded Canadian women’s record against No. 11 Australia to 9-8-3. Canada has won four of the last five meetings.
The match is the last for the Olympic champion Canadians until the CONCACAF W Gold Cup in February. The Matildas are preparing for the final round of the Asian qualifiers next February against 50th-placed Uzbekistan, a two-match series with the winner joining the 12-team roster in Paris.
Canada has already qualified for the Paris Olympics.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2023.
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
