They were facing arguably the world’s most talented team, in the London Olympics semi-finals. They had tied the game at 3, and Christine Sinclair had scored all three goals for Team Canada. The game would finish in a very controversial way, and Canada would take the bronze, but an entire country was enthralled by the performance of Sinclair against the Americans.
CanWNT: Christine Sinclair poised to be prime threat for WC
Three years later, going into the World Cup on home soil, the 31-year old seems destined to be Canada’s messiah yet again. Already with 218 appearances and scoring 152 goals, she is bound to add to that tally as Coach John Herdman’s side looks to take the Canadian Women’s national team deep into the tournament.
The 9th placed women’s team have been warming up for the World Cup at the Cyprus Cup, where Canada are unbeaten in three matches and face England in the final on Wednesday.
Canada has scored four goals in the entire tournament, with Sinclair netting half of them.
In the first matchup, Herdman’s side dominated the 21st ranked Scots enroute to a 2-0 win, with Sinclair and 16-year-old Jessie Fleming netting goals. The second game saw the Canadians take on the 17th ranked Republic of Korea, where Christine Sinclair scored the game’s only goal. Finally, the Canadians faced the 14th placed Italians and won on an Allysha Chapman goal. The finals will see Canada face the toughest opposition they have so far in the Cyprus Cup. Sixth place England already qualified for the final after defeating Finland and Australia. This will be a challenge Herdman will relish, and it will help him gain the ‘unity’ he has been looking to create in the team. England have faced Canada in the finals twice (2009 and 2013), with the three lions proving victorious both times.
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