Captain Christine Sinclair refused to point the finger at Canada Soccer in the immediate aftermath of the CanadiansB次元官网网址� early exit from the FIFA WomenB次元官网网址檚 World Cup.
But the worldB次元官网网址檚 all-time leading scorer sounded a warning after the Olympic championB次元官网网址檚 tournament-ending 4-0 loss to Australia on Monday.
B次元官网网址淟ook weB次元官网网址檝e been battling our federation for support but I canB次元官网网址檛 put this on (Canada Soccer). ThereB次元官网网址檚 23 players out there and staff and we didnB次元官网网址檛 get it done tonight.B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 think more of it is like a wake-up call for our federation B次元官网网址� the lack of a professional league, the lack of support for our youth national teams.
B次元官网网址淚 think youB次元官网网址檙e just going to continue to see teams reach our level, surpass us, whatever you want to call it if things donB次元官网网址檛 change.B次元官网网址�
Both the Canadian women and men have been battling with Canada Soccer over a new labour agreement with the women calling for equal pay and support as the men. The women announced during the tournament that an interim deal had been struck covering compensation for the World Cup and 2023 but said there are B次元官网网址渕any more important itemsB次元官网网址� that still have to be settled.
The men say they have yet to receive compensation from last yearB次元官网网址檚 World Cup in Qatar,
Sinclair made a point of collecting a few blades of grass from Melbourne Rectangular Stadium before heading to the dressing room, a souvenir from her sixth World Cup.
Asked what her next move is, the 40-year-old from Burnaby, B.C., replied: B次元官网网址淚 have no idea.B次元官网网址�
Sinclair was calm in defeat but emotion showed when asked about her teammate and close friend Sophie Schmidt, who had previously announced she was retiring from international football after the tournament. Sinclair said she hoped Schmidt, 35, could be convinced to take part B次元官网网址渁t leastB次元官网网址� in the September Olympic qualifying series against Jamaica.
Seventh-ranked Canada is scheduled to play Sept. 22 in Jamaica before hosting the 43rd-ranked Reggae Girlz in Toronto four days later with the last CONCACAF berth in the Paris Olympics on the line.
At 40 years 38 days at the start of the World Cup, Sinclair was the second-oldest player at the tournament (behind NigeriaB次元官网网址檚 Onome EbiB次元官网网址檚 40 years 73 days).
Sinclair earned caps No. 324, 325 and 326, starting the tournament-opening scoreless draw with Nigeria, helping Canada rally to beat Ireland 2-1 coming off the bench to open the second half, and being one of four tactical substitutions exiting at halftime of the Australia game.
Sinclair had a penalty kick saved in the Nigeria game, which prevented her from becoming the first player B次元官网网址� male or female B次元官网网址� to score in six World Cups.
Asked about SinclairB次元官网网址檚 future with the team, Canada coach Bev Priestman replied: B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 think the reality is with Sinc is you only talk one game at a time,B次元官网网址� she added. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 love for those players (Sinclair and Schmidt) to be part of our Olympic qualifying B次元官网网址� I think Canada deserves, they deserve to get this team to the Olympics on home soil, ThatB次元官网网址檚 what IB次元官网网址檒l be pushing them. The whole conversation I had with every veteran was how crucial September was.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 obviously still processing (the game) even here. (That) you say B次元官网网址楥ould this be Christine SinclairB次元官网网址檚 last gameB次元官网网址� breaks my heart.B次元官网网址�
As for the performance against Australia, Sinclair said the one thing Canada didnB次元官网网址檛 want was to concede an early goal.
B次元官网网址淲ith the home fans, we knew theyB次元官网网址檇 get momentum, energy from that. They scored in the (ninth) minute and we werenB次元官网网址檛 able to recover from that.B次元官网网址�
Sinclair said the tournament has already shown that B次元官网网址渢eams came ready,B次元官网网址� pointing to No. 25 ColombiaB次元官网网址檚 2-1 upset win over No. 2 Germany on Sunday.
B次元官网网址淚t happens. ItB次元官网网址檚 exciting for the sport. The catchers are catching up.B次元官网网址�
READ ALSO:
