da luck： After triumphing in Tokyo two years ago, Christine Sinclair and co. suffered an historic exit on Thursday after being thrashed by co-hosts Australia

da imperador bet： When Canada and Australia stepped out onto the field on Monday evening in Melbourne, there was a catastrophe loading – it was just about whose catastrophe it would be. The co-hosts had suffered a disappointing defeat to Nigeria four days prior, one that meant they almost certainly had to defeat the Olympic champions to avoid crashing out in the group stages of their own Women’s World Cup. Their opponents, meanwhile, had come from behind to beat Ireland in their last game to keep their destiny in their own hands. They only needed a point against the Matildas and they were through.

Given Canada’s defensive solidity, that which saw them grind out result after result at the Olympics two years ago to upset several favourites and win the gold medal, Australia’s general lack of cutting edge thus far and the fact that the talismanic Sam Kerr was only fit enough for a bench role, the home fans were on edge. But they didn’t need to be.

The biggest strength of this Canada team is simply not leaking goals – so that they conceded four in such poor fashion on Monday was quite shocking. Crosses into the box caused chaos, clearances constantly lacked composure and their opponents finally showed calmness to convert chances.

Two years after hitting the highest high in Canadian soccer history, Bev Priestman’s team became the first reigning Olympic champions ever to be eliminated in the group stages of a Women’s World Cup tournament. What on earth happened?

GettyOlympic high

Tokyo. August 6, 2021. Sweden vs Canada, the gold medal match. On one side, there was Caroline Seger, the veteran captain of Sweden's national team, the most-capped European footballer of all time. On the other, there was Christine Sinclair, the veteran captain of Canada’s national team, the greatest goalscorer in the history of international football. Two legends, both vying for a first major title with their nations.

In the end, it was elation for the latter and heartbreak for the former, who missed her penalty in the decisive shootout. The images of Sinclair holding up her gold medal to the cameras, a smile beaming from her face, were almost a victory for the entire women’s game. This icon had finally led her team to glory.

Priestman had not even been in charge for a whole year and she’d led Canada to its greatest achievement, ending a 20-year wait for victory over the United States women’s national team in the process. The youngest coach at the tournament, she was modest in what she did, giving credit to the players, but they said otherwise.

“After the World Cup it was kind of like, urgh, things weren’t clicking,” Sinclair said. “I missed the first camp that the national team had with Bev and when I came into that second camp, you could just tell there was something different, that Bev had instilled this sense of belief, confidence and bravery that we hadn’t seen before. We now play to our strengths, we can defend, we’re world-class at defending, and then we have 100-metre sprinters up top.”

AdvertisementGettyDefensive solidity

Despite Sinclair’s scoring records, that triumph was indeed built on a defence that was nigh-on-impossible to break down – as seen in the goalless draw, and subsequent shootout win, over Brazil in the quarter-finals, and the 1-0 result over the USWNT in the following round.

Stephanie Labbe shone in between the sticks. Kadeisha Buchanan and Vanessa Gilles formed an incredible centre-back partnership. Ashley Lawrence put in complete performances at right-back. Alyssa Chapman was solid as ever on the opposite flank. Then there were the contributions from midfield, with Desiree Scott protecting the defence brilliantly while Quinn ran their socks off to break up play.

Some of those pieces have changed since. Kailden Sheridan is now the first choice goalkeeper, and a world-class one at that. Promising talent Jayde Riviere, who signed for Manchester United earlier this year, has replaced Chapman in defence, meaning Lawrence has swapped flanks. Julia Grosso, meanwhile, has stepped up with Scott injured, coming into this tournament off the back of a brilliant individual season with Juventus.

But, generally speaking, they’ve remained a solid unit. Priestman has experimented with different players in her tenure and the results haven’t always been great, but with their first-choice line-up out there, and in a tournament, defensive solidity is still what is expected from Canada and, until Monday, it’s what had been on show in this World Cup.

GettyBlunt attack

But the big problem – on the pitch, anyway – is at the other end. Despite the attacking talent in this squad, Canada simply do not score enough goals. It’s something that holds them back significantly on the big stage. Yes, they won Olympic gold scoring six goals in six games, but you need more than that to compete regularly for the top honors.

At the point of their exit, Canada ranked 23rd out of 32 teams for their shot conversion rate, while only two teams, New Zealand and Portugal, have underperformed on expected goals in a more significant fashion. Moreover, this team created just four of what defines as ‘big chances’ over three matches. That’s not good enough given the talent at their disposal.

The midfield, with players like Jessie Fleming, the usually so creative Chelsea star, and an ever-dependable Quinn, can do more, while forwards Jordyn Huitema and Evelyne Viens, for differing reasons, were unable to translate strong club form onto the international stage. In attack, Cloe Lacasse has been so impressive for Benfica that she just signed for Arsenal, but was restricted to a bench role from which she couldn't make too much of an impact.

Nichelle Prince, who hadn't played since November coming into the World Cup, got just eight minutes off the bench in the opening game, turning Priestman’s gamble on her selection into a very questionable one. Deanne Rose, meanwhile, was a bright spark, but not at her best having not played a lot of soccer since returning from a long injury lay-off.

And then there is Sinclair. Now 40 years old, she was on managed minutes, but still appeared to be the one most expected to do the heavy-lifting – again.

GettyLack of an heir

And that leads us into another conversation. Who really is the heir to Sinclair’s throne? When she stepped up to take a potential match-winning penalty against Nigeria in Canada’s Women’s World Cup opener, and subsequently saw it saved, who was stepping up to help the captain ensure her failure to convert didn’t cost the team?

Huitema has long been touted as her idol’s long-term successor, but her progress has stalled in recent years. The young striker was unable to become a regular starter at Paris Saint-Germain and returned to North America last year after three seasons in France. With OL Reign, she appears to be getting things back on track and her national team will hope that is a positive sign for the future. But that’s also a lot of pressure to have put on Huitema, those suggestions having been floated since she was just a teenager. Where are the other contenders?

With her to be 44 years old when the next one rolls around, this is almost certainly the last time we’ve seen Sinclair at a World Cup. If it is, it was quite a heart-breaking way for it to happen, subbed off at half-time as a tactical choice from Priestman.

Her final appearance at this tournament could well be lost in the chaos of Canada’s capitulation, all while time is running out for that succession plan to fall into place.