WILLES: SO MUCH AT STAKE
Showdown with the Swiss could change the way the country feels about soccer
Sophie Schmidt was there, and this reminds her of so many things.
There’s the sense the world is coming to your city and the crowd, thousands upon thousands, are all sharing in a great adventure. There’s the sheer size and scope of the spectacle, something she hadn’t seen before and thought she’d never see again
And, finally, there’s the feeling that you’re taking part in something that transcends sport; something that touches all Canadians and brings this country together in a common purpose.
Schmidt, the midfielder on the Canadian women’s soccer team, was finishing off her stay at the University of Portland in 2010, but still she made the drive up the I-5 to take part in the Winter Olympics.
She remembers taking in a roundrobin game in the men’s hockey tournament and, brother, it doesn’t get any more Canadian than that. But mostly she remembers the energy that crackled through the city for those 17 days in February; an energy she and her teammates hope to recreate as they begin their own adventure on Sunday.
“It’s pretty cool to see the support,” says the 26-year-old from Abbotsford. “It’s kind of amazing. Even on the street, the buzz that’s out there is awesome.”
Which makes you wonder what it will be like if Canada actually wins a game in the playoff round.
Group play ended in WWC 2015 this week, and after 11 days of competition, the tournament already ranks as a huge success. Overall attendance of 885,369 is a record for the event. Five of the six venues recorded sellouts. The crowd of 53,058, which took in Canada-China in Edmonton was the largest to ever watch a Canadian national team play at home. It’s likely that record will fall when the Maple Leaf meets Switzerland at B.C. Place on Sunday.
The TV numbers are also recordsetting, and FIFA even reports huge numbers on its digital platforms. To this we can only say: It’s easy to win the game when you rig the rules of availability in your favour, but what would you expect from an organization that espouses fair play then cheats at just about everything it does? But I digress. As much as the World Cup has hit most of the right notes to date, it will ultimately be judged in this country by the performance of the women’s team who, depending on your point of view, underwhelmed in the round-robin or are just rounding into form.
The good news? Canada won its group for the first time in World Cup history with a win and two draws. The other news? They scored two goals over the three games while doing it. But they’re here now and, on top of everything else, this represents a landmark moment for the women’s game in Canada. They now have the stage to themselves and the country behind them, which creates a remarkable level of support and an uncomfortable level of scrutiny.
All along they’ve maintained their goal is to inspire a nation and change the way Canadians think about soccer. That opportunity is now there and, yes, it comes with a cost.
“Sunday is a big moment,” says CSA president Victor Montagliani. “Programs shouldn’t be judged because of one big moment. This plan isn’t about 2015. It’s about 2019 and on.”
But in the next breath, Montagliani also says: “We know we’re a hockey nation, but we’re close to be being a footballing nation. We believe there’s room in the Canadian heart for (soccer).”
Maybe, but this team has to create that room and that begins on Sunday.
Canada meets the Swiss with an uncertain balance of established veterans and breakout stars and not a lot in between. The leaders you know about, and Christine Sinclair remains the engine which drives the team. But it says something about its evolution under head coach John Herdman that Canada won their group with a sputtering Sinclair but outsized contributions from youngsters Kadeisha Buchanan and Ashley Lawrence and an impressive appearance by 17-year-old Jessie Fleming in the group-clinching tie against the Netherlands.
Still, Herdman remains committed to the core that delivered bronze at the London Olympics and, as much as anyone, the coach understands what’s at stake on Sunday and beyond. With so much emotion in the air, Herdman has also reached into his bag of tricks to keep his team grounded, reminding them that Switzerland played two of their group games at B.C. Place so, really, it’s like their home pitch. Sure it is, John. “We’re absolutely clear,” he says. “We have a do-or-die game coming up and we have to be at our best because, in this round, you don’t get another chance.”
And the women know what that means.
“The longer we can be in the spotlight, playing well and performing well and beating the best teams in the world, it’s huge for the development (of soccer) in Canada,” says Schmidt.
“Pressure’s not real, right?” says goalie Erin McLeod. “I think it’s a different pressure, but we’re kind of used to playing in front of Canadian fans and that should work to our advantage.”
And that’s the trick. Soak in this insane atmosphere without getting overwhelmed by it. Use it to fuel your ambition but don’t let it consume you. It’s a fine balance, and so much is riding on the outcome.
But that’s why the country will be watching.