IS SCHMIDT READY TO LEAD CANADA?
Women prepare for knockout match versus Swiss
John Herdman has learned enough from sport psychologists over the years to know he should heap sky-high expectations only on players who can handle the pressure of trying to live up to them.
So when the Canadian head coach said before the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup that it could be the tournament in which Sophie Schmidt became the best midfielder in the world, he knew it wouldn’t faze her.
A frequent quoter of inspirational verse on Twitter, she wouldn’t crumble under the weight of such a bold calculation.
Schmidt, at 26 and with more than 100 international caps under her now pink-tinged, modified pompadour, embraced the prediction. Schmidt said she truly believed she had that kind of potential and that it was just a matter of going out and “embodying that.”
A brilliant goal on a first-timed shot in Canada’s final World Cup tune-up against England only elevated expectations.
So through three group-stage games, where does the Abbotsford product stand? Is she the best midfielder?
Let’s just say that she’s not there — yet. There is, of course, still time, though only if Canada wins its Round of 16 knockout match Sunday at BC Place Stadium against dangerous Switzerland.
Canada went an uninspiring 1-0-2 to finish atop Group A, but it scored just twice, one of them on a penalty. And Schmidt, for all her hard work and opportunity as the red-and-white’s freekick and corner-kick taker, has yet to fully exert her influence.
In fact, her defining moment so far might just be the cringeinducing crash onto her hip when she was bodychecked near the sideline late in Monday’s 1-1 draw with the Netherlands.
She used crutches to walk through the Vancouver airport on Tuesday.
Ice, massage and some mobility work in the pool are helping — “I’m making a lot of progress” — but she’ll likely have to play through some measure of pain Sunday.
“It’s one of those injuries that’s not too serious,” said Herdman. “A bone, muscle bruise. She’ll have to push right through the pain barriers over the next few days … but she’s not going to miss the opportunity of playing in BC Place, of playing in her hometown in this crucial match for Canada, no matter how much pain she’s in. She’s such an important player for this team. We’ll be doing everything we can to get her on the pitch.”
Of the 22 players with at least eight shot attempts through the group stage, Schmidt, who has played some as a wide forward, is the only one to not officially put one on target.
She has, however, hit the crossbar twice, once on an early header against the Netherlands, the other against New Zealand off a 40-plus-yard free kick from near the right sideline that was intended to go into the box, but sailed on her.
“It’s been all right,” Schmidt said of her tournament so far. “I think I’ve been performing well … but there’s little things in the game I can improve on and work on.
“My willingness to get on the ball and to create is there, but a little bit of composure in front of the net is missing and keeping me from being the player I need to be.
“My passing has been a little sloppy. I can clean that up. If the (passing) option is not there, I can maybe live on the ball a little more. It’s something I’m capable of and something the team needs more.”
Switzerland, a terrific attacking side, has shown some vulnerability on the counter attack and Schmidt will be a key Sunday to exposing that weakness.
Canada could also use better service on free-kicks and corner kicks.
Too often, Schmidt’s delivery has been cleared by the first defender. Other attempts have sailed long. At other times, tightly marked striker Christine Sinclair or centre back Kadeisha Buchanan haven’t made it to the right spot.
“There’s some corners I’ve been extremely disappointed with,” admitted the soft-spoken Schmidt, who is trying to take on more of a vocal role with the squad.
“With the dangerous players we have, we should be better. Instead of always looking for Sinclair, I need to look for other players.
“It’s been a strength in the past. For sure, we can definitely be more dangerous.”
Herdman says he’s still considering where Schmidt’s best position will be tactically against the Swiss and where she can have the most influence. He also says the knockout round is where “big players step up.”
Schmidt will have seven family members at BC Place on Sunday, including her father in his now-famous sweater that sports the message: “Stay calm and let Schmidt handle it.”
She also hears “rumblings” that a good-sized contingent from Abbotsford will be in attendance. A crowd of close to 50,000 — “the 12th person,” says Herdman — is expected.
“I think it’s going to be fun, first and foremost,” said Schmidt. “It’s going to be truly incredible to have the crowd behind us. The pressure of the knockout round, it’s the kind of moment you live for as a professional athlete.
“You want to embrace the pressure and compete at your best and excite the fans.”
But what about that tender hip?
“Once the game starts, adrenalin takes over.”
Will that be enough to get her a game-winning goal? Can it put one of her corner kicks on the head of an open teammate? Will it help advance the case for Schmidt as the world’s best midfielder?
Herdman hopes so. These are the kind of big games, he said, where you “write your name in football history.”