VANCOUVER—It was a night of jubilation for the United States, who captured their first World Cup title since 1999 in dramatic fashion. For Canada, it was a time for reflection and lamenting lost chances.
The host Canucks entered the tournament full of hope just a month ago. Today, the women’s program is in shambles, the massive holes that were always there now exposed for all to see.
It was simply too much to expect Christine Sinclair – as brilliant as she’s been throughout her career – to carry the load once again. She needed help. She needed another star to emerge.
She needed a Sydney Leroux.
Leroux was the clear star of the last month. The Golden Boot winner is a brilliant athlete that produced right here in Canada. She should have been a national treasure. Instead, she’s a flashing sign displaying the nagging message all Canadian patriots deny and fear:
YOU HAVE TO LEAVE HERE TO TRULY MAKE IT
And, now how many of the next generation have learned that unfortunate lesson?
So many of the so-called Golden Generation of Canadian women are now staring retirement in the face. Their London bronze medals can’t be taken away, but now they will be remembered as something lucky, of the past, something that can’t ever be repeated.
The opportunity to push the sport into the mainstream is gone. It was likely gone that terrible moment in the first half against China when things started to unwind, en route to a 3-1 loss. Yes, they scrambled to beat New Zealand and draw Holland, but the damage was done. Canada was never in this, something the USA's 4-0 win in the Round of 16 underlined in cruel fashion.
Mentally the women were not prepared for the pressures that a home World Cup would bring. Emotionally the public was not prepared for a struggling Canada after a fawning mainstream media kept suggesting that the women were poised for glory.
And, technically the women were not close to what the European teams brought.
Europe has now embraced the women’s game. That became clear over the last month. Now Canada not only has to overcome the likes of Japan and the USA, but also countries like Spain and Holland. Both of the latter sent a message this past month. They aren’t going away. They are just going to get better—a lesson the Americans had best hear and address after the hangover has subsided.
Indeed, this was the World Cup that saw women’s football grow-up. The established powers demonstrated just how beautiful women can play the game and fans are already looking forward to 2019 in France.
There’s no guarantee Canada will even be at that one. The window for achieving something special has slammed shut. Now, like with the men’s game, the World Cup is likely to become something Canadians watch, but don’t take part in.
It’s just not our game – a lesson Canada 2015 drove home.