(Original credit for the "Sinclair hat trick" goes to Colin Dickinson, with an assist to Sonja Missio).
Allow me to introduce the Christine Sinclair Hat Trick, in the style of the Gordie Howe Hat Trick:
1. Become injured during the course of the match (bonus points for waving off the medical staff as they attempt to attend to something that's broken)
2. Chirp an opponent for what you perceive to be an exaggeration of a foul (bonus points if you have the opportunity to "shush" someone in the process)
3. Score a goal (bonus points if it's a highlight-reel cracker)
Sure, Canada lost on Sunday. And sure, in some alternate universe, the final tally was 6-1 for Germany. But in the universe we occupy, it was a one-goal margin against the reigning World Cup champions and in-all-but-name No. 1 team on the planet, in their own backyard, in front of 73,000+ partisans.
To ignore the negatives would be mindless homerism. To ignore the positives would be needless contrarianism. So let's split the difference, shall we?
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
Not that it needed any proving, but Sinclair once again showed that she's ready and willing to step up when it counts the most, essentially ignoring a broken nose and pulling one back for her team with a wonder-strike free kick, against a there's-no-way-they-were-actually-10-yards-away German wall. In the aforementioned alternate universe, she potted a brace, what with the glorious chance presented to her in the opening minutes of the match. But c'est la vie.
Coach Carolina Morace showed off some of that "brilliance" that the team continually refers to, opting to -- in nearly all cases -- take a non-traditional approach to set pieces, particularly corner kicks. It made perfect sense; against a team as technically sound as the Germans, the chances of scoring on a regular "thump it into the area and hope for a header" corner was almost certainly not going to cut it. The Canadians' final chance on goal was wonderfully worked, going from the corner to a wide-open Emily Zurrer's foot, eight yards out, in a matter of moments.
In the alternate universe, Zurrer stays composed, takes a touch and buries it. Then again, in that alternate universe I imagine she's still a centre-back, so perhaps not.
On the subject of Zurrer, she and central defending partner Candace Chapman had a solid evening -- thank goodness, since the Germans seemed willing and able to burn the starting fullback tandem of Marie-Eve Nault and Rhian Wilkinson. Nault, in particular, had a hand in both German goals and was rightly replaced at halftime by Robyn Gayle. One would imagine, based on her 45 minutes of play, that Gayle gets a spot in the starting 11 over Nault next time out.
Kaylyn Kyle also got yanked at halftime, which confused me somewhat, as I thought her first-half performance was generally solid. Perhaps Morace wanted a different look in midfield -- or perhaps Morace knows a hell of a lot more about tactics than I do. (The latter is certainly true.) Kyle was one of several new additions to the team (Jonelle Filigno was another) who seemed to get lost in the moment on a few occasions. As human beings, it's tough to blame them; but as professional athletes, they need to be soulless automatons at all moments, and any momentary lapse is an invitation to scorn and ridicule. Right?
Worthy of no scorn on the night was Sophie Schmidt. Playing in her second World Cup, she was tenacious all night in the centre of midfield, helping keep the Germans somewhat under control as well as instigating a number of Canadian counterattacks. It's a role Diana Matheson once filled, but with Schmidt anchoring the midfield, the diminutive spark plug can feel more confident moving into the attacking third.
Perhaps I'm drifting too far towards the "mindless homerism" side of things. Statistically and optically, Germany ruled this game. They were denied a legit penalty claim, and hit the crossbar on two occasions. On many occasions, they were able to play ruthlessly precise through balls. Hell, their squad is so deep and so talented that they could afford to bring on Fatmire Bajmaraj -- nominated as a 2010 world player of the year finalist -- as their third substitute. (Not to mention that their talismanic leader, Birgit Prinz, was also nominated for the top honour last year.)
In the end, they don't ask how, they just ask how many. And Canada emerging from the opening affair in this tournament with a -1 goal differential and the motivational spark afforded them by the inspirational performance of their own talismanic leader (Sinclair, that is)... well, there's plenty of good to be taken from that.
In fact, having seen France and Nigeria plod along in the day's first encounter (a 1-0 victory for the French), there's no reason whatsoever that Canada won't emerge from this group. Given the way the brackets break down, and this opening performance, a march to the semifinals seems to be on the agenda over the next few weeks.
It's soccer. Of course, anything can happen. A loss is never a good thing -- but any Canadian supporter who didn't come out of Sunday's game at least somewhat emboldened probably isn't paying close enough attention.