Morace tends to be conservative with her line-up choices. I wouldn't expect many changes but I would be happier to see Gayle get the start.
France will have at least one new player in the starting line-up. Either Franco or Lepailleur will play at right back. And there might be also place in the staring line up for Le Sommer and/or Thomis depending if Bini goes for the extreme attacking option like Thomis -Delie- Le Sommer up front.
Latest from CBC is that officials are saying that there is only a 40% chance that Sinclair will play.
referee for this huge match will be Japan's Etsuko Fukano. Thanks to btharner in the Ref forum for a link to next round's referees. I don't know anything about this referee.
If Sinclair doesn't play, she shouldn't be the captain. I don't think the injury is as serious as the Canadian camp is making it out to be. That being said, I think she will play. There's no way Sinclair will back away from playing probably the most important game for Canada in the World Cup and really, I think all this attention being paid to her is good in a way because it takes the attention and pressure off of the rest of the team until gametime.
If Christine Sinclair doesn't play it means that there's more to the story than a simple broken nose. There is absolutely no way that she would choose not to play if she were in a position to make the decision herself, as was made pretty damned clear during the match. She will resist any decision to keep her out of the game, but neither she nor the coach has the authority to overrule team doctors. I expect her to be on the pitch, but only because she has always shown herself to have the heart of a lion and has always put the team first. If she isn't able to play, she has earned more than enough respect to be granted the benefit of the doubt. If this is gamesmanship, great. It has done a lot to take the focus off the last result and take the other players out of the media glare as they prepare for France.
Canadian lineup: Erin McLeod, Emily Zurrer, Candace Chapman, Brittany Timko, Rhian Wilkinson, Diana Matheson, Sophie Schmidt, Kaylyn Kyle, Christine Sinclair, Christina Julien, Jonelle Filigno
10 minutes left and Sinclair gets a clearance square to her face. Bleeding from near her left eye, not her nose. And Thiney, with a brace for France, is cute. Canada down by 4 now with the goal being scored while Christine was off being cleaned up.
OMG, just went into work, can you say "Exit WWC, Stage left" Gotta watvch this tonight to see how the goals were..... Were the heck is their team ?
I do agree France played better. They put more effort into the game and had better luck in getting loose balls and everything. The goals were good but Canada's defense just didn't do its job today. Too bad for Canada. I do like the new style of the team I hope Morace can help them do well at the Olympics.
It is kind of disappointing not to get more from the new style, but Canada's form just seemed a little too sloppy in both matches. They lost concentration at too many key moments. France was much cleaner and more composed.
France is good, but not THAT good. No other team in this entire tournament may play that good for one single game. Canada is a little overrated, but they are not THAT bad. No other team ranked in the FIFA Top 10, will look that bad in this tournament. Let's just say: France brought their "A+" game Canada brought their "F" game - to today's match. France is better than Canada, but not 4 goals better. But France is better, and they are on the verge of being a Top 5 team in the world soon (if not already, as long as they keep playing stellar football).
France had speed and possession. Canada had Sinclair. France had runners breaking behind the Canadian defense all game long. First goal was marginally onside, deflection headed over MacLeod who inextricably jumped at the player rather than up to attempt a block. Second was a fine strike from 25 yards eluding a diving MacLeod to catch the inside of the post. Those were from Thiney (soon to be posted in the Hottest Player thread, if she's not there already. ) Goal three was from a header off a corner kick and goal four came with Sinclair off for treatment, just a breakdown and footrace starting 45 yards from goal, eluding MacLeod at 22, and finished a bit off-center, but still well inside the posts.
France are a good side and they played well -- a bit better than their opening game, but they didn't blow Canada away in terms of their play. I think the key factor is more that they had a bit of luck and managed to finish their chances. There have been several games thus far where teams have created a lot of chances and seriously dominated, but because their strikers failed to convert, often shooting wide or high on an open goal even, their side ended up just winning 1-0. In this case, the French players managed to convert the good chances they created. So, the 4-0 scoreline definitely flatters France a bit, and a 2-0 score might have reflected the game better. But, although the quality of the games overall has been very high IMHO, it's been a bit frustrating watching the poor finishing, so I was pleasantly surprised by the excellent display by France. Definitely one of the most solid performances--probably the most solid performance--thus far by a side in the tournament.
I thought France was a revelation. Perhaps it's a one off, but they played brilliantly. My take is that they may have passed Brazil for #3. Based on: Two amazingly fast forwards that can stretch any defense and finish. Creative play all over the field, didn't appear to be any weak links, everything flows, especially through Necib. Great spacing, opened up passing lanes, they played through the middle more than any team I've seen, but played the flanks as well. Playing the outside opened up the middle, and vice versa. Everyone moving! Every player involved in pressuring and winning the ball. No one looked tired at the end of the match. Forgive me for drinking the kool-aide based on one match, but wow! For Canada, McLeod, Schmidt, were very good. Filigno is really overrated.
France had 9 shots on goal to Canada's zero - I think a 4-0 scoreline reflects that just fine. I generally like Canada and wanted to see them acquit themselves better - but I am laughing at the thought of Carolina Morace being outraged because Canada wasn't made a top seed for the draw.
"Let's just say: France brought their "A+" game Canada brought their "F" game - to today's match." I agree with that but also that France had some luck on their side too. Balls heading their way and everything. I did like the way that France played. Julie was right. Imagine if Pichon had a team like that playing alongside her. They would have won a lot more games. " it's been a bit frustrating watching the poor finishing, so I was pleasantly surprised by the excellent display by France." I too have been disappointed by the finishing. Sinclair(good excuse today though) and even Prinz(just not doing well at the moment) didn't do very well in their 2nd games. Sinclair did have that great free kick in the first game though. "It is kind of disappointing not to get more from the new style, but Canada's form just seemed a little too sloppy in both matches. They lost concentration at too many key moments. France was much cleaner and more composed. " Yes, very true. They were a bit sloppy. Defense all 6s and 7s at too many key moments.
did Canada even show up ? First goal had like 5 stock still defenders and 1 attacker in between them all. Same with the 2nd. The other 2 was like the Canadian defenders had all given up running or marking. Poor McLeod was like sitting duck. And seeing Sinclair sitting there with blood on her noise, I just wanted to give her a hug can't bear to be too harsh, I think they're feeling it enough themselves. All that drama at home and build up to fizzle like this - sucks. I hope they at least have some fun in their last game