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Christine Sinclair

Christine Sinclair 2, Brazil 1

by the Abbot on March 25, 2012

in Soccer

Well, no – obviously it’s not that simple; clearly a team is 11 players performing cohesively; of course a goal – or two – rarely comes down to just one player’s skills and execution.

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Still, it’s hard to see yet another performance by Canada’s best-ever soccer player as anything other than one more milestone in her already stellar career. Christine Sinclair and her Canadian teammates beat Brazil, perennially one of the top few teams in the world. The game was a friendly played on neutral territory in the U.S.

Sinclair scored both goals for Canada, hitting her first at 12′ and rounding things out at 78′ with a left-foot strike.

Canada, ranked 7th in the world, plays a friendly against 5th-ranked Sweden later this month and then hunkers down in Vancouver for a months-long training camp to prep for the Olympic tournament.


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Christine Sinclair: “another world”

by the Abbot on January 30, 2012

in Soccer

This is what Mexican Women’s coach Leonardo Cuellar had to say about Christine Sinclair after Canada beat Mexico 3-1 on Friday:

“I think Canada is a very good side overall, except for Sinclair — she is another world. She was the difference. For me, what she means to her team and the things that she does — her composure, her guidance, the way she smells the play, her savvy . . . no question that’s one of the best players in the world.”

Despite the Canadian Women falling 4-0 to the United States in Vancouver this weekend, the world will see more of Sinclair at this summer’s Olympics.

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Women’s soccer: Canada beats Mexico

by the Abbot on January 28, 2012

in Soccer

Sinclair strikes again - twice

Christine Sinclair again came up with a great game when it was most needed.

Canada’s world-class striker scored twice and set up another goal as the Canadian women beat Mexico to qualify for this summer’s Olympics.

23,000 fans watched the game at Vancouver’s BC Place stadium…seems that the women’s game is finally arriving as a spectator sport. The brilliant play during last summer’s Women’s World Cup must have helped.

Congrats to Canada.

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Christine Sinclair to lead Canada at Pan-Am Games

by the Abbot on October 6, 2011

in Soccer

One of BP’s fave athletes, Canadian women’s soccer star Christine Sinclair, has been named Canada’s flag-bearer for this year’s Pan-Am Games. It’s a great honour that reflects Sinclair’s position as one of the best soccer players in the world.

Christine Sinclair (r), with former Canadian Women's coach Carolina Morace

Sinclair will lead the entire Canadian delegation in next Friday’s opening ceremonies in Guadalajara – and hopes to lead her team to a better result than in last summer’s World Cup. There, Canada – ranked 6th going into the tournament – failed to win a game and was sent packing after the group stage. Coach Carolina Morace resigned afterward, and the Canadian women came home to lick their wounds.

But, says Sinclair, the buildup to next summer’s Olympics starts now. “This is very important for us, because this is our last chance to get things right before the Olympics and Olympic qualifying. And with the new head coach, we don’t have too much time to get on the same page. This is what these Pan Ams will be used for.”

Go Christine.

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Video: Christine Sinclair’s goal vs Germany shows why she’s one of the very best players in the world

by Superscout on June 26, 2011

in Women's soccer

That’s a great goal any day of the week – but when you do it on the opening day of a World Cup, it’s extra special.

Christine Sinclair should be quite proud of that goal. I know that someday she will be. But something tells me that it wasn’t enough for her today because her team, Canada, lost to the World Cup hosts, Germany, in front of over 70, 000 fans.

That was a record crowd for a women’s soccer match in Europe but Sinclair looked unfazed by such a big stage throughout the match. And her teammates looked unfazed throughout the match too, going after the Germans, attacking them, as often as they could. Trouble was that the Germans were too good, too powerful, for their feisty Canadian opponents.

Sinclair was more than a little feisty herself. What a competitor she is. Sinclair very nearly scored the game’s opening goal in its first few minutes but blazed high with her left foot after being sent through on the best goalkeeper in the world, Nadine Angerers. But that miss did little to discourage her.  Throughout the match she kept going at the Germans, no matter how her opponents threatened with counter-attacks. And no matter how they battered her. She at one point left the game for several minutes with what looks very much like a broken nose. What a fighter.

In the end, Sinclair got her consolation prize. (Maybe it was more a consolation prize for Canadian fans than for her?) In the 80th minute, with her side down 2-0, Sinclair forced the Germans into a yellow card and a foul at the top of the box and then she brought out the hammer – a decisive, swirling 25-yard free-kick over a 6-player wall and into the top right corner.

A goal worthy of one of the best players in the world.

A deserved goal.

But probably not quite enough for a player who always pushes for more and expects nothing but victory.

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Christine Sinclair on Ballon d’Or shortlist

by the Abbot on November 4, 2010

in Ballon d'Or,Soccer

Sinclair scores...again...and again...

Last week, the shortlists for the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2010 were revealed. The awards will be made in January, and will honour the single best men’s and women’s players and coaches – four separate awards in all. Final decisions will be made by the captains and coaches of the men’s and women’s national teams and international media selected by France Football.

Among the usual suspects (Messi, Ronaldo, Forlan, Xavi, Schweinsteiger, Iniesta etc on the men’s side; Marta, Birgit Prinz, Camile Abily on the women’s), BP notes one lone Canadian: the amazing goal-scoring machine Christine Sinclair. Sinclair’s credentials are second to none in North America – Player of the Year awards and goal-scoring records in the NCAA; Canadian all-time goals leader; and much more. But a Canadian, up for the best in the world at soccer?

Canadians have grown accustomed over decades to their country’s churning out many of the world’s best winter-sport athletes: hockey players – male and female – and some world-beating skiers and skaters. Only the occasional swimmer, runner, basketballer or baseball player squeeze into the “are-they-the-best?” category. Yeah, Canada has more kids playing youth soccer than youth hockey – but as adults, not many of them can even make a decent living as a pro, let alone make a bid for being the Best Player in the World.

Now here’s Christine Sinclair doing just that. Her inclusion on the list defies a Euro- and Latin-centric view of the Beautiful Game and testifies to her skills, her durability, and her results.

If Lionel Messi wins the Ballon d’Or, no one will be surprised (except maybe Arjen Robben). If Christine Sinclair wins, Canadian soccer fans should celebrate a rare player and a rare honour.

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