Of all the players you'd want to take a World Cup penalty, Christine Sinclair must be close to the top of the list. But the top international goalscorer of all time fluffed her lines, as Canada were held by Nigeria.
Christine Sinclair could not add to her tally of 190 international goals after missing from the spotImage: REUTERS
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Christine Sinclair has been here before, in more ways than one. In 2011, in her second World Cup, Canada entered a World Cup in the midst of a battle with their own federation. The weight of the fight contributed to a surprise group stage exit in Germany.
Though such a fate is far from settled this time round after this goalless draw, Chiamaka Nnadozie's save from Sinclair's 50th-minute penalty means Canada have plenty to do in their remaining games against Australia and Ireland.
"I was happy," a beaming Nnadozie told DW post-match. "The reaction was emotional for me because I dreamt of this moment. And it came through."
Pay disputes put aside?
Though Sinclair had told the prematch press conference that both sides were putting pay and equity disputes to one side now the tournament has begun, neither team looked at their sharpest in Melbourne. Canada defender Kadeisha Buchanan told DW after the game that the side had refocused and wasn't distracted:
A penalty save from Nigeria captain Chiamaka Nnadozie was the pivotal moment of the matchImage: IZHAR KHAN/AFP
"That was never a factor in in the way we performed today. I think in our minds right now, it's just a World Cup. What we're focusing on is playing well and getting good performances. Whatever is happening behind the scenes has no effect on what's happening now.”
Canada started with control, if little conviction. At 40, Sinclair's movement is more economical but also smarter. As both teams struggled to settle, she allowed much of the play to rush past her; scanning, dictating her own tempo and finding the sort of pocket of space and time from which she flashed a curler narrowly over the bar early on.
Nigeria rode out Canada's wave of largely sterile possession with few genuine alarms. After the opening quarter, the African side started to threaten on the break and snap harder into their tackles, not least when Deborah Abiodun rapped Sinclair on the ankle just before the break.
Given that, at 19, Abiodun than less than half her opponent's age, it felt almost impertinent.
Nnadozie: 'Girl, go — you can do this'
But Sinclair was patient. After the break, she once again waved play on to draw a clever position in its wake, before tumbling over the leg of Francisca Ordega. After a VAR review, the referee explained to the crowd of 21,410 that a spot kick would be given.
Experience used, penalty given, advantage gained. But then, quickly spurned.
Sinclair's penalty was tame, and saved by player-of-the-match Nnadozie, who went on to claw the rebound away, meaning Canada's captain must wait for a 11th World Cup goal at her sixth tournament to extend her all-time international record goalscoring tally to 191.
Should Sinclair score at this tournament, she would also become the first player — male or female — to score at six World Cups.
"I've never watched her play on the screen," said Nnadozie. "I only played against her last year. I never watched anything. Even when they gave the penalty. I was like 'Oh, I should have studied this.' I just told myself 'Girl go, you can do this. And I did it.'"
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Ready for battle
Olympic champions Canada played the last few minutes against 10 women after Abiodun's impertinence spilled over, and her late tackle on Ashley Lawrence made her the first player to be sent off in this World Cup.
"I'm a little sore," Lawrence, who will soon join Buchanan at Chelsea, told DW. "That was pretty much the image of the game, it was a physical game. We've played against Nigeria in the past, we knew it was going to be a battle there. But we leave it all out on the field, like we always do."
Ashley Lawrence, left, was on the receiving end of a poor tackle late onImage: Victoria Adkins/AP/picture alliance
Unlike in, and against, Germany 12 years ago, Canada at least emerged from this with a point that still leaves them with a good chance at qualifying for the last 16. Next up they face Ireland, who were equally physical in a narrow loss to Australia in Thursday's group B opener.
Despite the ferocity of Abiodun's late challenge, Lawrence didn't believe Nigeria crossed the line, calling the red card challenge "a little reckless." Buchanan, for her part, welcomed another physical battle against Ireland in Perth on Wednesday.
"There's a lot of physicality. Ireland kind of play similar to Nigeria, how they just had a low block and they just worked on a counter," she said. "I think we had a good practice today and hopefully can do better next time"
Both players were firm in their belief that Sinclair's experience and leadership qualities mean she will bounce back from the disappointment of her miss, though her body language suggested otherwise. While the mess they're in off the pitch may not be easily fixed, Canada and Sinclair still have the chance to rewrite old wrongs on it. But they'll have to do more than this.
The players to watch in the Women's World Cup
Australia and New Zealand will host the 2023 Women's World Cup finals. The USA and superstar Alex Morgan could defend their title for the second time in a row, but they're not to only ones to keep an eye on.
Image: Liam Ayres/SPP/IMAGO
Sam Kerr, Australia
The greatest Australian player of all time and widely considered one of the best strikers ever, Sam Kerr is embarking on a home World Cup — her fourth in total. The 29-year-old has been Matildas' captain since 2019 and she enters the tournament as the leading scorer in Australian history, with 63 goals in 120 games.
Image: Liam Ayres/SPP/IMAGO
Alexandra Popp, Germany
At EURO 2021 in England, "Poppi" led Germany all the way to the final against England and sparked a wave of euphoria for the national team. At the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the VfL Wolfsburg striker will also lead the DFB team onto the pitch as captain.
Image: Brooks Von Arx/ZUMAPRESS.com/picture alliance
Christine Sinclair, Canada
At 40, Christine Sinclair may be the oldest player on this list but she is a bonafide legend of Canadian soccer. The 14-time Canadian soccer player of the year has already played in five World Cups and should she score at this tournament, she would become the first player — male or female — to score at six World Cups.
Image: Fernando Llano/AP/picture alliance
Alexia Putellas, Spain
The Barcelona star won the 2023 Champions League against Alex Popp and VfL Wolfsburg. In 2021 and 2022, she was awarded the Ballon d'Or as FIFA World Player of the Year and UEFA Player of the Year respectively. In addition, she has won six league titles, eight cups and two Champions Leagues with the Catalans. A title with Spain's national team is still missing.
Image: Joaquin Corchero/ZUMA Wire/IMAGO
Asisat Oshoala, Nigeria
One of the leading lights in African women's football, Oshoala became the first African player to win the Women's Champions League with Barcelona. In 2014, she finished runner-up in the U20 World Cup and was named Africa's Female Footballer of the Year, an award she also won in 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2022. Her first World Cup appearance in 2015, saw Nigeria eliminated in the group stages.
Image: Shengolpixs/IMAGO
Marta, Brazil
At 37, the "eternal" Marta is set to appear at her sixth World Cup with one last chance to finally win the title with the "Selecao". Marta came closest in her second World Cup appearance in 2007, but Germany's golden goal in the final prevented Brazil's triumph. After that, Marta and Brazil have been knocked out once in the quarterfinals (2011) and twice in the Round of 16 (2015, 2019).
In the defending champions star-studded ensemble, Morgan shines brightest. The USWNT are out to complete the three-peat Down Under. In 2019 at the World Cup in France Morgan, was one of six players to feature in three World Cup finals as the US defended the title won in 2015. Another title defense is unlikely to be a foregone conclusion, given that several nations have closed the gap since.
Image: Lynne Sladky/AP Photo/picture alliance
Barbra Banda, Zambia
Set to make their World Cup debut, Zambia's hopes are pinned on star striker Barbra Banda. She stole the headlines for all the right reasons becoming the first woman to score consecutive hat-tricks at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. However, she made headlines for all the wrong reasons when she was banned from the Africa Cup of Nations due to her testosterone levels being too high.
Image: Roland Krivec/DeFodi Images/picture alliance
Pernille Harder, Denmark
Considered one of the best female players in the world, Harder was the most expensive until 2022. The striker, who has joined Bayern from Chelsea, isn't amongst the favorites with Denmark. It will be interesting to see whether the 30-year-old can add more than the three group stage games to her 140 international appearances to date with a side that finished runner-up at EURO 2017.
The 27-year-old has been under contract with Olympique Lyon since 2014 and contributing to their status as Women's Champions League record titleholders with six winner's medals (2016-2020, 2022). It's an unparalleled track record. With Norway, the first winner of the Ballon d'Or (2018) has so far reached one major final when they lost 1-0 to Germany in the 2013 European Championships.
Image: Lise Aaserud/NTB/picture alliance
Saki Kumagai, Japan
The 32-year-old Bayern Munich defender will captain Japan as they attempt to win their second World Cup title. Kumagai made her debut for Japan's national team in 2008 and was part of the team that won the title in Germany in 2011 and before falling just short in their title defence. In 2019, after two consecutive appearances in the final, the Netherlands knocked Japan out in the round of 16.
Image: Mutsu Kawamori/AFLOSPORT/IMAGO
Mary Fowler, Australia
The 20-year-old Manchester City forward is going to be a fan favourite for the co-hosts. The home tournament will be Fowler's second World Cup despite her young age: After making her debut for the "Matildas" in 2018, Fowler was the youngest player at the 2019 tournament in France. Their journey ended in the Round of 16 against Norway. This time they're hoping to go deeper.
Image: John Walton/empics/picture alliance
Keira Walsh, England
In 2022, Walsh replaced Pernille Harder as the world's most expensive player moving from Manchester City t Barcelona for close to €500,000 and won her first ever title with England at EURO 2022 on home soil. In the final against Germany, a 2-1 win after extra-time, Walsh was named player of the match. England and their midfield star are among the top favorites for the World Cup.
