NICE, France – The eyes have dried and the frustration has largely dissolved.
The Canadian women’s soccer team expects a better pre-game state of mind ahead of another do-or-die match against the Colombians on Wednesday (3 p.m. ET) at the Allianz Riveria stadium in Nice.
“I don’t think we’ll cry as much as we did the night before the game against France,” 25-year-old defender Gabrielle Carle said. “Our backs were completely against the wall (Sunday before an Olympic-saving 2-1 victory over the hosts). It tells us this team is very resilient and has what it takes to do the same thing against Colombia.”
The drone spying scandal started before the Games officially did. Then, every ensuing day was a shameful parade of coaches sent home, suspensions and sanctions.
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There will be one more potentially major distraction to deal with before kick-off: The team is expected to learn early Wednesday the result of the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s ad hoc division’s judgment on their appeal to reduce the six points taken away by FIFA in the group stage for breaching the prohibition on flying drones above New Zealand’s training site in Saint-Etienne.
“I don’t really care what happens,” veteran back-liner Kadeisha Buchanan said, “but I just hope the outcome is better than what it is right now.
“Anything other than six points being deducted will be very helpful in this situation. Five would make me smile. Four would be even greater. Three would be wonderful.
“We definitely know it has to be something — but not six points.”
But what if it stays six points? Will that negativity throw their pre-game prep for a loop? Stand-in coach Andy Spence, who has two comeback wins since his old colleague Bev Priestman was shipped home, is guarding against it.
“Between now and that, all energy is focusing on the game,” the 41-year-old Englishman said. “Naturally, everyone will want to know what the outcome of that is. It’s important for us to know, but equally not to get too high or too low off the back of that.
“We just have to accept what is the decision of the appeal.”
They had a full day to digest the original FIFA penalty. They also had their sport psychologist and a Canadian Olympic Committee-provided sport mental therapist on hand in Saint-Etienne.
“Communication is key,” veteran defender Ashley Lawrence said. “Not letting things simmer and stay inside as an athlete (is important). We tried to stay as calm as possible (before facing the French). We had nothing to lose and went in with that mindset. It’s the same for Colombia.
“We’ll get the results (of the appeal) and the motivation is the same, if not stronger.”
The bigger thing could be avoiding a let-down. The Canadians are coming off two hard-fought comeback wins in less than a week.
They got it done on a tournament-saving finish by Vanessa Gilles, a necessary clutch stop by keeper Kailen Sheridan and incredible sprinting ball recovery by Janine Beckie that led to the winner. There were a lot of difference-makers.
“Usually, we don’t celebrate that big after a win,” Buchanan said, “but that (France) game was very special to us. We celebrated in that locker room and by 1 (a.m.), everyone calmed down by then. By 1 or 2, (we thought) what a crazy game and time we’re in, but we’re all in it for each other.
“We always seem to kick through the ceiling. The sky is the limit for us.”