As the old adage says, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Canadian women’s national team fans had best hope that’s the case with Christine Sinclair’s decision to skip this month’s friendly games with the United States.
Sinclair tweeted that she needed the break after a long WPS season and three and out World Cup appearance in Germany. Notably, several other players that were involved in the long preparation camp in Italy did answer the call.
No one should begrudge Sinclair the break, but it would be foolish to ignore the timing of the move. Having never turned down an invitation to the national team set-up before, she chose the first appearance by new coach John Herdman to stay away.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] Sinclair was one of the most vocal supporter’s of former coach Carolina Morace and has been one of the loudest critics of the Canadian Soccer Association. Could her decision also be a quiet protest about how the Morace situation played out? There are crazier ideas.
Regardless, Sinclair did say that she would be an eager participant in the Olympic qualifying tournament in Vancouver in January. With only two CONCACAF teams qualifying to London, that tournament likely represents the most important soccer Sinclair will play in until next summer.
The full roster for the two game series with the USA is as follows:
GK- Justine Bernier - University of Alabama
GK- Stephanie Labbé - Piteå IF
GK- Karina LeBlanc - magicJack
GK- Erin McLeod - Dalsjöfors G.o.I.F.
CB- Lexi Marton - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
CB- Emily Zurrer - Dalsjöfors G.o.I.F.
FB- Melanie Booth - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
FB- Robyn Gayle - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
FB- Lauren Sesselmann - Atlanta Beat
FB- Rhian Wilkinson - Lillestrøm SK Kvinner
M- Kaylyn Kyle - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
M- Diana Matheson - Lillestrøm SK Kvinner
M- Carmelina Moscato - Piteå IF
M- Kelly Parker - Atlanta Beat
M- Tina Romagnuolo - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
M- Jaclyn Sawicki - University of Victoria
M- Sophie Schmidt - magicJack
M- Desiree Scott - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
M- Diamond Simpson - Hamilton FC
M- Chelsea Stewart - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
F- Christina Julien - Ottawa Fury
F- Melissa Tancredi - Piteå IF. Diana Matheson will likely fill the role of captain in Sinclair’s absence.