Canadian soccer has a lot of problems. And, every now and again, it's tempting to think that Christine Sinclair is the solution to all of them.
Today, in Canada's opening match of the World Cup against Germany, as Sinclair forced her way back on the field with an obviously broken nose – only to score Canada's only goal against a dominating German side – I saw further proof.
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Sure Sinclair scores goals – lots of them – and wins consistent international praise as one of the greatest talents in the women's game today. But what makes her so important goes beyond that. It's that she provides those little moments that win the heart of supporters, those honest-to-goodness glimpses of a fiery and unabashed dedication to her team. Its something to see.
First we had the shush. The now-famous (amongst Canadian soccer fans, at least) finger over the lips to the hometown Mexican fans in celebration of the goal that sealed Canada's 3-0 victory in the Gold Cup. There's not much worth writing about this moment that Squizz didn't hit on in his wonderful post after that match. Suffice it to say that that gesture warmed the hearts of Canada's long-suffering supporters.
And today we got another glimpse of the competitive fire that burns in Sinclair's belly. Down 2-0 and in hostile territory once again, the shot to the nose Sinclair endured at the hands (well, elbow) of a German defender was clearly painful: the shocking crook in the Canadian captain's nose showed clearly the extent of the damage.
Few would have faulted Sinclair for allowing herself to be substituted: Canada was losing a game we never counted on winning, and looking overrun. Sinclair could reasonably have thought ahead to the more winnable matches against France and Nigeria, and Canada could have pulled off the wounded star striker and saw the game out without her.
But Sinclair was having none of it. Physically refusing medical treatment, she pleaded to be let back on the field. "Let me play." You didn't have to be a lip-reader to get the message. She probably didn't even need to say it: You could see it in her battered face that she wasn't leaving the game for anything.
And back on she went, with a crooked nose and a renewed spark in her step. It makes her goal – an oh-so-sweetly struck free kick in the 82nd minute – all the better.
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More than that, it further cements Sinclair's place in the hearts of Canadian supporters. For Canadian supporters – forgive me for speaking for the collective, and please do correct me if I'm wide of the mark – Sinclair's determined pleas to be allowed back on the field reach beyond the medics trying to keep her on the sideline for treatment: Those words are a huge (if completely unintentional, on her part) "fuck you" to those who don't appreciate as she does what an honour it is to represent one's country. Canadian soccer has long suffered through the defection of our best players to other, more successful, nations and through what appears to be the cynically careerist dithering of our most promising MNT prospect.
It's hard to say how nice it feels, as a supporter, to see a player show that they care about our country as much as we do; more, even. Much more. Seeing Christine Sinclair literally bleed red for Canada and refuse to quit until the final whistle is blown, even in a high-profile loss, is soothing to the supporter's soul. It's proof that Canada can produce not only world-class footballers, but also the kind of players that are willing to sacrifice themselves for their country's cause. I'm not a little girl, but hell: I want to be Christine Sinclair when I grow up.
I know that I'm writing this directly post-match, and I'm a bit caught up in the enthusiasm of the thing. But that's the whole point: Christine Sinclair, her dedication, grit and sheer overwhelming ability, generates enthusiasm for soccer. Canadian soccer. And, as most supporters know and lament, the widespread lack of such enthusiasm might just be the very biggest problem Canadian soccer faces.