Olympic champions Canada have first World Cup medal in sights

OTTAWA, July 4 (BNA): Canada’s women’s soccer team finally achieved golden glory after years of near misses when they beat Sweden in a thrilling shootout to win the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

However, a lot has changed since their celebration at Yokohama Stadium and Bev Priestman’s side headed into the Women’s World Cup with a No. 7 ranking, still mired in a stock salary battle with the Etihad and missing key players through injury, Reuters reports.

“The mentality at this tournament is ambitious, striving for more and looking to climb the highest mountain,” Portland Thorns forward Adriana Lyon told Canada Soccer.

Canada won back-to-back Olympic bronze medals before cheering in Tokyo but have not had the same success at the World Cup despite having played in every single one since the inaugural edition in 1991. They lost the bronze match in 2003 in their best result.

The Canadiens are undefeated in 14 of their 17 matches in 2022, but have gone four of their last five matches by three defeats in the Sheriff’s Cup in February when they played under protest and described what they described as a “disgusting” disparity between Canada’s support. Men versus women programmes.

Longtime team captain Christine Sinclair said the women would like to settle the pay dispute with their union before they leave for Australia.

“It’s a time where we want it to be, so as players we don’t have to deal with it while we’re trying to prepare,” the 40-year-old told The Canadian Press.

Canada comes in Group B with hosts Australia, Nigeria and Ireland.

ZH