Canada’s soccer fans shocked over World Cup’s ‘Gretzky’ moment
Canada’s 1-0 defeat to Sweden at the Women’s World Cup drew in Paris comparisons to the men’s ice hockey defeat at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Canada’s elimination from the Women’s World Cup following a 1-0 defeat to Sweden in Paris has drawn comparisons to another high-profile traumatic sports loss that remains deeply embedded in the national psyche.
And yes, it has to do with hockey. Everything in Canada is compared to hokey.
Striker Christine Sinclair, who has scored 182 goals for her country, looked on helplessly as teammate Janine Beckie was denied by an outstanding save in the 69th minute on Monday at Parc des Princes in Paris.
Janine Beckie talks about the missed penalty against #SWE and shares that Christine Sinclair asked her if she wanted to take the penalty. pic.twitter.com/6Vpezv3V5x
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 24, 2019
The PK flub evoked bad memories of the 1998 Nagano Olympics, where hockey great Wayne Gretzky was benched during the shootout of a stunning semifinal defeat to the Czech Republic.
Like the Gretzky incident, the Sweden save in France proved decisive in the Round of 16 contest as Sweden moved on to the quarterfinals.
After Beckie’s shot was saved by goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl, the name “Gretzky” has been trending on Twitter. Fans were not happy.
Gretzky watching Sinclair NOT take that Team Canada penalty. Nothing more fun than watching coaches outcoach themselves. Disappointing. Done. 🇨🇦 #FIFAWomensWorldCup pic.twitter.com/M4kaseCQCT
— Bryn Griffiths 🇨🇦 (@BrynMightyMouth) June 24, 2019
History repeats itself #FIFAWWC 🇸🇪 up 1-0, 🇨🇦 is awarded a penalty. Up steps Christine Sinclair, right? Wrong. Its Janine Beckie - a great player, but not playing well. Keeper saves 🇨🇦 is eliminated. Our greatest goal scorer in soccer history left to watch, as Gretzky in Nagano pic.twitter.com/Ez3DV32vG3
— Lee Kormish (@LeeKormish) June 24, 2019
A lot of talk in Canada yesterday about Wayne Gretzky and the 1998 Nagano Olympics. What happened 21 years ago via @OlympicChannel's 'The Nagano Tapes' with @TSNBobMcKenzie @MichaelFarber3 and @helenenothelen pic.twitter.com/7WUCHIVJRe
— Nick Zaccardi (@nzaccardi) June 25, 2019
dark. Next. Megan Rapinoe’s pardon-my-French World Cup comments
Sweden next play two-time champions Germany on Saturday in the quarterfinals. The United States, meanwhile, defeated Spain on Monday to also advance, where they will take on Spain on Friday in Paris.