Fansided

3 biggest surprises from the Women’s World Cup group stage thus far

By Caden Charpentier

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 30: Sofia Bouftini of Morocco celebrates after the team's 1-0 victory in the during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group H match between South Korea and Morocco at Hindmarsh Stadium on July 30, 2023 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sue McKay/Getty Images)
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 30: Sofia Bouftini of Morocco celebrates after the team's 1-0 victory in the during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group H match between South Korea and Morocco at Hindmarsh Stadium on July 30, 2023 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sue McKay/Getty Images) /
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 31: Christine Sinclair #12 of Canada thanks the fans after the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group B match between Canada and Australia at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on July 31, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images )
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 31: Christine Sinclair #12 of Canada thanks the fans after the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group B match between Canada and Australia at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on July 31, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images ) /

2023 Women’s World Cup surprises: Canada’s elimination in the group stage

For the first time in the history of this competition, the nation that was awarded the gold medal in the previous Olympic Games will not be progressing into the knockout stages. Equipped with world-class talent from the goalkeeper to the frontline, Bev Priestman and Canada could not earn a spot in the top two of the “group of death”. In a win-or-go-home match, the Canadians failed to show up.

Even with the majority of the possession against the Australians, the CONCACAF powerhouse could not consistently muster up quality chances in front of the net. They had the opportunity to potentially send off the world’s greatest international goal-scorer into the sunset. Instead, what looks to be her final crack at a World Cup will be considered a catastrophic failure.

It is not the first time this nation has bowed out of the group stage.

In 2011, Canada finished dead last at the World Cup in Germany (16/16). The following cycle, this nation bounced back, reaching the quarterfinals before two goals inside the first 20 minutes for England sent the host nation packing. Out of the eight World Cups Canada has qualified for, five of them have concluded with a group stage exit. Even with that past history, the talent was some of the best in international women’s football.

Sinclair said it best after the game, “this should be a wake-up call to the Canadian football federation”. History shows that if you invest in women’s sports, the rewards are bound to follow. Now with both of Canada’s national teams missing out of the Round of 16 in the last World Cups, the federation needs to realize fair and just resources are needed to rebound in the future.