RHIAN SOCCER
REPORTS
POSTCARD 1 - LETTERS FROM A CANADA FAN. vs
GERMANY
Friday 24th–Sunday 26th June 2011 [
vs Germany in Berlin)
With many other Canada fans and parents, we departed Pearson
International airport on 24th June, headed for
Germany and the FIFA Women’s World Cup of Soccer. 12 hours of
travel later, we staggered off the airplane for the trip to
the hotel. We had to transfer for Berlin in Amsterdam and I
have not seen so much orange since Rhian played in
Tennessee
The joys of flying and jet lag are not all they are cracked up
to be. The glamorous life of flitting from country to country
may fit the image that many people have of an international
athlete, but I know otherwise. Now I find myself, rather than
Rhian, trying to find time to write journals: The roles are
reversed. We arrive bearing messages of support and good
wishes from Martin Silverstone of the Ste-Anne’s Rugby Club,
from Mississauga, from family, friends and from complete
strangers.
Once checked in to our hotel in Kantstrasse, we walked
its length to meet up with Rhian at the smart 5 star Pullman
hotel where the Canadian team is staying. It is modern, near
the zoo and near a Starbucks. However, to access the hotel, we
have to cross the street and find ourselves in the middle of
the Berlin Gay Pride march. I kept a low profile, but I don’t
think I had anything to worry about in my khakis and golf
shirt – the costumes were exotic, revealing and little was
left to the imagination. Where is Rob Ford when you need him?
I don’t have the excuse of a cottage in the country.
Eventually we followed a group of red clad women through the
hordes and in the right direction, and - Marie-Eve Naud turned
out to be amongst them. Her parents like us, had just arrived
in town today – another group recovering from the rigours of
air travel. I have to say that the squad all looked very smart
in the new Umbro off-field outfits even against the background
of the Gay Pride parade. Anjali Nayar has reported little
interest or awareness by Berliners in the Women's World Cup,
but we saw plenty of effort and involvement.
Rhian came to the lobby with KK and her parents – all of us
under the watchful eyes of a posse of security guards. The
athletes look to be in great physical condition and they can’t
wait to get started. The Canada squad soon headed out, under
police motor cycle escort, for a 45 minute practice and run
out at the Olympic stadium. In turn, we headed to a small
restaurant in the vicinity of our hotel for sausage and
schnitzel. It was excellent and all for 30 euros including two
glasses of wine.
Now, bed is beckoning – although not so much beckoning as
positively screaming my name.
Sunday 26th June Ist Game vs
Germany [ Berlin ]
Slept surprisingly well, given that we have jet lag and there
is no air conditioning in the hotel. Made it down to large
buffet breakfast by 10:00am. In the afternoon we see plenty of
German fans already out in the streets and enjoying the
sunshine before heading off to the match an opening ceremony.
Red, black and gold everywhere.
We
did some touristy things like walking to the Brandenburg Gate,
seeing the wall, Reichstag, memorials, and learning how to
work the trains – rapid transit, underground, rail and bus
systems are all interconnected. This took a while as we are
Canadians and not used to this sort of public transport thing.
We could learn a great deal. The Berliners who don't take the
train tend to bike.
Finally, the afternoon arrives, and it comes time to leave for
the match. Check the gear: Canada flag and tee shirt check
(thank goodness for The Bay.) Canada pins – check. Ticket for
the match - check. Here we go, but not for long. I take back
some of that
praise for German efficiency and public transit system. On the
way to the game our underground transit experienced a
mechanical problem and we were stuck nose to nose with German
fans in a railway carriage for 20 minutes. The guy in my face
was saying something about Canada, but I just nodded and
smiled. After 20 minutes, the conductors unloaded us onto the
platform and then re loaded us, and we were off again.
The stadium is very
impressive and as we strode with thousands towards the arena.
There was little to remind one of the 1936 Olympic games. No
remembrance of a Nazi past. No ghosts of Jesse Owens. Instead,
the stadium has been refurbished, and is very impressive,
even if it does have a running track around the pitch.
The final crowd of 73,640
spectators were given a great opening ceremony. There were a
few hundred Canadian fans in the crowd, sitting in isolated
pockets. One group of lady supporters had travelled from BC to
support the team. They are among the first group of women to
start soccer at the University of Victoria and now follow the
team at major championships around the world. Others included
the Tancredi clan and friends, MacLeod supporters, team
helpers from a recent tour in Argentina. We were all happy to
see each other. One Canadian student told us that he was
desperate to appear on CBC TV so that his parents would know
he was still alive and still studying here.
The opening ceremonies
spared the players having to make a tour of the stadium, and
allowed them to remain focused while the opening address was
made. Instead rivers of young German players spilled on to the
field representing each of the participating countries.
Meanwhile, a great globe shed its mantle to reveal a large
shining orb, then it, in turn, dissolved as balloons looking
like soccer balls streamed out from the roof of the stadium.
Half the crowd jumped as a surge of fireworks flew skyward.
Time for soccer.
The Germans around us in the
crowd were not giving Canada much of a chance and 8-0 seemed
to be the informed opinion. There will be many and more
technical reports on the game than this one, but these are
notes I made after the match. Canada played well against a
very good, and big, German team. Canada had an early chance to
score, but Sincy missed the target. Germany had a couple of
chances too, and then scored on another. Canada came back hard
again, but Germany scored once more, , before the half to lead
0- 2 at the break. But, Canada had enjoyed over 54% of the
possession and they had won some respect from the fans.
The second half saw Canada
equal that possession of the ball again – over 50%. However,
they only had one shot on the German goal, and this was a set
piece free kick scored brilliantly by Sinclair. The German
defence was big, tough and well-organized. Elbows to the head
and face, whatever it took to keep the Canadians at bay.
Canada could not find a way to score, and the game ended in a
1 - 2 loss.
Overall, Canada looked good,
even if they did not earn the tie that they thought they were
worth in this game. Rhian and Chappy looked good in defence
and Erin was brilliant in goal. Some of the Canadian players
seemed light and weak and were easily bundled off the ball by
the bigger, stronger Germans. The Germans used elbows to the
head more readily than you would see in a NHL game under the
old rules. It was hard to identify Sinclair after her face had
been rearranged and the officials missed the whole thing.
I spoke to Rhian that
evening and the players thought they could have done more.
Canada now has to lick its wounds, straighten its noses, shake
off its bruises and get ready for the French and Nigerians.
They can beat both if they have the mental toughness and
preferably score first.
