No. 8 CanWNT lose in Paris Olympics quarter-final, but hope remains

The GIST: Embattled No. 8 CanWNT lost Saturday’s quarter-final (QF) 4–2 in a penalty shootout to No. 4 Germany, ending their gold medal defense and exiting the Olympics without hardware for the first time since 2008.

• But in a tourney plagued by off-field drama, the red and white deserve all the flowers for an impressive, tear-soaked run made against all odds. Onwards and upwards.

CanWNT found their offensive groove, rookies shined in international spotlight: The best word for this team? Gritty. They attempted 23 shots (!!!) in their QF loss, the majority of which came from explosive second-half subs — not bad for a team better known for their defensive prowess.

• None of those shots found the net, but it’s still a reassuring tactical shift, showcasing the team’s evolving never-say-die attitude.

• And it was spurred on by a youth movement — rookies Jade Rose and Simi Awujo were among the strongest performers on the largely veteran squad, a testament to CanWNT’s continued growth.

What’s next: Off the field, the work has just begun. FIFA fined Canada Soccer $313K CAD in connection to dronegate, and an independent probe will be conducted into the allegedly systemic culture of cheating.

• Similarly, Canada Soccer will need to decide who will take the reins as head coach (HC), assuming currently-banned HC Bev Priestman is dismissed entirely given her connection to the spying scandal.

• The good news? The roster’s bones are strong, tough, and relentless — the sky is truly the limit for these fighters.