Canada, the defending Olympic champions, are out of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after a heartbreaking penalty shootout loss to Germany in the quarterfinals in Marseilles Saturday.
There will be a new Olympic Champion.
After medaling in three straight Olympic Games, including their historic gold medal in Tokyo in 2021, the Canadian Women’s National Soccer Team will miss out on the podium for the first time since 2008 when they lost 2-1 after extra time against the US.
Germany prevailed 4-2 on penalty kicks after an intense, and at times enthralling, scoreless affair that went the full 120 minutes.
“I can’t quite find the tears,” the veteran centreback Vanessa Gilles said post-game. “I think I’ve shed them all this past week. To have gotten this far is a testament to this group and to lose in PKs is always bittersweet.”
“It’s never easy watching your friends and teammates,” captain Jessie Fleming said. “But we have so many great penalty kick takers on the team. It just didn’t go our way. I have all the trust and belief in my teammates.”
Despite the loss, the Canadians have much to be proud of. Winning all three group games amid the drone spy scandal was an accomplishment on its own. Due to the resulting points deduction, every game Canada played was virtually an elimination game.
A tale of two halves
In the first half, Germany was the much better team. They played on the front foot, dictated the game’s pace, controlled possession, and created numerous quality scoring chances.
In the 11th minute, Germany had a brilliant chance to open the scoring after a cross into the box got past a disorganized Canadian backline, but the forward Lea Schuller chipped her shot over the bar.
A few minutes later, Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan was tested for the first time and made a huge save with her leg, robbing Klara Buehl who was sent free on a breakaway following a perfect through ball from one of her teammates.
Germany’s 4-4-2 formation – that reverted into a 5-3-2 when defending out of possession – was compact and organized all game and severely limited Canada’s attack, especially in the first half.
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Germany’s forwards consistently utilized diagonal runs into dangerous positions, catching Canada’s defense off guard. Germany’s use of spacing was phenomenal; their midfield could anticipate where their forwards would run before sending an accurate cross or long ball into open space that their forwards could run onto. It caused Canada a lot of issues defensively.
Canada was pinned back deep in their end for most of the first half, they lacked proper pace on the wings to win the ball back and initiate transition attacks.
Toward the end of the first half, Canada’s offense woke up. In the final 10 minutes, they were more fluid in possession, their buildup play was better –they connected passes quickly and accurately– and they created a few threatening scoring chances.
Canada’s defense improved greatly as the half progressed. They gave up a few quality chances early on but once they settled into the game, they played more organized, disciplined, and with more physicality which helped to limit Germany’s potent attack for the rest of the first half.
At halftime, Germany won the possession battle 55-45 percent, outshot Canada 3-1 (1-0 on target), and created more, higher-quality scoring chances. Overall, they controlled the first half, but Canada took the momentum they created late in the first half into the second half.
Canada responds in second half
In the second half, Canada was much better offensively. Canada was on the front foot for most of the latter 45, controlled the possession battle, dictated the match’s tempo and pace & created more –and higher quality– scoring chances.
Canada outshot Germany 21-10 (5-0 on target) in the second half and extra time, but simply weren’t clinical enough in front of goal to break the deadlock.
With all the chances Canada created, they arguably could’ve won the match 3-0.
Their biggest chance of the match came in the 70th minute when Aston Villa winger Adriana Leon was sprung on a breakaway after an excellent long-through ball by Janine Beckie.
Canada lost on penalties to Germany in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games soccer tournament Saturday. Photos: Canada Soccer
However, Leon was unable to cap off a brilliant sequence of build-up play. All alone with only the keeper to beat, she waited too long to get her shot off and shot it directly at Germany’s goalkeeper Ann Katrin Berger who was coming forward to challenge. It was arguably Canada’s best chance of the match. Leon is normally very clinical and ruthless in front of goal; she scores that goal nine out of 10 times.
“We were unlucky not to get a goal in the second half of extra time,” said Fleming, who was subbed out for Beckie during halftime after picking up a knock in the first half.
A big part of Canada’s second-half rejuvenation was their substitutes. Beckie came on in the 46th minute and Evelyn Viens, Leon, and Arsenal star Cloé Lacasse subbed on in the 57th minute. All of the subs made an instant impact on the match whether it was in dictating possession, creating chances, or pressing well and playing good defensive football.
Canada’s press was fiercer and higher up the pitch, which allowed Canada to create turnovers and attack in transition. Their defense was more compact and organized and their swift, accurate passing opened up holes in Germany’s defense, resulting in several quality chances.
Germany created a plethora of scoring opportunities, but Canada’s defense was always quick enough to intervene. In the 66th minute, defender Vanessa Gilles made an impressive defensive tackle, knocking a loose ball out of Canada’s six-yard box to keep the match 0-0.
After Germany nearly won the match in the 90th minute, the five minutes of second-half stoppage time produced some nervy moments as both teams created chances that could’ve resulted in the match winner.
In both periods of extra time, Canada controlled the pace but each team created a handful of dangerous scoring chances both on the counter-attack and through excellent build-up play.
The best chance of extra time came in the 113th minute when Germany midfielder Sydney Lohmann’s header off a corner rattled the crossbar.
Moments later, Canada had their best chance when Leon deflected a low, powerful shot by Canada’s final sub Julia Grosso just wide of the net.
Stalemate goes to penalties
In the penalty shootout, despite guessing the right side every single time, Sheridan couldn’t do much against four perfect German penalties that found the corner of the goal. Lohmann was the only German to miss a penalty, she put too much power on her spot kick and skied it over the bar.
For Canada, Quinn scored first, before Ashley Lawrence and Leon both had their penalties saved by Berger.
Down 3-1 in the shootout, Beckie stepped up for Canada needing to score to keep Canada alive. Her shot initially looked to be saved, but it was hit so hard, and the backspin was strong enough to cause it to slip under Berger’s outstretched body before crossing the line. 3-2.
After saving two penalties, Berger stepped up to be the hero for Germany. She calmly put her penalty in the right corner, beating Sheridan.
Germany advances to play the United States in the semifinals.
What lies ahead for the Canadian women is uncertain after this summer of sensational football and scandal.
