PARIS– Even the Canadian players seemed surprised by reached the knockout stage of the women’s football tournament at the Paris Olympics.
After all, the defending champions were docked six points in the group stage after the team’s staff were accused of using a drone to film an opponent.
They persevered, however, and booked their place in the quarter-finals with a 1-0 victory over Colombia. They next face Germany on Saturday in Marseille.
“It’s definitely the most unique group stage I’ve ever played in, but we handled it really well,” said captain Jessie Fleming. “It was a difficult situation and I’m proud of the team for coming out of it.”
In the other quarter-finals, the United States faces Japan in Paris, hosts France face Brazil in Nantes and Women’s World Cup winners Spain face Colombia in Lyon.
Hours before kick-off on Wednesday, Canada lost their appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, leaving the team with zero points before kick-off. The Canadians won the first two games of the tournament.
In addition to the points deduction, FIFA also banned Canadian coach Bev Priestman for a year and fined Canadian Football US$227,000.
Before the start of the tournament, New Zealand reported a drone flying above their training. Authorities later detained an analyst from Canada’s team and confiscated surveillance equipment.
Two team members were immediately sent home and Priestman withdrew from her Olympic debut. But Canada Soccer CEO and Secretary General Kevin Blue said evidence has emerged that surveillance was a “systemic ethical deficiency”, also citing an alleged incident at the recent Copa América in the United States.
The scandal casts a shadow not only on Canada’s journey to the Olympics, but also on Canadian football in general. The country is expected to co-host the men’s World Cup in 2026 with the United States and Mexico.
“I’m proud of everyone being united,” said defender Vanessa Gilles, top scorer on Wednesday. “It would have been so easy to go our separate ways and say, ‘What’s the point?'”
The Germans won the gold medal at the 2016 Olympics. Their only group stage defeat in France was to the United States.
The winner of Canada’s game against Germany will travel to Lyon to face the winner of the USA game against Japan.
The United States under new coach Emma Hayes went undefeated at the Olympics, finding his offensive rhythm and defeating opponents 9-2.
It certainly looked like the team regained some of its swagger after a eliminated from the Women’s World Cup last summer earlier than ever – in the round of 16.
“It will take another level of focus that we have to keep bringing to the next round because anything can happen. It’s a knockout,” said Crystal Dunn. “This group is in a good position and we are committed to the process.”
The Americans face Japan, the team that beat them in the 2011 World Cup final. The United States got revenge a year later, winning the gold medal with a 2-1 victory at the London Olympics.
The United States will be without midfielder Sam Coffey because of yellow card accumulation.
Brazilian captain Marta will not play against France because she was sent off with a red card in the group final against Spain.
Marta, who is competing in her sixth Olympics, said this is her last major tournament with Brazil, so the red card in what could be her last match in France was devastating. She left the field in Bordeaux in tears.
“I think things never happen by chance,” said Brazil coach Arthur Elias, who added that his players “gained the experience of playing without Marta in an organized, committed and focused way.”
With a victory against the home team, Marta will be able to return to the semi-finals. The winner moves on to Marseille to face the winner of Spain’s game against Colombia.
Spain, bidding to become the first team to win a gold medal after winning a World Cup, is competing in its first Olympics. Colombia makes its first appearance in the knockout stage.
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AP’s Barbara Surk in Marseille contributed to this report.
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