TOKYO | Gabrielle Carle has been living a true fairy tale since arriving in Japan.
A reserve on the Canadian team’s initial roster just like in Rio in 2016, the side-back played three games and was in uniform in the historic 1-0 victory over the Americans on Monday, which propelled the unifoliée in the grand finale.
She also faced Chile and Great Britain. Gabrielle said she did not know if she would face Sweden in the final on Friday.
“It’s really exciting,” said Carle. We are living in a historic moment. I realize that we are in the final, but it is later that I will fully realize how big it is for the team and the country what we have achieved. It’s a moment everyone has been waiting for for a very long time. “
Due to fears that players could contract COVID and due to the suffocating heat, the IOC has relaxed the rules affecting reservists. “Each team can make five changes to their starting 18-player roster,” said Carle. These changes favored me. I was dressed in three parts and played quite a bit. I have a very different experience from Rio, admits the one that did not play against the Americans.
Change color
After a first victory in more than 20 years against the representatives of Uncle Sam’s country, have the Canadians already won their gold medal?
“The watchword was to change the color of the medal after the bronze medals of the last two Games and we succeeded by beating the Americans in the semi-finals, but we are not going to the final to win the silver. “
Silver medalists in Rio, the Swedes have yet to experience the throes of defeat at the Games, just like Canada, which has three wins and two draws.
Olympic village
Since their victory in the semi-finals, the Canadians have joined the Olympic Village.
“We couldn’t ask for better,” said Carle, who will play a final NCAA season with the Florida State Seminoles in the fall. We’ve been here three days. Since the start of the tournament, we have traveled all over Japan. “
Her teammate Ashley Lawrence concurred. “The Games are more real when we are in the Village. The first two days, we regrouped and we have the lead on the final. Sweden has a similar style to Canada with good team play and good defense. On our side, we fight for every ball, we are consistent and our excellent team spirit is a very important asset. ”
It was a long time, but the Organizing Committee, the IOC and FIFA agreed to move the final match.
Scheduled for 11 a.m. (local time) when the heat would have been suffocating, the match will instead take place at 9 p.m. at the Yokohama stadium, i.e. at 8 a.m. on Friday morning in Quebec.
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