Key matchup: Wambach for U.S., Sinclair for Canada
Team USA's Abby Wambach celebrates her goal during a women's quarter-final soccer match against New Zealand during the London 2012 Summer Olympics. (Aug. 3, 2012) Credit: AP
NEWCASTLE, England -- Soccer fans are in for a real treat when the United States takes on Canada in the Olympic women's semifinals Monday in Manchester.
Not only will they see two of the best teams in the world battle for a spot in the gold-medal match, they will see a rare confrontation between two 100-goal scorers, two legends.
On one end of the Old Trafford pitch will be U.S. striker Abby Wambach, who has 142 international goals, trailing only Mia Hamm's record 158.
On the other end of the field will be Canada's Christine Sinclair, next with 140 goals.
Sinclair has played in 188 international matches, Wambach in 186. Wambach is 32 years old, Sinclair 29.
Their real worth goes beyond their numbers.
Both players are unselfish -- no prima donnas here -- and realize they are a role players. Ultimate role players. Both players are gritty, play with heart and play through injuries.
U.S. coach Pia Sundhage called Wambach her most indispensable player. "Not only the fact that she is the best in the [penalty] area, the best in the world, we have a star who is a team player," she said. "Everything she does is for the team."
Ditto for Sinclair.
"You can only contain her for so long," Canada's coach John Herdman said. "That's the player she is. When she's on, she's on. That's the mark of the truly great players. Some days, she's just unstoppable."
The players also know how to say the right things. "USA are obviously favorites for the tournament and are on fire right now," Sinclair said. "But we know them very well and we deserve to be there."
But that's where the similarities end. Abby enjoys the spotlight, Christine would rather be out of it. The American is a battering ram, a force of nature, the Canadian is more mobile and can be a scorer or a playmaker.
"The common thread that runs through both of them -- world-class forwards," said U.S. Soccer women's technical director April Heinrichs, a member of the U.S.'s 1991 Women's World Cup championship team and who directed the U.S. to the gold at the 2004 Olympics.
"The attributes that Abby has in the air, her assured ability to get under every ball and to head it properly on the frame . . . is absolutely incredible. We've just never seen anyone like her in the women's game in the air. When she is on the field, she is a force that every team in the world has a difficult time managing. At every moment she can change the game."
Heinrich said Sinclair also "is world class in her ability to finish chances, in the air, on the ground. Her mobility off the ball is very nuanced."
Just who is the better player?
"I think [Sinclair] is probably is the most underrated player in the whole world," Wambach said earlier this year. "She is the best all-around player. She does everything so well. She's good with her feet, good with holding the ball, good in the air. She's surprisingly quick and fast. She's just one of the best finishers around the 18-yard box."
Sinclair marveled at Wambach's ability.
"It's incredible," she said. "With Abby, it's just a tremendous talent. It is an honor to be sort of at the same level as her. Abby's led that team for years. She's a constant goal threat. She just has this fighting spirit about her, that never die attitude."
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