What a game. In front of 52 800 screaming and chanting Chinese fans—and pockets of Canadian supporters,consisting mostly of our family and friends—we tied China in a game we probably should have won.
We looked really, really good out there, and the way everyone dealt with the crowd was phenomenal. So many teams have entered an environment like yesterday’s and buckled under the pressure, but instead, we seemed to thrive on it. Actually, maybe I’m giving us a little too much credit for coping with the masses since some of the Chinese chants sounded distinctly like, “Canada! Canada! Canada!”
I suppose it’s all in the way you decide to use it: Will you sink or will you swim? For all of us, it was about soaking up the support, the boos, the catcalls—the noise in general—and using it to our advantage. We have played in front of more hostile crowds before (Maracana stadium in Rio and Juarez during Olympic Qualifying spring to mind) so this wasn’t something new. Frankly, I think it served to fire everyone up even more.
One of my favourite moments came prior to the start of the game as we headed down the long stadium tunnel to the field entrance. We were jumping up and down, whooping and hollering, yelling at the top of our lungs—just having a great time getting each other wound up and using it as last-minute motivation.
A row of volunteers and stadium organizers plugged their ears as we bounded by them, their eyes wide with concern and horror at the level of noise this small group of seemingly proper women could produce. Coach Bridge said he could hear us all the way at field level, and I’m sure we announced our arrival to the Chinese team lining themselves up for player introductions. If we didn’t then, we certainly proclaimed it with our ensuing performance.
Today’s events have all been a bit of a blur after yesterday’s game. Some of us got in an early workout prior to breakfast and our departure back to Beijing. It was a bittersweet farewell to many of the people who made our stay in Tianjin a comfortable one, but at the same time it was nice to know that we had closed another chapter of our Olympic experience and would now be heading back to the village.
However, before we could leave, there were some pictures to be taken. I had mentioned in some of my previous entries that we were sharing our digs in Tianjin with a men’s soccer group that included the US, the Netherlands, Japan and Nigeria. Some of the girls on the team got friendly with Jonothan DeGuzman of Holland, who just happens to be a Canuck, too (his brother, Julian, plays for our men’s national team).
We took this connection to the Netherlands as license to take tons of pictures with their star, Ryan Babel, who also plays for my favorite club team, Liverpool. Robyn and I jumped into a photo with him, and I took this as my chance to:
1. Use Babel as a way to further rub Liverpool’s dominance over Arsenal in Robyn’s face (she is a huge Cesc Fabergas and Arsenal fan);
2. Get one step closer to Steven Gerrard.
So item #2 was never realistic, even though I told Babel to say hi to him from me. (Ha!) Item #1, however, was completely achievable, and a rousing success. Robyn wasn’t too happy, but it elicited a wink from the Liverpool player…
So we’re back in the village–after finally riding on the famed bullet train–although we are now in the “soccer precinct”, which is just a fancy way of saying that they’ve isolated us from the other athletes. We are now at the opposite end of the village, and the trek to the dining hall seems quite long now.
It has been pouring rain all night–thunder and lightning, actually–and we are all fairly convinced that these storms have somehow been engineered to create blue skies for the next few days. Whatever the case, a little bit of rain is a welcome break from the heavy haze we played in Tianjin.
I am really looking forward to a good night’s rest, so I will sign off. Thanks for checking in and for your continued support of Canadian Women’s Soccer!
August 10th, 2008 at 9:58 am
This site is off the hook yo! Never thought you could be so funny! FO REAL! GO CANADA!
August 10th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Bonjour Amy
Tu sais même ici à l’autre bout de la planète, devant le téléviseur, nous entendions la foule du stade crié ”China,China”.
Je me suis dite alors ”ouf la pression psychologique doit être énorme pour nos joueuses canadiennes”
Certains appellent ce phénomène : la 12ième joueuse. Quand le public supporte à son domicile son équipe, l’atmosphère du stade est très difficile pour les joueuses de l’équipe adversaire. Devant cette difficulté, je suis contente du match 1-1 avec la Chine.
Bonne récupération
Et mardi nous regarderons le match Canada-Suède
Go go go Canada
August 10th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
You are one funny girl!
Amazing game yesterday! Well done indeed! Yes, we should have won but that last minute in extra time also gave me a heart attack of sorts! lol
GOOD LUCK TUESDAY AGAINST SWEDEN!
August 10th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
WOW! What a game. China is a good team and having the crowd behind them is like an extra player yet you girl’s came out and dominated most of the game. You should feel proud and feed off the Chinese game to beat Sweeden on Tuesday!
I can’t wait to see the gold medal around you necks.
GOOD LUCK!!
August 10th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
lippy sure will be jealous of that picture! you’ll have to insert his face somewhere in there with you guys.
you all look great in the photos, glowing with pride and happy as ever.
i’ll be watching on tuesday and be wearing #13 to get you on that pitch! lots of love,xo and good luck wishes.
oh and bernadette says good luck too.
August 10th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Saint Hilaire watching… what a fantastic game, talk about edge of your seat viewing! Looking forward to the win on Tuesday against Sweden. Keep up the fantastic work, spirits, and humor, you guys all looked great!
August 11th, 2008 at 8:33 am
GOOD-LUCK for the match against Sweden!!!!
August 11th, 2008 at 10:42 am
good luck for the sweden game and manchester united > Liverpool! Jk
August 11th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
[...] Full Story [...]
August 11th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Watching every game with pride, love ya.
August 12th, 2008 at 7:24 am
Win, Lose or Draw, we’re in based on the reults this morning in Group F!
GO CANADA GO!
August 12th, 2008 at 11:04 am
Good luck for the game against the US!
Keep on working hard, you’ll bring home the gold!!!
GO CANADA GO!
August 12th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Amy, great assist on Tank’s goal!
Ohhh no, my 2 fav teams against each other in the QF – didn’t want that to happen until at least the SF, preferably the Gold Medal game!
Good Luck Friday!
GO CANADA GO!
August 12th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Hi Amy,
Would you believe I took some time off this morning to watch the game ? And I have no regrets.
It was a great game to watch in spite of the final result.
I particularly noticed your great efforts, at both ends of the field. Your combined effort with Melissa clearly demonstrated a complicity and understanding of the game that comes only with experience. Congratulations !!!
I will try to watch the game on Friday. In the meantime, I hope that you and the girls will enjoy some of that Olympic fever with other Canadian athletes.
CO CANADA GO !
August 12th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Hi Amy great job today!!almost got a goal. have fun at they games.bye
Alana
August 12th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Hi Amy, graet game today I am so glad you got to play!!!Best of luck on friday to bad i won’t be able to see you since i’ll be in Mexico, but i’ll see you when you get back.Enjoy yourself!!!
GO CANADA!!!!
-Veronika
August 12th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Indeed it’s going to be hard watching USA v Canada! Good luck!
August 12th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
so proud of you ama, you did awesome. everyone keeps telling us how proud they are of you…………..so i told them to get their own big sis! haha, just kidding, just shows how many people are behind you no matter what.
2 more to go…
xoxox