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Christine Sinclair had no idea when she first tugged on a Canada jersey that shed ever make anywhere near No. Jeremy Hill Bengals Jersey . 200. But on the eve of her 200th appearance, Canadas captain and one of the games finest female players said its a testament to how the national womens program has grown over the course of her career. "Someone like Charmaine Hooper, she played on the national team forever and never made 200 caps," Sinclair told The Canadian Press in a phone interview Wednesday. "Andrea Neil as well. . . there just werent as many games played. Then you look at myself at 200 caps. We have so many players that are above 100 caps, and that had never happened before. "It just goes to show the support the womens team has been given, and just the sheer number of international games we get to play now." Neil played 132 games for Canada, while Hooper played 129. Of the current Canadian womens squad, Diana Matheson has 154 caps, Rhian Wilkinson has 143, followed by Sophie Schmidt (109) and Karina LeBlanc (106). The 30-year-old Sinclair will earn her 200th cap -- yet another major milestone in a career paved with them -- when the Canadians play Scotland in the opening game of the Torneio Internacional Cidade de Sao Paolo tournament in Brazil. "I think everyones excited," said Canadas coach John Herdman. "Im pleased youve reminded us (of Sinclairs 200th cap) because I think we almost forgot, weve been that focused on our work preparing for this first game against Scotland. I know it will get mentioned in one of the meetings (Thursday). For Sinclair, were just hoping she puts a goal in." The Burnaby, B.C., native has 146 career goals, and is third behind Americans Abby Wambach and Mia Hamm. Of the countless memories shes compiled over 199 games, she said her "once-a-career-type" goal happened at this same tournament in Brasilia in 2010. Canada was trailing Brazil in the final and was down to 10 players when Sinclair scored in the 82nd minute. The tie gave Canada the tournament victory based on goal difference. "Just received a pass from Melissa Tancredi, I was probably 30 yards out. One-timed it, left foot, top corner," Sinclair said. "It was one of those things that youll never do again. But in terms of striking a ball, thats one that I remember." Her first game was against China in the Algarve Cup. She was 16. "I remember being so nervous because I had just watched them win a silver medal at the World Cup, in that famous game against the Americans in 1999, and next thing I know here I am playing against them, and just being so nervous," Sinclair said. Her first goal came in her very next appearance, versus Norway. "That was interesting because it was the team Even (Pellerud, Canadas coach at the time) used to coach, and they were one of the best teams in the world, and all we had been told is their goalkeeper (Bente Nordby) was the best goalkeeper in the world," Sinclair said. "I intercepted a pass from one of their centre-backs and I went in on a breakaway and scored, and it was crazy. It was obviously a goal Ill never forget." No question, she said, her best memories -- and greatest feeling of accomplishment -- came at the London Olympics, where the Canadian women beat France for bronze. Sinclair said her parents still ask her why shes missing from all the pictures of her teammates celebrating on the pitch in Coventry. "I have to explain to them You dont understand, the whistle blew and I broke down in tears," she said. "You work so hard to accomplish that and to actually reach one of your childhood dreams, not many people can say they actually get to do that, and I was just completely overwhelmed by the whole winning a bronze medal, and then stepping onto the podium and seeing the Canadian flag rise. Its pretty special." Sinclair said, like most of her teammates, shes only thinking as far ahead as the womens World Cup in Canada in 2015, and the 2016 Olympics in Rio. Shell re-evaluate everything after that. "Right now, talking on the phone, I cant imagine only playing for two more years," she said. "Assuming I can stay healthy, obviously I want to keep going." Brazil, at No. 4, is the top-ranked team in the four-country tournament. The seventh-ranked Canadians play unranked Chile on Dec. 15, and Brazil on the Dec. 18. The final is Dec. 22. 19:23ET 11-12-13 Anthony Munoz Jersey . The 32-year-old native of Mont-Tremblant, Que., said on his Twitter account that his knee was bothering him. Guay underwent knee surgery over the summer, then returned for the start of the World Cup season after an intensive rehab program. Adam Jones Jersey . With just seconds left in the third and final minute of stoppage time, substitute Haris Seferovic finished off a length-of-the-field move by slamming home a close-range shot. After wild Swiss celebrations, Ecuadors shell-shocked players barely had time to restart before the final whistle was blown.Vancouver Canucks forward Alex Burrows will not be suspended for the alleged biting incident that took place between him and Bostons Patrice Bergeron during Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday. NHL senior vice-president of hockey operations Mike Murphy announced the decision in a statement on Thursday. "After reviewing the incident, including speaking with the on-ice officials, I can find no conclusive evidence that Alex Burrows intentionally bit the finger of Patrice Bergeron." Murphy spoke to Burrrows informally on Thursday, and there was no official hearing. Geno Atkins Jersey. The league concluded after the meeting that this was a scrum-related issue and that no official saw it. The incident occurred during a scrum at the end of the first period. While a linesman was trying to break up some pushing and shoving, Bergerons hand ended up near Burrows face and a television replay appeared to show the Canucks forward biting down on a finger of Bergerons glove. Bergeron said that his finger was cut after the incident.cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
