Christine Sinclair & Sophie Schmidt: Highlights from pre-game press conference 🎙️

I'm going to start by taking questions from the floor, please raise your hand if you have questions. It's just been a real treat to be in this week. It's always, you know, an absolute honor to represent Canada. So definitely making the most of that, taking that part seriously, but off the field, there's no place I'd rather be Zink and I were reminiscing and just talking about how amazing this environment is, how great the humans are here. So just a lot of laughter, soaking it all in. The pups are here. So just bringing a lot of joy to the team, just embracing it, because, you know, it's time swindling away very quickly. Yeah, for me, I've tried to, like, treat the first part of the camp like any other camp we've had, trying to focus on beating Australia twice. But I knew that once we kind of moved back to Vancouver, things would change. And yeah, just the vibe around practice today. I think we had a half an hour long photo shoot, so we could all take individual pictures with everyone. So it's Yeah, I think it's kind of sinking in now that this is it. But as Sophie said, just trying to enjoy every, every moment. It's actually really enjoyable to play soccer without any stress. Yeah, it's got a nice feeling. I know, for me, I haven't had many of those moments, because obviously, we still practice in a game. But it hit me when I was packing for camp coming here. I'm like, this is gonna be the last time packing for national team camp. So that was the one time for me, it's hit me. When I Yeah, when I left Portland, I'm like, well, this is this is it. But I'm sure the next couple days, obviously more will happen. Well, no, well, I already thought I was gonna be here. Everything's a bonus. Yeah, I mean, I love working with kids. I think it's one of our most important roles. It's, you know, to be a role model to help inspire the next generation of young Canadians. And for me, obviously, being back home. Being in those fields, I mean, I literally played high school soccer on those fields. And our national team pretty much lived at that building for months on end at time. So it brought back a lot of memories, obviously, being from Burnaby, I go there a lot anyway. But for me, anytime I can give back to the kids help inspire them. Yeah, just show them what's possible. If you put in the work. It's a joy. It was a little cold, though. I'm not gonna lie, Asher and I were frozen. But no, it was a great night. I think I just reiterate what Steph said, it is the moments away from the soccer field that I am going to miss the most. Some of these girls, ladies, women, I've played with them for the majority of my life. Like I've played with Sinki for 20 years, almost 20 years now. So it's only the humans that I'm going to miss. But also just like some of the crazy stories that come out of life that we live, the places we get to see interactions that happen. Yeah, just some amazing life experiences. The annual Christmas party center. I mean, it makes me proud. You know, when Soph and I like first joined the national team, really, no one cared. I mean, I joined because like, obviously, I got invited, but it was just like something cool to do. And to see the growth of the game, to see where it's at now and the opportunities that are available for, you know, whether it's internationally, whether it's playing pro. Honestly, I thought I never thought in my career that this was going to happen. And I did. Yeah, I just feel fortunate to have been a part of, of that growth. And yeah, it's, it's incredible to like, experience the change. These young kids have all the opportunities in the world now. It's exciting. Oh, absolutely. Like, you guys are not hearing from me ever. Honestly, just like dream, dream and go for it. You know, all the players on the national team, we were once that young kid that that had aspirations and dreams of playing professionally and represent Canada at World Cups and Olympics. And there's no secret. It's a lot of work. But man, it's the best job in the world. And yeah, just to go for it. Anything's possible. It's a good question. It's a question I ask myself often. I'm definitely going to be involved in the game in some regard. Like Sinki said, it's important to give back to the game. It's given me so much and building who I am, the life that I've lived. But yeah, definitely involved in some capacity if that's coaching behind the scenes or whatnot. Who knows there's a league coming to Canada. So that's, that's, that's there too. And Dee's in the back of my mind just being like, yeah. But yeah, soccer will be a part of it in some way. And, and I can't, I can't wait to give back and influence girls in a different capacity. Yeah, I'm very similar to Soph. I haven't quite figured it out. Hopefully playing another year down south, but I'll stay involved in the sport. You know, it's been my life pretty much since I was four. So whether that's helping Dee in her league, whether that's coaching, we'll see, but I'll definitely be involved. I think that's a testament to Sinki who she is. She's like the ruthless finesse finisher that we all know and love. But she lives the Canadian DNA, the grit. I don't think we would be the team we are had that identity if that didn't shine through in our captain. So like you said, she's willing to work hard, put her body on the line. But for me, it's just like her soccer IQ is just unreal. As a player. I love playing with her. I know where she's going to be what she's going to do. And I can play her the worst ball and she's going to take an amazing touch to make me look good. She's definitely a teammate that makes everyone around her better. 75 years. Wow. Like age wise? Yeah. I know where you're going. Yeah. Look, I think if there's one thing that in Canada, we need to work on is like the pipeline to produce and develop like the next generation. I hope that like I look at like a Jesse Fleming, for instance, like I hope she gets to 300 caps. Because she's like that talented and that driven. But at the same time, I hope she doesn't. Because that would mean that we've produced like the next generation of young soccer players. You know what I mean? Yeah, I think, you know, like Soph mentioned with the hopefully with a professional league coming to our country, it will I think, I hope, like start to address the lack of a pipeline, the lack of a pathway for young Canadians to reach the national team. I think for a long time in Canada, players have reached the national team by chance instead of design. And yeah, hopefully in years to come that will change. No, I mean, it's I'm not gonna lie, it's pretty cool to see, you know, you walk out, whether it's in Victoria or Halifax, you know, last month, and to see the growth of the game to see those young girls, those young boys at the game with your your name on the back of their jersey, we've come up, we've absolutely come a long way. Like I said, I think it's one of like, one of the things we're most proud of is to see the growth of the game. And hopefully, yeah, hopefully this is just the beginning. Especially for women's football, it's just going to continue to grow and develop. And hopefully in this country, it continues to be so as well. Oh, God, don't ask me. We're not the team DJs. People do that job for us. I mean, I requested Christmas music be played tomorrow. So but bad answer. Yeah, we are so the wrong people to be asked. Sorry, sorry, we're so lame. Michael Jackson's Man in the Mirror. Like, that's a great one. You know, maybe. Richard. Like when that generation of players like retired, we lost the Celine Dion, like the youngsters on the team don't even know anymore. They're like, what song is this? So we don't even have like, a postgame song anymore. Or at least not one that I recognize. Well, first of all, I think both of us would probably love to be involved in 2026. Somehow, you know, we might be available. But I think as Soph mentioned with the league, I think that's the here in Canada, it has to be the next step. I think you saw in the last World Cup, where the game is going. And I think Canada and Haiti were the only women's teams in that tournament that didn't don't have a domestic league. So the fact that we're compared to Haiti is scary. Yeah, so I think professional league, get that going. Or else I fear that we'll get passed by unfortunately. What I would love most and looking forward to most would be a win with a shutout at home in front of our fans. I think he's scoring a goal. Maybe me assisting it. No, but honestly, like that is ideal. A win for our fans, but just giving them something to celebrate. I think we played really well last game. So bringing that exciting attacking football. And then just having family and friends here, people that supported us throughout our entire career from the very beginning, they're going to be in those stands, people I don't even remember coming to the game. So I think just embracing that moment, because like you said, there's it's happened so often where you get an injury or pregnancy or whatever, and you don't get to enjoy your last game. So I know that I will, but I'm sure some people as well, we're going to definitely take in every second possible. Ditto. The last I heard was I had asked for 145 tickets. There might be eight left. So yeah, I should ask for more. I didn't know I knew that many people. But yeah, that's what I'm at. Well, I will be at Sinky's gala. Cannot wait. Looking forward to that. Is it a gala when you're wearing sneakers and hoodies? St. Sinclair gala. Casual. I think just taking the time to enjoy offseason. Sinky and I were talking about it to not have to look forward to being ready to play a game in January or February that we can get ready for a normal club preseason. Spend time with family. And yes, there is a vacation plan somewhere in there as well. Looking forward to it. Yeah, no real vacation. Just yeah, so said looking forward to actually taking a bit of time off and then like properly prepare for next season. And yeah, just focus on spending time with my family. I'm actually not aware of what's happening, really, before the game. But no, I mean, I haven't really tried to picture it or envision it. All I've done is promise myself to enjoy it and to take in every moment. Yeah, I don't know much of what's going on. But for me, I try to prepare myself for seeing my family because that's always like the emotional thing for me. So I don't want to like cry on the field before the game or something. I'm definitely gonna be away from elemental Hudson every week. Yeah. I know for me, like, the thing that separates, like this team from others is the culture and the people. And there's, you know, past teammates that I haven't seen in years that I know are going to be there. I honestly can't wait to see them. I think we're both very fortunate that we get to experience what we're about to experience in a couple nights time. And unfortunately, that hasn't always been the case for teammates. I think I like the Charmaine Hoopers of the world. It never got the proper send off and celebration. So yeah, I can't, I can't wait to share that moment with them. Because honestly, they're the ones that built this program. And we're only here because of them. I'm extremely disappointed. I did not get a message. I'm not the guy. So I'm just saying that for the right amount of money, we both could go to Wrexham. Just throwing that out there for you're watching, you know, but no, nothing tops that. I don't think it's possible. Jealous, like the highlight of my career. It's been fantastic having her here. I love to see young talent come in. She's absolutely been thriving, like, just absolutely fresh and draining. It's exciting to watch. We had a little BC princesses picture out on the field and it was nice to have both her and Jordan in it. And it's, it's kind of exciting to see that, you know, the future is bright, like, this team's in a good place and to have players like her, people like her come in, it's it's kind of like, yes, like, we're handing it over. It's in good hands, like, all good. No, it's just one of those things that you, I'm very thankful and grateful and like overwhelmed by, like walking in today. And seeing that it was like, it actually, that was the moment where I was like, oh, this, this is real, like, this is actually all happening here. And it's funny that you say it was, like, open soon after I was born or before I was born, some of my earliest memories of playing soccer in youth was actually here, because they used to host like a Safeway soccer tournament here, like a youth tournament over the winter, like, during school, but it was like between Christmas and New Year's, I think. And some of my best memories of playing youth soccer was on that field. And now to know that I'm finishing my international career on that same field is kind of surreal. Yeah, it's kind of come full circle. We were like five or six, like, yeah, it's, it's really crazy. We thought we had made it, you know, yeah, we have playing on Christmas. No, yeah. Thank you guys, guys. Christmas party.