Prolific forward Janine Beckie didn’t dodge cameras after her missed penalty helped seal Canada’s fate at the 2019 Women’s World Cup, and she also explained why legendary striker Christine Sinclair wasn’t at the spot.
Beckie, 24, scored two goals in Canada’s run to the bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, and the Houston Dash forward and Texas Tech product has 25 goals in 57 caps.
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The American-born Beckie was called upon to try to level the score against Sweden on Monday in the Round of 16, and took a solid effort which was parried by Hedvig Lindahl in an outstanding bit of goalkeeping.
“I’m confident in my penalty,” Beckie said. “I thought I hit it really well. I thought she made a really good save. It’s the big moments. It’s the moments that you live for. You get all the glory if it goes in, and you take the blame it feels like if you miss. That’ll stay with me for a long time.”
So why was she at the spot? Here’s Beckie on TSN, and Sinclair’s confirmation of the tale. As we expected, Lindahl’s success against Sinclair at the Algarve Cup played a role.
“Christine actually asked me if I wanted to take it. That’s a big moment for me and it’s gonna be hard for a while.”
Full marks for stepping up to both places: The penalty spot and the post-match interview.
Poor kid 😢 pic.twitter.com/FPH2RqAbFd
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) June 24, 2019
“I feel bad for asking her.” Christine Sinclair on #CAN missed penalty. Sinclair asked Beckie, partly because Lindahl saved Sinclair penalty at the Algarve in March. #FIFAWWC #SWECAN
— Har Journalist (@HarJournalist) June 24, 2019