Canadians allowed to play

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Hussein Malla / the associated press Canada�s Christine Sinclair (foreground) will play France for bronze today as FIFA probe continues. (CP)

• London 2012

  Complete coverage of the Paralympic games in London.

COVENTRY, England -- John Herdman says suspending Christine Sinclair for Canada's historic bronze-medal match would have robbed the London Olympics of one of the finest players in women's soccer.

Canada will have its captain and leading goal-scorer in the lineup Thursday when it battles France for its first Olympic medal, welcome news a day after the threat of FIFA sanctions hung over the squad.

"We were on tenterhooks," said Herdman, Canada's coach. "But more, just the danger of the game losing an opportunity of seeing a great player playing a bronze-medal match.

"I think people came to their senses and have made a great decision for the good of the game. I think Christine is in a great space now. There's nothing worse than going to bed wondering what's going to happen."

Canada's players are clear to start because a FIFA probe into their behaviour won't be completed before the game kicks off. The sport's governing body is investigating "incidents that occurred" following Canada's controversial 4-3 semifinal loss to the United States -- a game that Sinclair and her teammates said they believed was decided by the officials.

The Canadians were openly critical of Norwegian match referee Christina Pedersen, who awarded a free kick on a call the players had said they'd never seen before against Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod. Pedersen whistled McLeod for holding the ball for more than six seconds, which led to a tying goal by the Americans.

Sinclair, who scored a hat trick in Canada's loss in arguably the best game of her career, said she doesn't regret what she said.

"It's an emotional time," said Sinclair, who has now has 143 career goals. "We just lost the semifinal of the Olympics in one way or another, and we felt a little robbed, so we said those things and I don't think any of us regret anything."

The players took Tuesday to mourn the semifinal loss to the U.S, , then tried to move on. But there was anxiety over the possibility that Sinclair, and potentially others, might be sidelined for what will be the biggest game in the team's history.

The Canadians appeared to have relegated that heartbreaking game to ancient history Wednesday, smiling and joking during practice on a pristine pitch at the University of Warwick.

The deluge of support from back home has helped.

"I think we've gotten a glimpse of it, especially the fan support we've been getting, through email, has just been ridiculous," Melissa Tancredi said.

The coaching staff put together a package of well-wishes for the women's team and presented it to them Wednesday morning, including a message from Prime Minister Stephen Harper and a tweet from movie star Samuel L. Jackson.

After congratulating the U.S. on the win, Jackson added: "Lemme say though, those Canuck Ladies brought da noise! They came to WIN! Ehhh?!!"

The Canadians know they're in tough at City of Coventry Stadium against a France side that thrashed them 4-0 in last summer's World Cup, mathematically putting them out of the tournament.

-- The Canadian Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 9, 2012 C4