Canada’s hopes of defending their Olympic women’s soccer title came to a heartbreaking end as they were eliminated by Germany in the quarterfinals after a dramatic penalty shootout on Saturday, August 3, 2024.
The match, held at Stade de Marseille, ended in a scoreless draw after regular and extra time, pushing the game to penalties where Germany prevailed 4-2.
Nichelle Prince had a standout moment, leaping over German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger during the match, but Canada couldn’t capitalize on their chances. The penalty shootout saw the Canadian side fall short, marking their first loss of the tournament.
Canada had entered the knockout stage despite a six-point penalty from FIFA due to a drone spying scandal involving Canada Soccer. However, their Olympic journey ended sooner than they had hoped, contrasting with their triumphant gold medal win at the Tokyo Games in 2021.
Germany’s victory sets them up for a semifinal clash against the United States, who secured their spot by defeating Japan 1-0 earlier in the day in Lyon.
The Canadian team, under the guidance of acting head coach Spence, fought valiantly but ultimately could not repeat their Tokyo success. This result marks a significant moment in the Paris Olympics, as a new champion will be crowned in women’s soccer.