GAME DAY: CANADA VS. SWEDEN, 6: 30 A.M.
Cowichan Valley veteran defender Emily Zurrer's Olympics are done.
But her Canadian women's soccer teammates (1-1) look to play on, needing a good result against world No. 4 Sweden (1-0-1) in the final Pool F game today at 6: 30 a.m. at St.
James's Park in Newcastle.
World No. 7 Canada goes into this morning's key Olympic fixture weakened at the back end with central defenders Zurrer and Robyn Gayle officially out with hamstring injuries and the hobbled Candace Chapman borderline.
It was an unfortunate end to the 2012 London Summer Games for Crofton's Zurrer, a starter in Canada's run to the quarter-finals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and in the 2011 World Cup at Germany.
That is especially so considering the Cowichan High, Lower Island Metro and Nanaimo FC grad fought her way back onto the national team after being left off for the Olympic CONCACAF qualifier this year at B.C. Place.
"Thanks everyone [for] the [messages]," Zurrer tweeted Monday.
"Tore my hammy again testing it right before our game vs S.A. [Canada defeated South Africa 3-0 Saturday] and recovery time is just too much. Gave up my accreditation to an amazing teammate last night. Awful timing for my first serious injury, but accepted it and ready to represent my country off the pitch this time."
That teammate Zurrer referred to who got her accreditation was either Melanie Booth or MarieEve Nault, who will sub in for Zurrer and Gayle.
"Emily has just been a positive influence while doing everything she could to get back to full fitness, but unfortunately the timelines were just too tight," Canadian head coach John Herdman told Postmedia News.
Group F is wide open heading into the final games today with Canada playing Sweden and defending World Cup-champion Japan (1-0-1) taking on South Africa (0-2).
Canada can finish anywhere from first to third, depending on this morning's results. A win against Sweden guarantees first or second place for Canada and a spot in the quarter-finals. A loss or a draw still guarantees third place but an anxious time scoreboard watching as only two of the third-place finishers from the three groups will advance to the quarter-finals.
ON TV
TODAY
3, 4 and 9 a.m on Chs. 5/23 (TSN/SNP) - TBA.
6: 30 a.m. on Ch. 24 (OLN) - Equestrian.
9 a.m. on Ch. 9 (CTV) - Gymnastics, Swimming, Beach Volleyball.
10: 30 a.m. on Ch. 10 (OMNI) - Badminton.
EARLY WEDNESDAY
1: 35 a.m. on Ch. 18 (NBC) - Gymnastics, Swimming, Diving.
4: 30 and 6 a.m. on Ch. 24 (OLN) - Cycling.
