Canada now truly a soccer country, says record goal-scorer Sinclair

VANCOUVER, June 29 : Canada needed a stoppage-time goal from Stephen Eustaquio to beat South Africa and make it through to the last 16 at the World Cup, but they got an early vote of confidence from Christine Sinclair, the country's greatest-ever player, who never doubted that they would progress. 

"During the first half of the South Africa game, I booked flights to Houston, I knew they were going to win," a smiling Sinclair told Reuters the morning after the game. 

Canada will face the Netherlands or Morocco in Texas in the last 16 of a tournament they are co-hosting with the United States and Mexico, and Sinclair says the event and the team's success have boosted the status of the sport in the ice hockey-mad country. 

"Something's changed - like, we've become like a soccer country, and the fans are incredible and everyone seems happy and totally united. It's been beyond my expectations, for sure," Sinclair said. 

"Honestly, it has been absolutely amazing. I've known all along what the sport can do, and I've been fortunate to have played it and played in World Cups and Olympics, and I've seen in other places how it can bring people together."

Sinclair and the Canadian women's team have long been the standard-bearers for the sport in the country, hosting the World Cup in 2015 and winning Olympic gold in Tokyo, and by getting out of their group the men's team have won their place in the nation's hearts. 

With 190 goals in 331 caps, the 43-year-old Sinclair from Burnaby is the top scorer in the history of international football, and she was an integral part of the team that won Olympic gold in Tokyo.

Sinclair finds it mildly embarrassing that her voice can be heard on Vancouver's SkyTrains during the World Cup, giving fans