The Italian soccer federation wasn’t as kind. On its website, it blasted the referee for allowing the Gayle goal. The FIGC’s report stated the game was “spoiled by a foul in the penalty area that went undetected by the referee” before Gayle got the winner.

As he announced his roster for the upcoming tournament in Vancouver, Herdman also spoke of the need to keep the team’s heads “light, bright and clean.” So, in January, he is bringing in Dr. Ceri Evans, listed on the roster as a “mental trainer” to work with the team, to help boost the player’s confidence after the morale-shattering World Cup — a tournament where the player’s mental toughness was brought into question.

Christine Sinclair then gave Canada the win with a goal two minutes into stoppage time. After a hectic WPS and World Cup schedule, Canada’s reigning player of the year took a sabbatical and missed Canada’s last two friendlies against the United States. But, in a style to which Canadian fans have grown accustomed, Sinclair returned to score a key goal.