York City's Michael Ingham holds Northern Ireland hopesCanadian keeper LeBlanc has important role
Veteran has been member of squad since 1998, may be her last World Cup
Canadian keeper Karina Leblanc has been a member of the national squad since 1998. (Richard Lam/Canadian Press)
Karina LeBlanc watched from the sidelines for the first two games of the FIFA Women's World Cup. But her role on the Canadian team cannot be underestimated.
The veteran goalkeeper has been a member of the national team since 1998 and has long been its backbone.
Now 31, the oldest member of the World Cup team shares the stage with 28-year-old Erin McLeod and 24-year-old Stephanie Labbe.
"I think we have the three best 'keepers in the world," said Canadian coach Carolina Morace, adding it's never easy choosing a starter.
"The goalkeeper situation is absurd, our top three 'keepers would start in almost any other country, and they're really great friends and they compete every single day to start in net," said veteran defender Rhian Wilkinson.
"We can hear them cheering for each other and encouraging each other and yet they're fighting for one spot. They're really setting the example for the rest of the team."
Morace opted for McLeod for the first two games at the 2011 tournament. Canada lost both — 2-1 to Germany and 4-0 to France — with McLeod one of the team's lone bright lights.
When the final whistle blew on Canada's crushing defeat by France, LeBlanc made a beeline for McLeod.
"I said sorry for letting her down, and she said we did it together. She said she was proud of me," McLeod said, barely holding back tears. "She was the role model she's always been.
"Karina knows, I tell her all the time, and I'm a soppy mess every time I try to express it to her. She's been my role model and to train with her every day for the last 10 years has been really incredible," said McLeod. "I wouldn't be half the 'keeper I am if not for her."
This is a Canadian-record fourth and possibly last World Cup for LeBlanc, who came into the tournament with 88 caps.
"After the [2012] Olympics I'm going to take a look," LeBlanc said. "The biggest thing for me is I still have to have a passion for it, because it's not fair to my teammates or myself if I'm just doing it just because it's in Canada.
"As long as I still love it every time I step on the field, and my body. . . that's the other big question."
LeBlanc made her World Cup debut in 1999 in the U.S. when the women's game caught the world's imagination. She has gone on to become both a role model and integral part of the team.
Welcoming new players
Wilkinson said LeBlanc keeps the team laughing and goes out of her way to welcome new players into the fold.
Following Canada's loss to France, LeBlanc planned a "team activity" to boost spirits, although the Canadians wouldn't divulge any details.
"If this was her last World Cup it would be a travesty because she brings so much positive energy to the team every day," said Wilkinson. "She's always smiling. When she's not smiling, everyone is a little concerned, she doesn't have off days. Like once a year she's upset and everyone's concerned about her.
"And Four World Cups and she still looks the youngest on the team, we're all trying to figure out what she's doing. She's a great friend and an amazing teammate."
LeBlanc said it's time to start figuring out her future. She'd like a career in broadcasting, and already works as a motivational speaker and runs goalkeeping clinics. She was an assistant coach at Rutgers University, but gave that up to focus on the national team's run to this World Cup.
"You have to start planning ahead," said LeBlanc, a native of Maple Ridge, B.C. "Female athletes aren't in the roles of making millions of dollars, where we have a couple of years to figure it out. So I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to do."
A decade spent criss-crossing North America in pursuit of her soccer dream hasn't helped her put down roots for the future. LeBlanc has played for five pro clubs, including the Los Angeles Sol which folded last season. She'd like to eventually settle in L.A., and joked she currently has no home.
"It's tough to say that it's tough because we are living our dreams, but I haven't lived in one city for more than maybe a year or two. that is the difficult part," LeBlanc said. "It's tough because you don't have that base, you're chasing your dreams and you have to sacrifice a lot for it."
After the World Cup, she'll head to Vancouver to visit family and friends and to "try to feel normal.
"But you know that a month later [when Canada gathers again in preparation for Olympic qualifying] you're going to be back at doing what is not normal."
The Canadians wrap up a disappointing World Cup campaign Tuesday against Nigeria. Morace will choose her 'keeper and the rest of the 11-man roster prior to kickoff.
Morace said McLeod would likely get the start, but added LeBlanc will also get consideration "because it's her fourth World Cup and maybe she deserves to play too."