“Bring it home”: When Canada won gold in a women’s football match, the family cheered for Julia Grosso of British Columbia

Carlos Grosso of Coquitlam, British Columbia, is proud that his daughter Julia is about to participate in the most important competition of her life.

“We are very very proud and very excited,” he said.

Grosso, a midfielder of the Canadian women’s football team, shocked the football world on Monday, beating the United States 1-0 to advance to the final of the Tokyo Olympic Women’s Football Championship.

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Carlos believes that the team has the ability to take home the gold medal.

“I think they are there now. I think, personally, they will win because they believe.”

Carlos and his wife stayed up every night to watch the Canadian game live.The family is relieved that the last match against Sweden will be broadcast at 7:30pm local time instead of 3am

This family has witnessed every step of Julia’s football journey, from youth football to the Vancouver White Caps Women’s Elite Team, to her current club, the University of Texas Longhorns.

Carlos said that the Canadian team captain and Burnaby native Christine Sinclair helped 20-year-old Julia on her journey.

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“Their relationship is very good,” Carlos said. “She has a special place for her because Christine has been very good to her since she came there. I think she is 17 years old.”

Carlos said that Julia’s dream of representing her country was triggered by the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which held several games in Vancouver, including the final.

“When the World Cup was here, we went to watch the game, she imagined and she wanted to participate in the World Cup,” Carlos said.

Within six years, she went from a fan in the stands to the center of the stage. Carlos can’t wait for Thursday night.

“Go, Canada, take it home,” Carlos said. “gold medal.”