The night the U.S. women arrived
Posted on July 4, 2012 12:05 am
The United States was the dominant team of the early years of international women’s soccer, but it didn’t go into the first Women’s World Cup, in 1991, as the favorite. There was no favorite. Nobody really knew what to expect at that point. That changed on Nov. 24, when the United States beat Taiwan by 7-0 in the quarterfinals in Foshan, China. That was the night when the U.S. women announced to the world that this nation that was a traditional doormat in men’s soccer was going to be a power in the women’s game.
It also was the night when Michelle Akers stamped herself as the greatest female soccer player in the world, perhaps of all time. Before this game, there were three contenders for that honor: Akers, Heidi Mohr of Germany and Carolina Morace of Italy. After Akers’ five-goal performance in this game, there was no longer any doubt.
Even before this game, the United States had been establishing a very good record in this World Cup. It had swept through qualifying undefeated and then had done the same in its first-round group, beating Sweden, Brazil and Japan. There had been some worrisome defensive slip-ups against Sweden, however, and some of the other teams were looking strong as well.
Officially, the United States’ opponent in this quarterfinal was called “Chinese Taipei” as a result of some semantic sleight-of-hand in international sports 10 years earlier that allowed the International Olympic Committee to admit China to the Olympics without having to oust Taiwan. China felt that Taiwan was not really a separate nation and was still hoping to annex it some day.
The best of Akers’ five goals may have been the last, a diving header just inside the near post after a free kick from the left by Shannon Higgins. The last of her three first-half goals also was a beauty, as she picked the corner of the net after the ball had been punched out to her by the goalkeeper. Akers’ goals raised her total in this tournament to eight in four games, a total that later reached 10 in six games. The other American goals on this night were scored by Joy Biefeld (who later became Joy Fawcett) and Julie Foudy. The other blades of the Americans’ “triple-edged sword” in this tournament, April Heinrichs and Caren Jennings, were held scoreless in this game, but Jennings scored six and Heinrichs four in other games.
Over the years, the United States women certainly have scored victories more famous than this one, including the one six days later when they won the first Women’s World Cup by beating Norway in the final. This one was a vital stepping stone, however.
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The death last week of David Wangerin, the author of “Soccer in a Football World” and “Distant Corners,” is a great loss to American soccer. His books are two of the finest testaments to the fact that American soccer really does have a history.
Geopolitical note: the government on Taiwan doesn’t consider itself a separate country, either. They believe they are the legitimate government of China; the country’s official name is still “Republic of China”.
Anyway … is Akers still in the “greatest of all time” conversation? After Mia Hamm, Sun Wen, Birgit Prinz, and Marta, is Akers stil up there?
I think she still should be in consideration, but she arguably isn’t even the best of older-than-Hamm generation. Elisabetta Vignotto scored more goals and had a higher strike rate than Akers. I doubt Italy played the same standard of competition in the 70s and 80s as the US did in the 90s, but it’s not like there were a ton of quality teams in any of those decades.
I guess someone more contemporary to Akers would be Heidi Mohr. She should probably be in the running too.
Akers probably falls into the Stanley Matthews / Ferenc Puskas / Billy Gonsalves category of “greatest players.”
That is, players who were undeniably the greatest in their historical context.
If you could magically transport these players into modern soccer, things would not be the same, but you can’t do that. It’s impossible to disentangle the time and place that they played from their value as players.
Basically, there are a whole lot of greatest players ever, or none at all. It’s like trying to compare Messi to Maradona.
I think Akers is still in the conversation. Many people thought she was better than Hamm (including Hamm herself). The case for Akers is aided by the fact that she won her two World Cups playing widely different positions, striker in 1991 and holding midfielder in 1999. But whether she is better than Marta is a very tall order. I do think there is no question that she was better than Vignotto, who was so far back (1970-89) that it’s hard to judge whether her stats really mean anything.
It’s like comparing Messi and Cantona . . . both great strikers, but what’s the point really, they’re totally different. BTW, the USA was anything but the favorite going into ’91 and “dominance” wouldn’t really be discussed until AFTER that tournament. I think most contemporary observers thought Germany, Norway, or Sweden would beat the US (and the USWNT wasn’t that far removed from being outclassed by Italy in the late 80′s).
When I said that the United States was the dominant team of the early years of international women’s soccer, I didn’t mean pre-1990, I meant pre-2000. Perhaps I should have made that clearer.
I do think you should specify b/c there are many fans here in the USA who do not believe there were other strong women’s teams before the USWNT won in 1991. Posters just repeat the “no one supported women’s soccer then and that’s why the USWNT won” refrain. The early history of women’s international soccer is little discussed and it would be great for more folks to know about it.
[i]Is Akers still up there?[/i]
Yes. At the top of the list.
She was the best in the world at her position as a forward. Then she was the best in the world at her position as a holding mid. If Marta moves to midfield or defense when she is 30 and dominates that position, then maybe she can make a case to top Akers.
Absobloodylutely.
Great word! And entirely appropriate
Michelle also scored both goals in the 1991 final.
I was fortunate enough to work at the same hospital as her mom shortly after Michelle helped the US women win the gold in Atlanta. She came for a visit and the hospital campus was overrun with girls holding soccer balls. Michelle was a real class act, taking time to speak with every girl and offering encouragement.
Michele Akers is the best female soccer player ever.
This.
There really is no debate. Ask any ’91er (or ’99er). Size. Speed. Cannon of a leg ripped shots. Fearless. And then you throw in the health stuff she had to overcome.
IIRC, FIFA refused to call this a World Cup at the time so as not to dilute the Men’s event!
I played on a team at the time that had lots if guys from all over the world ,and told them before the event that the US would win. They did not believe me, but I earned a bit of cred later…..
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