2002 Gold Cup articles, standings and general discussion [R implicit]

From the US Soccer Q & A with Lilly:

"From Montreal in 1994, I remember we went to some really good restaurants and in one of the games we had the first and only brawl in women's national team history, which I want to go on record as saying that we did not start."

Does anyone remember this or have any information on it? thanks.

 

https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?postid=446197#post446197

 

Seattle update from US Soccer:

U.S. Can Clinch Berth in Women's Gold Cup Semifinals with Win or Tie vs. Panama on Saturday in Seattle

"In the afternoon, about half the team went to renowned Pike Place Market to watch goalkeepers Briana Scurry and LaKeysia Beene, and midfielder Aly Wagner, throw and catch some very large salmon at the famous outdoor fish market. All three U.S. players successfully executed not only the catch, but also the throw of the large, silmy beasts, earning cheers from their teammates, TV cameras and a large crowd that had assembled."

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
U.S. goalkeeper LaKeysia Beene before catching her fish at the world-famous Pike Place Market:
"I was nervous. I saw Aly (Wagner) catch her fish, and I was like, 'If a midfielder can catch that thing, I better not drop it.'"

 

From the Seattle Times:

Briana Scurry back competing for national team's goalie job
By Jayda Evans
Seattle Times staff reporter

Nice!!!:

 

Brawl

You're saying Hamm slugged four Trinidad and Tobago players in the brawl and the others hit one or two players each?

 

Brawl

It started when Mia was making a run up the side line and got nailed in the back of the Knees (cleats up) and fouled into her own bench. the US bench cleared, but; in the end as I understand it. though there was alot of yelling and shoving, no punches were thrown.

 

Re: Brawl

Isn't this the same game Mia talks about in her book?

 

From the USSF site:

U.S. Women to Face Costa Rica Wednesday for a Berth at 2003 Women's World Cup

Wow. Canada has scored 23 goals.

 

Yes. They are willing and able to take the chances they need to to get goals. They continue to do this even when the shots are not going in as against CR in the last game.

They may well get another 10-12 against the hapless and inept Mexican team.

As I said before the start of the tournament there are two women's soccer teams in CONCACAF and a bunch of rec level players haphazardly thrown together doing bad impressions of soccer teams.

It is unfortunate that this is the case as it makes it MUCH harder to get games that are the least bit of a challenge in the lead up to the WWC.

 

article

ESPN has a very good analysis of the team. Check it out:

http://espn.go.com/soccer/s/2002/1101/1454242.html

 

Re: article

Nice article. But Millie is most definitely NOT past her prime and I don't think Mia necessarily is, either.

 

Re: Re: article

The quote in the article is:

"Mia Hamm and Tiffeny Milbrett may have already reached their peak, but the WUSA has clearly helped the all-around games of Cindy Parlow and Shannon MacMillan. "

I think the author is trying to say that the WUSA has improved Parlow's and MacMillan's game, but that Millie and Mia are already at the top of their games and that the WUSA could not improve them any further. Not that they were past thier peak.

Regardless, it is nice that ESPN has written a fairly decent article about women's soccer and not just copying the AP report as usual.

 

I went back and watched all the tapes of this tourney so far. It's hard to get a feel for how USA is really playing. Actually, have they faced a top notch team since the Algarve? I discount the match against Norway in Minnesota because Norway was tired and basically mailed that one in. Beulah mentioned something to the effect that they're playing differently every game.

 

Alana posted these earlier in the KK...don't see 'em here so here you go:

From the Seattle Post Intelligencer:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/othersports/94222_socc05.shtml

From the Seattle Times:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/134569404_goldcup05.html

 

Re: Re: Re: article

It was so decent I sent the author an email complimenting him on it.

I did point out to him, though, that I was surprised that neither Wambach nor Slaton were mentioned. Though Slaton is not playing in the Gold Cup, it's only because of injuries, and she has become both a USWNT regular and fan favorite quickly. Wambach has showed she can make an impact and perhaps even provide some of the presence that Akers used to provide, and she too is rapidly becoming a fan favorite. I thought they merited mention.

However, I surely do not begrudge Cat Reddick her day in the sun in the article -- though I'm sure she'd appreciate the author spelling her last name right next time.

 

the article posted above from the Seattle Times:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/134569404_goldcup05.html

Haven't we seen enough of "Mia is past her prime, pay attention to Millie" articles? I agree Millie should get more attention, but can't they just concentrate on that instead of putting down other players? This just seems to be the same tired article that we saw so much before the start of the WUSA season. This person probably does not even know that much about soccer and did not even research their article all that much. the comment at the end:

"Strikers Hamm, Milbrett and midfielder Aly Wagner didn't participate in yesterday's light practice. Hamm, 30, is still recovering from left knee surgery, and Milbrett, 30, tweaked her right knee during Saturday's game and was resting it yesterday. She had an MRI yesterday afternoon. Wagner, a senior All-American at Santa Clara, drove to Portland on Sunday to play in her college team's 1-0 upset over the fourth-ranked Portland Pilots.

All are expected to play tomorrow."

I believe Mia is recovering from her shin bruise not her surgery from a year ago. It would be nice if they has someone who knew something about soccer write the articles.

 

Seriously...that was my exact reaction. Believe it or not writers, you CAN praise Millie without bringing Mia down. And in a way I think it's almost insulting to Millie because her merits can stand on their own regardless of how Mia is playing. When I got to the part about Mia recovering from knee surgery (that was how long ago?) I knew it was another "I don't know crap about soccer but I'm going to try to sound insightful by spotlighting a less recognized player" article.

 

Todays articles:

Seattle Times:
Relaxed U.S. eyes berth in World Cup

Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
World Cup berth in reach tonight

Bremerton Sun:
Soccer rocks Safeco again tonight

 

Ticas v US pre-game article from CyberSoccerNews:

http://www.cybersoccernews.com/uswomen/021106us_cr_pre.shtml

 

The Olympics didn't count?

 

This match, if we win, gives us a birth in the WWC. If we lose then we play for third on Saturday and then have to take on some AFC team to make it in.

 

Yeah...I just thought it was interesting that the writer saw this game as more important than the Olympic final. Hmmm that actually makes sense, never mind.

 

Mucho props to the EVERYONE that made it to the two DH's in Safeco. Apparently us folks that went there were not cheap bastards like those in other venues where the USWNT has played in recent times. See...you can afford $55 tix to these matches if you don't blow all your money on booze and hookers.

This past Saturday Safeco nearly gets 22,000 in the stands. And this is competing with the Huskies playing the same day. Tonight's crowd is obviously smaller but it still looks like a very good turnout.

And special props to the Mexicans and other latins that made it to Safeco. You folks provided a very much needed dose of passion to this tourney.

 

Bremerton Sun:
No place like Safeco for US Women

Seattle Post Intelligencer:
Fans show colors as U.S. women's soccer team wins 7-0

Seattle Post Intelligencer:
China '03, here we come

Seattle Times:
US Women a head above

 

Do the final standings for the 1 and 2 teams have any bearing on which group they are lumped into for the 2003 WWC?