Didn't see the thread started anywhere, so I thought I would.... even if I am based in Australia. At the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minnesota, this Wednesday at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m ET on ESPN2 (and 9 a.m. Thursday, Melbourne time for me here), in their penultimate match before the Olympics, the USA women take on the Matildas. Roster story -- ussoccer.com GOALKEEPERS (2): Kristin Luckenbill, Briana Scurry; DEFENDERS (6): Brandi Chastain, Joy Fawcett, Kate Markgraf, Heather Mitts, Christie Rampone, Cat Reddick; MIDFIELDERS (6): Shannon Boxx, Julie Foudy, Angela Hucles, Kristine Lilly, Lindsay Tarpley, Aly Wagner; FORWARDS (4): Mia Hamm, Heather O’Reilly, Cindy Parlow, Abby Wambach. Here's Australia's team, I presume. The Matildas are currently on a North American tour, in the midst of their own Olympic preparations, and they've posted wins over Mexico and today (Australian time) against a USASA Select squad (2-0 in Milwaukee).
i'm not that familiar with Adult Soccer Accosiation Select, Is that the group of US retired national team players ?
Google is your friend. USASA [tangent]I looked at the 2004 women's roster and didn't recognize any names. Anyone else see names they know?[/tangent]
Probably all-star players from the Adult Soccer Association League. Though there is a large margin for error in that statement.
http://www.usasa.com/2004ingles/Select/USASA WNST.pdf I wonder if that Ronnie Fair is the same Ronnie Fair that is the twin of Lorrie? Also...didn't Allyson Marquand play for like Stanford or some other NorCal school or sumpin'?
Preview, from ESPN Soccernet I had forgotten that these teams had been drawn into the same Olympic group. Should make it an even more interesting match, then.
Yeah, she played for Stanford last year. She was #11. http://gostanford.collegesports.com/sports/w-soccer/stats/042303aaa.html
A story on Bri from the St. Paul Pioneer Press: Saving grace Olympic goalkeeper Briana Scurry, rarely able to be home because of team travel, was there when her father died. BY SEAN JENSEN Pioneer Press
From the Star Tribune in Minneapolis: Olympics: Last hurrah for U.S. soccer's biggest stars Michael Rand, Star Tribune July 21, 2004
From the St. Paul Pioneer Press: Positioning for gold Team USA looks ahead in game against familiar foe BY TIM LEIGHTON Pioneer Press From Soccer America: U.S. WOMEN: Americans, Aussies tangle in Olympic preview From CyberSoccerNews: US to play Australia in preview of Olympics Three things to bear in mind by Katherine Minarik
Any sign of a webcast, aside from the matchtracker at www.ussoccer.com? Today's the day... can't wait for the match.
When was the last time April had the team ready when they walked onto the field? IT seems like ever game we are playing down to the other teams at the start. We never seem, anymore, to control a game from the start. April again is showing her ability to dumb down the team. The idea that there is anything to "hide" from anyone is ABSURD! All she is doing is increasing the other team's belief that they can play with the US. To top it off the US's back line is looking VERY sloppy right now.
Bugger. And I can't believe there's no live coverage of the match over here, too. Not even via a webcast on any Aussie sites.