Still getting use to the new format (I'm a late converter) but I think this is where articles like Dolich's soccernet piece on the WNT and Canales' preview of all the teams should go.
I really liked Dolich's article. Some interesting points: There's no better person to take Abby's place than Cheney, who has played the role of the underdog since she was 3, overcoming open-heart surgery to correct a congenital defect. . But if anyone knows they need to show up big at the Olympics, it's Kai, the yin to Wambach's yang. The two looked well on their way to becoming the most inspired scoring duo to come out of the U.S. camp since, well ... ever. The combination of a 5-foot-11 goal-scoring machine and a tattooed athletic prodigy was enough to psych out most defenses the U.S. faced in 2008. Fortunately, Kai possesses enough energy and attitude to designate her as a different kind of bull's-eye up top.
The other thing the Dolich article made me realize is that we are not a big team. Even our "big & tall" players aren't that tall.
Associated Press Medal Predictions: SOCCER Women GOLD--Germany SILVER--Brazil BRONZE--United States Men GOLD--Argentina SILVER--Brazil BRONZE--United States == Sorry, no link. Straight off my company's newswire.
um, the usa men bronze? LOL in their dreams. clearly whomever wrote this doesn't know wtf they are talking about. i expect Nigeria and the dutch to beat them handedly. they will be lucky to make it out of the group. as for the women. I believe the us has the best chance between the us Brazil and Germany to make it to the final. The reason is that even without wambach, they are not in the group of death: Germany and Brazil are. Either one of them could lose a match to Nigeria or north Korea. Even if they get out the US will be in a better position with goal differentials I'm sure.
-- You're forgetting two third-place group finishers will advance to the quarters, so even if Germany or Brazil tanks their group and loses to Nigeria(!) or North Korea, they can still advance. Then it's anyone's game in the quarters. -- Germany will play Nigeria in their group as well. I imagine it'll go down like their match against Argentina and the scoring will be brutal.
I see a few people on here saying Germany will win Gold. I'm not sure I agree with this. The roster they have is missing some key links from the World Cup and in general they have not played well thus far this year. I think Sweden and North Korea have a legit chance. And obvi as well as Brazil. Gold: Brazil Silver: US Bronze: Sweden or N.Korea
I agree with this. As much as I hope that Germany will win a gold medal, I don't think it'll happen. People say because we won the World Cup we'll also win gold at the Olympics but when you look at the World Cup we had a lot of luck as well. Luck that you don't get a second time. My predictions: Gold: Brazil Silver: United States Bronze: Norway/North Korea
Btw, when you look at the schedule at fifa.com : http://www.fifa.com/womensolympic/matches/kostage.html 1G - 3E/F 1F - 2G 2E - 2F 1E - 3 F/G It looks like the third placed team of group F is already sure of the quarterfinals or am I just totally misreading this thing?
That is very unlikely, take a look at the playoff Schedule. 1G - 3E/F 1F - 2G 2E - 2F 1E - 3 F/G The only way both Sweden and USA can reach the final at the same time is that one of them finish second in its group, and then that team have to beat BOTH Germany and Brazil to reach the final, extremely unlikely. My prediction is: gold: Germany Silver: USA bronze: Brazil but is is almost 50-50 which team will win the Germany-Brazil semi.
I would think Germany get the better of the two... reason play very physical and their usual efficient organized styles.. one weakness, Brazil keeper haven't really get tested due to the fine defense... she not a world class one neither... and if the back line make mistakes Germany will punish them... Gold :USA Silver:Germany Bronze: Brazil
You're misreading it. It could come out 1G-3E and 1E-3G, leaving 3F out. So it should work out like this: 3E, 3F go through -> 3E in match 19, 3F in match 22 3E, 3G go through -> 3E in match 19, 3G in match 22 3F, 3G go through -> 3F in match 19, 3G in match 22
WPS coverage of olympics http://womensprofessionalsoccer.bm2...upr8vu3qtgc&id2=aka8ibiow1p0zsu2q12vj3rh2cbgb
I found her remarks about the amount of weight they're losing in practice interesting. Slightly troublesome in that they were surprised by the amount but the training staff know what they are doing. All those pics of players sitting in trashcans of ice on the ussoccer page aren't just for laughs. I hope the training staff and players have figured out some additional ways to mitigate the problems. Hope we've got those "cooling vests" and other such things, too. Drink up, team.
http://www.socceramerica.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.showArticleHomePage&art_aid=27629 Sundhage: 'We have embraced the change' Tuesday, Aug 5, 2008 7:00 AM ET
http://www.latimes.com/sports/printedition/la-sp-olyrodriguez5-2008aug05,0,2126175.story Story on A-Rod.
http://www.sinolinx.com/frame/?url=.../2008/writers/grant_wahl/08/01/denmark/1.html Old news, but still a bit disturbing-Regarding China spying on the Danes at World Cup, and apparently no one taking it very seriously.
If this thread is suppposed to include video then where are the highlights of today's Olympic loss to Norway 2-0?