The U.S. had everything to play for today ............. - Defend their Olympic Title (and become the first 3-peat winner in the same major women's football tournament in history, something Germany couldn't do in the 2011 WWC) - Get revenge and redemption over Japan, who had broken their hearts in last year's WWC - Reclaim the top of the mountain as the new major tournament title holder in the world (away from Japan) - Prevent Japan from being the first team to ever win the WWC and then the Olympic Gold the following year (something the U.S. can set a goal for themselves in 2015-2016) - Win a Gold medal - Win for your country - Continue to reshape women's soccer in America, and earn much needed momentum toward a possible new women's professional soccer league at home in the states - Oh, and quite a bit of money was at stake. The U.S. would get $1.5 million to share among all players, reserves, and trainers on the squad, if they win Gold over Japan. They would have gotten much less (probably small level six-figures) if they would have only gotten Silver. This $1.5 million to share amongst themselves for winning Gold, is "in addition to" the $25,000 that each member of the team gets for winning Gold from the U.S. Olympic Committee. The $1.5 million shared among 30-40 people, is still quite an additional amount, on top of the $25,000 they each get. I don't know what each of the players will spend with it. We know Alex Morgan will use quite a bit of it on fashion. - Last but not least, this win would give them a chance to come back home and celebrate with their fans and country during their homecoming tour. If they would have won Silver, then they come back and only get three matches to play on their homecoming tour. By winning Gold, they now get ten matches (seven additional than if they would have won Silver). So now ten matches for them to play at home in the forthcoming future. That's even more money, and more matches for us to enjoy by going as a spectator, or watching on TV. Ten additional matches, just more competition for the team to celebrate, and develop their younger talent. The U.S. had all this to play for today. EVERYTHING was on the line. And they got it DONE. Congrats. Last year's Japan win in the 2011 WWC (and France's emergence as a new international force) was a wonderful thing for the women's international game. And this year's U.S. Gold medal win, is the best thing that can happen for a women's pro league in the U.S., and the rest of the world as well. Symbolically, Japan and U.S. each won the "correct" specific tournaments over the past two years for themselves and the women's game on a domestic and global scale. You couldn't have written a better script for the past two major tournaments, in 2011 and 2012. Below are two links talking about additional money, and homecoming tour matches that they will now receive .......... http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/olympic...er-team-1-5-million-bonus-202653023--oly.html http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olym...omens-soccer-medal-payout-Olympics/56869528/1
There cancelled matches on the last tour because they didn't sell enough tickets. We will see how big their paycheck is.