We are really catching a glimpse into the future of our women’s team, and that future is looking bright.
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Intrigue is nothing new for the top-ranked Americans. Brian, however, will be playing in her first Olympic Games but is racing to gain fitness after a couple of small hamstring injuries in the past few months. The U.S. women’s soccer team has delivered gold for the past three Olympic Summer Games, and, after winning the World Cup in Canada previous year, is favorite to claim a fourth in a row in Brazil.
France v Colombia is the second game in the USWNT group.
Second-ranked Germany, fifth-ranked Australia, sixth-ranked Sweden and host Brazil loom as potential quarterfinal opponents.
Lloyd is now the face of the USA women’s team. That was the year the team won the World Cup and went on a victory tour across the U.S. The team made over $23 million in revenue while the men’s team made over $21 million.
The United States has won more Olympic matches, scored more goals and taken home more gold medals than any team in women’s soccer history. Gone are nine players from the World Cup roster, while Allie Long, Lindsey Horan, Crystal Dunn and 18 year old Mallory Pugh are additions to the team.
Lloyd, who wowed fans with three goals in 16 minutes in the 5-2 win over Japan in July’s World Cup final, sprained her MCL in an April game with her club team, the Houston Dash.
And while time never stops, never pauses, the same can be said the Team USA captain Lloyd. The Americans’ fast-paced and interchanging attack should overwhelm New Zealand, even if some tournament jitters hamper what could be a blowout. Pugh, who is delaying college in order to focus on the USWNT and US U-20 team, is 18 and already has 3 global goals under her belt.
Forward White agreed. She said the opening game has been a long time coming and the team is ready to make a statement they are not just in Brazil to participate.
Overall it was a businesslike opening win that got a lot of key players warmed up and introduced Mal Pugh to the pressures of a high-level tournament. She returned to the action, but appeared to be limping when she was subbed off. USA coach Jill Ellis used her second sub in the 64th minute, bringing in Lindsey Horan to replace Brian, the brought in Christen Press to replace Morgan in the 81st minute. “You spell it the same, and it’s like yeah, but I don’t know her at all”.
The most unsafe moment was in the 29′ when a New Zealand throw-in bounced and allowed a little lob that fell into Solo’s arms. The 30-year old Brazilian striker was voted FIFA Player of the Year for five consecutive years from 2006 to 2010.
The 1996 Atlanta Olympics were the first to include women’s soccer. Morgan Brian found Alex Morgan on the outside, who slotted the ball into the goal, doubling the team’s lead to 2-0 in the 46th minute.
Men’s soccer: Iraq vs. Denmark; Brazil vs. Russia; Portugal vs. Argentina; Fiji vs.
SILVIA’S FINAL BOW: One of the game’s most respected coaches will be stepping down following the Olympics.
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There was a time when Germany was the class of the women’s worldwide game, winning consecutive World Cups in 2003 and 2007, but the generation of players responsible for those victories has largely moved on.
