Posted at 12:57 p.m., Thursday, June 21, 2007
Soccer: U.S. women have built winning tradition
By Barry Wilner
Associated Press
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Under Ryan, the Americans are 34-0-7 since March 2005, although they lost to Germany on penalty kicks in the championship game of the 2006 Algarve Cup; shootouts are considered a draw in international soccer statistics. And since that game, the United States is 20-0-3.
The Americans have built that almost perfect mark even though longtime mainstays Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Brandi Chastain, Joy Fawcett and Carla Overbeck retired.
"This run has exceeded my expectations," Ryan said as the team prepared for Saturday's game against Brazil, the second of six warmups heading toward September's World Cup opener in China. "When we had Mia, Julie, Joy, Brandi, Cindy Parlow, Shannon MacMillan all step away, I felt it would be normal to have a dip in terms of performance. I actually expected that.
"But they have approached it as players to establish a standard we want to maintain and build upon, a standard that is the same as the previous players had. They have very high standards. They say: 'We are here today to see what we can do to win and to grow as a team.' "
Ryan saw some growth just last week, when the United States was not at its best in a friendly in Cleveland against China. He blamed himself for overworking the women, but was impressed that they still won 2-0.
"I think I trained them a little too hard and the focus level was too high, and I think it detracted from the performance against China," he said. "I knew it going in, but I also knew it would push them to dig a little deeper. I knew some would realistically be playing a little below their level. You only get that from pushing players beyond their limits.
"But it brought out the quality in them that even when there is nothing left in the tank, they have that grit and determination to win."
It's been that way pretty much since the very beginning, which was inauspicious: a 1-0 loss to Italy on Aug. 18, 1985. But by 1991, the Americans were winning the first Women's World Cup. They added another — memorably — in 1999, and won Olympic gold medals in 1996 and 2004, when many of the core players made their final major international appearances.
As they prepare for the upcoming World Cup, in which they are top-ranked but are in the toughest first-round group — with Sweden, North Korea and Nigeria — they are driven more by the rare failures than the myriad successes. That is another characteristic of this team, now and always: They don't forget.
So the semifinal loss to Germany in 2003 is a fresher memory for the veterans than the 1999 championship that entranced the nation.
"I am so motivated to go into this World Cup and solve the problems of the past one," standout defender Kate Markgraf said. "We are going to play the type of soccer we are capable of because this team's talent is through the roof.
"That didn't sit well in 2003, and the amount of dedication and will to not give up does not change any with a change of personnel."
Ryan will have a difficult time trimming his 24-woman roster to the 21 he needs for the World Cup. That makes the six-game summer tour a proving ground for a few players.
He's not concerned that the final roster will be lacking in any way. And history says he shouldn't give it another thought.
"This group of women throughout their whole history has been very strong and determined, but also eager to learn and grow," Ryan said. "That makes our job easier, certainly. If we have the respect of the players, they are willing to go through anything for us. If the players have the respect for their teammates, they are willing to go through anything. And these women have that and always have had it."
