Women's Soccer Crown to Shift to Europe
By Paul Martinez
Senior Editor -- PHOTOSPORT.com
 
entry

entry

wagner header

wagner header

high kicking

high kicking

garefrekes

garefrekes

slip away

slip away

winning goal

winning goal

hamm kick

hamm kick


PORTLAND Ore., Oct 05, 2003 -- In consecutive hard-fought semifinals, two European sides served notice that North America is no longer the center of the women's soccer world. The Germans methodically dismantled the defending champions 3-0 in front of the packed home stands, and the upstart Canadians scored early but eventually fell to Sweden 2-1. The European victories ensure that both the Olympic (won by Norway in 2000) and World Cup trophies will reside overseas.

USA 0, Germany 3

     The shirts will remain on, at least for this World Cup.

     In losing to the German juggernaut 3-0, at least one task was simplified: what to do to top Brandi Chastain's joyous winning celebration in the '99 Cup. And all is not lost: the desirable USA-Canada matchup materialized as many predicted.

     But they will play Saturday, not Sunday, because Canada lost too, and for third-place badges, not the golden Women's World Cup trophy. That is the privilege of Germany and Sweden, who served notice in two hard fought matches Sunday in Portland, that perhaps signal the transfer of power in womens soccer to Europe.

     So what happened Sunday? How did USA lose so badly 3-0, and with it the chance to retain at least one world championship (the Olympic crown currently belongs to Norway).

 Here are the top reasons:

1) Germany's defense was unstoppable. The US did not fail for lack of shooting. But goalkeeper Silke Rottenberg stopped them all. She was in such form she would have stopped a rifle bullet. The German defense was well versed on stopping the set-play and none entered the net.

2) Odd USA lineup. To not start Tiffeny Milbrett in a full house in Portland Oregon was curious. The energy the crowd generated at her 75th minute entrance lit the city. Beforehand, there was curiosity in the stands of some kind of falling out. Apparently the idea was to field half the old guard, and half the brightest of the newcomers, especially Shannon Boxx and Abby Wambach, new stars who had shined so brightly in the first stages. But the old guard is well, getting old. It has been pointed out many times that the US fielded the oldest team in the World Cup. Ominously, most have stated they will continue to play until after the 2004 Olympics.

3) Distractions. The pressure on the USA to repeat was enormous. They were dogged by media every step of the way. Some players liked it, some only tolerated it, and either way it was a huge distraction. The bus cam didn't help either. And during the game, the oddest distraction of all: a streaker, bearing a flag stating "Adidas Kills Kangaroos," in the middle of a World Cup semifinal.

 

Is women's soccer finished?

     The loss was not just a game, or even a World Cup. It may finally kill the last hopes of restarting the women's league. Many fans were counting on 1999-level enthusiasm to rouse sponsorship for the league. For that to happen now, it would take a concerted effort. The probability the league will be resurrected in a recognizable form is low. It is more likely that there will be no league at all, and a dearth of high-level women's soccer in the US not just for the next four years, but until 2015, which is the next chance the US will host a Women's World Cup.
Canada 1, Sweden 2

    Canada's fantastic run came up short against the more experienced Sweden side. After having defeated China 1-0 in the quarters, they scored early against Sweden but were eventually overtaken and lose 2-1. Still, their semifinal finish guarantees an increase in FIFA ranking from their current 12.

milbrett foul

milbrett foul

rottenberg save

rottenberg save

adidas streaker

adidas streaker

german celebration

german celebration

usa dejected

usa dejected


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06 OCT 2003

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