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Sept. 17, 2007
When competing at this level of soccer, one realizes that the role of playing one's best is exhausting. Whether one plays ninety minutes or no time, physically and mentally a player is drained. The anticipation and stress level leading up to our game against Sweden was extremely high. It was a crucial game for the U.S., and everything was on the line. Several days prior to the game, nervousness was obvious, and the overall mood was quite somber. Yet the team's ability to focus and to believe in one another despite outside factors, criticisms and difficult circumstances always impresses me. The heart of an outstanding team, its passion for the game, and its belief in one another is crucial. Abby Wambach, Kristine Lilly and Kate Markgraf continue to be the team's leaders and the glue. "Let's continue to focus on what WE can do, and how WE play," they hammer into us daily. So Friday we defeated a good Swedish team 2-0. They put loads of pressure on us with four corner kicks in the first few minutes. Abby [Wambach] scored on a penalty kick in the first half after one of our players was taken down by the Swedish goalkeeper. Abby then put away another goal in the second half from a beautiful volley off a chest trap. We played good soccer, yet not our best. Peaking at the right time can be critical! In our Group we currently are tied for first place with North Korea. The final result will be accomplished in the last game of the "Group of Death" when we face a very athletic Nigerian team (on Sept. 18). In a side note, I shattered my jaw in three places and later tore my ACL playing against a Nigerian player six years ago. Perhaps that will give some insight into the toughness and athleticism of the Nigerian players. As I write this, I am on an airplane flying back to Shanghai. Coincidentally, we are traveling with the Nigerian players. We are seated in the same area. In a certain way the ability to bring people of different faiths, cultures, and nationalities together to play a sport is what I love about the World Cup! There is no violence, only the aggression that exists within the game. We realize that as athletes we may have different appearances but possess the same goal - to be the best we can potentially be.
At this level winning and losing is what matters, but a confidence in each other and in one's self matters more deeply to us. I believe very strongly that cohesiveness and a positive attitude are prime factors in winning! In a few hours I will see members of my family, and that will really be a blessing! Today I miss my husband! I miss my NIU Team! I miss my friends and family back home! I can't imagine the feelings of our players who have not seen their children for three weeks or longer! In the next few days I anticipate having coffee with a Chinese friend, Sun Wen, perhaps one of the finest players ever in the game of soccer. She is the Michael Jordan of China! We were teammates in Atlanta and I look forward to meeting up with her here in her homeland! There is no game as important as the next one! This is the mantra of every player on our team. There is no looking beyond ! We only focus on the task at hand: NIGERIA! Past Blog Entries
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