Abby Wambach won the FIFA Women'sBallon d'Or this morning along with the Men's winner Lionel Messi. Abby became the first American Woman to win the award since MIA Hamm won it 11 years ago. Abby's 2012 season with the USWNT included a Olympic Gold Medal, scoring 27 goals, and inching closer to the all time record help by MIA Hamm (158) with a total of 152 career goals.
The United States women opened the Olympics with a come-from-behind 4-2 win over France. Gaetane
Thiney scored first for France in the 12th minute, and then a France corner kick bounced around in
the US penalty area for way too long until Marie-Laure Delie finally put it in the US net in the
14th minute.
Vaya partidazos que vivimos en los juegos inaugurales de la justa olímpica. Se cumplieron
prácticamente todos los pronósticos de las llamadas favoritas y nos regalaron varios goles de muy
buena hechura.
El primer partido se dió entre las anfitrionas y Nueva Zelanda. Al prinicpio las originarias de
Oceanía impusieron el ritmo del partido, pero no pudieron mantenerlo.
Alex Morgan gets all of this shot during a small-sided scrimmage
The U.S. WNT held its final training before the 2012 Olympics today under sunny skies and we are
happy to report it was an extremely sharp practice and all players are fit and ready for
selection.
With the Olympics quickly approaching, it would seem the USWNT are prepared to take on whoever
will be thrown at them when they head to London. Pia Sundhage's squad played a great game of
football in front of a sold out crowd at PPL Park on Sunday, coming up with a big win against
China. This match also marked the debut of new matching kits for both the USMNT and the USWMNT, who
put them to good use.
La directora técnica de la selección estadounidense, Pia Sundhage, reveló hace unas horas a
18 jugadoras que competirán por estar en el podio en las próximas Olimpiadas de Londres.
Porteras:
Hope Solo | Seattle Sounders
Nicole Barnhart
Defensas:
Rachel Buehler
Amy LePeilbet
Heather Mitts
Kelley O'Hara
Christie Rampone
Becky Sauerbrunn | DC United
Mediocampistas:
Shannon Boxx
Carli Lloyd
Lauren Cheney
Tobin Heath
Heather O'Reilly
Megan Rapinoe
Delanteras:
Sydney Leroux | Seattle Sounders
Alex Morgan | Seattle Sounders
Amy Rodríguez
Abby Wambach
Quedan fuera de la lista final Ali Krieger por no estar recuperada al 100% de su lesión en la
rodilla sufrida en el Preolímpico de Vancouver; Lori Lindsey, Jill Loyden, Meghan Klingenberg y
Christen Press serán tomadas en cuenta como suplentes en caso de que alguna de las jugadoras base
sufran alguna lesión.
It seems that Pia Sundhage and the US Women's Team are still trying to figure out
a magic winning concoction against formidable Japan! Unfortunately, the Americans lost 1-0 to them
in the Algarve Cup yesterday- an annual highlight in the Women's football
calendar.
Novak Djokovic beat Rafal Nadal in a herculean Australian Open finals that lasted 6 hours. The
same day Arsenal had to summon every fibre to overcome a two goal deficit to overcome Aston Villa
and prevent a FA Cup exit.
And then there is the US Women's team that blanked Canada, 4-0, en route to winning the CONCACAF
qualifiers to the London Olympics.
Mere hours after the US Women reaffirm their dominance in the CONCACAF Olympics Qualifying
tournament, WPS has announced the cancellation of their 2012 season.
This is not entirely surprising considering the well publicized struggles with the owners of
MagicJack reducing the league to only 5 teams (FIFA guidelines specify a minimum of 8 teams to be
considered a league).
While MLS has in the last few years reached a level of stability that will hopefully give us a
break from our perennial worrying about "the future of the game", the women's pro game is still
struggling for survival in this country. The Women's National Team is currently preparing for the
Olympic Qualifying Tournament this month and the roster is officially listed as:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Nicole Barnhart (out of contract), Hope Solo (out of
contract)
DEFENDERS (7): Rachel Buehler (Atlanta Beat), Ali Krieger (FFC Frankfurt), Amy LePeilbet
(Atlanta Beat), Heather Mitts (out of contract), Kelley O'Hara (Atlanta Beat), Christie
Rampone (out of contract), Becky Sauerbrunn (Sky Blue FC)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Shannon Boxx (out of contract), Tobin Heath (out of contract),
Lori Lindsey (Western New York Flash), Carli Lloyd (Atlanta Beat), Heather O'Reilly (Boston
Breakers), Megan Rapinoe (out of contract), Amy Rodriguez (out of contract)
FORWARDS (4): Lauren Cheney (out of contract), Sydney Leroux (Atlanta beat), Alex Morgan
(Western New York Flash), Abby Wambach (out of contract)
That's 10 players out of 20 who don't currently have a club team, which is remarkable for a
country that has dominated the sport internationally for decades.
U.S. WNT head coach Pia Sundhage has named the roster for the January training camp in Los Angeles,
after which she will name the 20-player roster for Olympic Qualifying being held in Vancouver, B.C.
from Jan, 19-29. Sundhage will bring 20 players to Canada, but will only be able to suit up 18 per
game.
You think those kids wanted Abby's autograph? They got it...
The U.S. WNT arrived in Portland tonight at around 7:30 p.m. after a brief delay in their flight
from Kansas City and received a rousing greeting from a few teams worth of young soccer players,
who came out strong with signs, baloons, painted faces and quote a few things to autographs
(including faces.
Japan are World Cup champions. The Japan women's soccer team won the World Cup Final on Sunday
after defeating USA on penalty kicks in a closely fought game played in Frankfurt, Germany.
The United States women's national team created most of the chances but had to wait until the
67th minute when half-time substitute Alex Morgan slotted the ball into the back of the net against
the advancing goalkeeper (see video below).
Japan are World Cup champions. The Japan women's soccer team won the World Cup Final on Sunday
after defeating USA on penalty kicks in a closely fought game played in Frankfurt, Germany.
The United States women's national team created most of the chances but had to wait until the
67th minute when half-time substitute Alex Morgan slotted the ball into the back of the net against
the advancing goalkeeper (see video below).
Champions do not have to be the best at everything. Just winning. Don't believe me? Ask Abby. Photo
courtesy of ESPN.com Japan did not appear to be a team that the U.S. could simply out-work. The
Japanese were fit, technically watertight and tactically infallible. The U.S was bigger, faster
stronger and yes, luckier.
Slinky celebration? Hermosa Beach's Abby Wambach, second right, celebrates with teammates after
scoring the lone goal of the game in a U.S. win over North Korea as group play concludes in the
women's tournament at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London (Associated Press). Not a great game or a
particularly
The disciplinary committee of existence soccer's governing carcass is reexamining the played to the
phiz that leaved U.S. forrad Abby Wambach with a sinister oculus during a contest against Colombia
at the Olympics.
The USWNT secured passage to the Olympic quarters with a thorough 3-0 romp over Colombia earlier
today. Pretty good day to be in the Waldo kits. Finally, we have the unfortunately named "Lady"
Andrade giving Abby Wambach a bit of an Olympic love tap. Bitter loser. Somehow she didn't get a
red for this.
Freddy Adu and John Hackworth on taking Sunday's penalty kick. Union moves up in power rankings.
USA face North Korea today. Colombian Lady banned for punching Abby. Locals receive PDL
All-Conference honors. Man U stock and Chevy. More news.
Of all the people on the train, the one I wanted to talk to the most was the middle-aged man
with the graying goatee, traveling with wife and two children. He and his son were wearing Chelsea
jerseys. It's not rare to see folks around Chicago in soccer gear, but considering this train and
most of its occupants were heading toward Soldier Field, where Manchester United were to take on
the Chicago Fire, those two bold blue shirts stuck out.
Abby works the abs. Try this sometime. It ain't easy.
The U.S. WNT had a full day planned for today. Weights in the morning, Barcelona vs. Real Madrid
on TV in the mid-day, and training in the late afternoon.
U.S. defender Becky Sauerbrunn was one of the few U.
What a beautiful day it was for soccer (or pretty much anything else) today in Portland as the U.S.
WNT held its first training since arriving in the Rose City on Sunday night. Pia turned the squad
over to the folks at Nike, who ran the players through the Nike Elite Training 2.0, which consists
of various physical and soccer tests, or more accurately:
PREMIUM FOOTBALL TRAINING EXPERIENCE TO ENABLE SKILLED AND COMMITTED FOOTBALLERS TO FULFILL THEIR
POTENTIAL.
As previously announced in the previous announcement of the games, but confirmed yesterday, all 21
players from the USA's 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Team will be in Kansas City and Portland for the
two "WNT Celebration Series" matches, which will put a close on this roster for 2011.
The volume of the screams of the U.S. fans have gotten a bit louder since the Women's World Cup,
although of course the fan base for the U.S. women has always been young, energetic and
tremendously supportive. That hasn't changed in Arizona, where the USA has gotten another great
reception.
LONG LINE: No, Abby didn't sign every one of these autographs, but most of them
Abby tallies in the 10th minute from the penalty spot
The U.S. WNT played its first match since the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup last night at the
fantastic LIVESTRONG Sporting Park (the best medium-sized stadium in the country? Could be....) and
while the Americans showed some flashes of dynamic soccer, there was also some rust to be shaken
off, and probably the best part of the night was the crowd.
If you have not fallen already in love with Hope Solo, you will all over again. She has a demure
voice for someone in goal, traditionally the most gestural and vocally animated of positions and at
150 lbs she is nicely proportioned. She becomes personal when asked about her benching in 2007
World Cup - not the best of times and gets back at Dave Letterman a little while later.
How could you not be pulling for the USWNT after that run to the final? The breathtaking win
against all odds vs. Brazil. The late dominant surge against France. My girls teams were talking
about it all summer and were pumped for the final. I had encouraged them to watch every game they
could watching players off the ball, how they moved, how they reacted.
In a classic showdown the US women face Japan for the 2011 World Cup. Will Hope, Abby and Megan
continue to rise up or will the highly skilled Japan squad prevail.
USA! USA! USA!
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Three U.S. players have been nominated for the Golden Ball at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Lauren Cheney, Hope Solo, Abby Wambach have been nomianted for the award recognizes the most
outstanding player at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. Twelve players from nominated by the FIFA
Technical Study Group and the top three players will be tallied based on voting by the media.
Josh Hunter (L-R) Becky Sauerbrunn And Abby Wambach Attend The USA Team Training Session At FIFA
World Cup Stadium Frankfurt On Getty Images - http://sportshizle.com/world-s... 2 hours ago from
Sports Buzz | SportShizle.com - Comment - Like
It all comes down to Sunday. We've all heard it before (many, many times).
Japan USA: Sunday, ESPN, 2:45 PM
The US women are in the World Cup final for the first time since 1999. Many wondered if they
would have a letdown in their semifinal match against France following an emotional quarterfinal
win over Brazil.
When Colombia's Lady Andrade punched U.S. Women's national team forward Abby Wambach during the
39th minute of Saturday's Olympic game, the referee didn't notice. Andrade could have received a
red card, but went unpunished and played the entire game, which the USA went on to win.
Megan Rapinoe knows how to celebrate goals...but we knew that
Special thanks to all the Philly-area fans who packed PPL Park (15,573 strong ) on May 27 for the
USA's 4-1 victory over China and for creating a special atmosphere. Although the USA fell fell
behind 1-0 (whoops) the home fans helped the Americans roar back to score four unanswered goals --
two from Baby Horse herself -- and capped it off with a spectacular finish from Abby Wambach
(perhaps worth the price of admission, that goal was).
Two long winning streaks continued on a chilly Thursday night in the Madison area.
Waunakee cruised past host Baraboo 6-0 in a Northern Badger Conference girls soccer opener, the
43rd consecutive conference victory for the Warriors.
Junior Abby Pandow had two goals and an assist for Waunakee (5-0-1), which has lost just
once in the 11-year history of the Northern Badger: A 1-0 setback against Reedsburg on May 20,
2003.
It started as a soccer game. It ended with a football score.
Former Boston Breakers' striker Amy Rodriguez grabbed a record-tying five goals in the
United States' record-setting 14-0 demolition of the Dominican Republic in the first game of
Olympic Qualifying at BC Place in Vancouver.
It's getting to be the end of the year, which means the buzz starts for year end awards, including
the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year (or Sportswoman as the case may be).
(Editor's Note: The U.S. Women's World Cup Team won the prestigious award in 1999 and surely had
the USA won the Women's World Cup, this year's squad would have been in the conversation).
The 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Final is just hours away. Game days - espcially when kickoff is
late - move pretty slowly. And this day in particular has been crawling along at a snail's pace!
Game day in the hotel generally consists of rest, meals, more rest, and a pre-game meal. Not much
to do other than get mentally prepared for the game.
I'm not going to sit here and tell you guys when and how to watch soccer, but I really hope you all
didn't just head out to the absinthe parlor after the US game to celebrate, because Japan put on a
special clinic in the second game. Either Sweden didn't see so much as a frame of the Japan-Germany
game film, or Japan is so skillful they can completely neutralize teams that are bigger and
stronger.
