My recent post on Louisa Necib has been the most read popular I've ever written on this blog. That's a great testament to the burst of interest this Women's World Cup has generated around the world. (France's semi-final game, for instance, attracted 4 million viewers in a country that has been very slow to adopt women's football).

Frankfurt, Germany. Sunday, July 17, 2011.

FIFA Women's World Cup Final: Two stories. One dream.

Story 1:

Japan. A thriving culture devastated by unstoppable power. A once strong body now undergoing the most meticulous reconstruction.

As the author of the last great memory in U.S. Women's World Cup history, Brandi Chastain has a unique perspective on the U.S.'s struggles at the Cup since that calm, clear day in Pasadena 11 years ago. She sat down with NSC on Monday to talk about it. "I hadn't thought about the fact that the U.S.

Carson winners: Germany celebrates after winning the 2003 World Cup at Home Depot Center; can they repeat as hosts? (AP Photos).

The FIFA Women's World Cup begins Sunday and while it has a low profile in the U.S. - at least compared to the heady days of 1999, Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain and that Rose Bowl sports bra - that's not the case in the host nation.

Head and shoulders above the rest: U.S. forward Abby Wambach scores the latest goal in a game in Women's World Cup history and sends the quarterfinal against Brazil to penalty kicks in Germany (AP Photo).

It was quite simply, one of the most enthralling, drama-filled, soccer games I've ever seen.

Editor's Note: This is another piece in our US Women's World Cup Send-Off Series, written not simply by The Yanks Are Coming writers but by some of our favorite soccer writers around the internet, as well as TYAC readers and general American soccer fans. This piece was written by Wesley Pickard, who is a writer [.

Brandi Chastain and Ian Darke

ESPN has shown a remarkable commitment to properly covering the Women's World Cup this year. While previous World Cups were well covered by the ESPN family of networks, this summer's event has demonstrated an enhanced understanding of the audience that watches this competition and the type of coverage that would be appealing to those viewers.

Absolutely great game yesterday. I was watching the game with a couple of friends who don't follow the Sounders, or sports in general, even they got caught up in the drama in the 2nd half. You don't have to be a soccer fan to appreciate the sublime beauty of the Fredy Montero free kick (check out the highlights here).

By Sean McElroy My Grandmother, who is ninety-three, has absolutely no reason to care about soccer. She is sharp as can be—her memory for her age is quite remarkable—and when I visit her she often asks about the various matches I am going to go see or have seen. Always, one conversation or question seems [.

Abby Wambach is feeling it!

The 1991 US team broke new ground winning the first ever World Cup and repeated the feat eight years later. By that time Michelle Akers, Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain, and Kristine Lilly were household names. US women's soccer and success are so inextricably intertwined with those names leaving each succeeding squad aspiring to reach the same heights and write their names into history.

Photo by Trent Davol/ISIPhotos.com

Kristine Lilly, one of the most accomplished players in women's soccer history, has retired.

The world record holder for international appearances with an amazing 352, Lilly has decided to step away from both the U.S. women's national team and her professional career with the WPS Boston Breakers after spending parts of four decades playing at the highest level.

Kristine Lilly, retires after 24 years. The most capped player in men's or women's soccer history with 352 caps. A feat of incredible durability. The most under rated player in her group of high flying compatriots like Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain, Julie Foudy, and Michelle Akers who regularly stole the thunder.

Lindsay Tarpley (Madison) set up the opening goal and scored the game-winner in the 70th minute as the U.S. women's national team got past Canada 2-1 Sunday at the Four Nations Tournament in Chongqing, China.

It was Tarpley's 31st international goal, moving her past Brandi Chastain into sole possession of 11th place on the U.

Feel good story of the week is Linday Tarpley scoring in just her second game back with the national team since tearing her ACL at the end of the 2009 WPS season. It was a classy finish that she somehow tucked into the lower right corner from an angle, giving the USA the victory. It was another cold night in China, but the USA played a very good second half, kept Christine Sinclair from creating too much trouble (although, let's be honest, the kid is always trouble), hit the crossbar twice and scored two very nice goals.

Editor's Note: We continue with yet another random, new series on the Free Beer Movement. Soccer fans come in all shapes, colors, and sizes and how they became fans of the sport are as diverse as they are. While most of us are engrossed in the on-field action, the tactics, the drama.

As the 2011 Women's World Cup approaches, exhibitions are scheduled for later this month and more focus overall returns to the women's game.
The 2007 World Cup was won by Germany, but was dominated by Marta's appeal. Held in China, the 2007 World Cup may not have received the attention it deserved due to time differences.

Brandi Chastain took the time out of a busy schedule that includes work as a member of the Capital One Cup Advisory Board, a player for the California Storm of the Women's Premier Soccer League, and raising her young son to talk a little bit about the USA and the World Cup, and the Capital One Cup standings.

It's true.
You'd imagine someone who co-runs a soccer blog would be a connoisseur of all things football. You couldn't be more wrong. For instance, I absolutely cannot watch anything out of La Liga, MLS, or the entire country of Italy.
After Brandi Chastain's epic shirt removal in 1999, I shelved women's soccer for, as it turns out, 12 years.

No need to reinvent the wheel so we will simply state the obvious, the U.S. Women have played better than expected so far this World Cup and are in the perfect position to coast into the quarterfinal...
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