My latest piece for SI.com is up, and while I worked hard to both confirm the story and verify facts with US Soccer itself, I was accused by some in the organization of "tabloid journalism".
Never mind that what Michael Bradley said was done publicly, even though it was a small group of people.

This past Sunday, people from across the country and around the world witnessed one of the greatest come-from-behind victories in all of sports. Truly, the United States stole a victory against all odds. What many don't know is the battles these women have overcome away from the field.

1) To me, the shots of Abby Wambach and Hope Solo hugging it out in triumph after the USA's legendary and improbable win over Brazil yesterday are the most poignant. The two were at odds in the last World Cup, with Wambach one of the harshest critics of Solo's outburst, ignoring the honesty of her statements to lash out at the breaking of the team code.

So, having toyed with resembling England's men in 2006 and 2010, Hope Powell's England finally plumped for Bobby Robson's 1986-vintage, coming (very) good in their last group game after early stutters. Of course, they also resembled England's women from 2007 which, against Japan, was just the right example to follow.

World Cup summer: The USWNT trains in cool and rainy Wolfsburg Tuesday ahead of Wednesday's game against Sweden (AP Photos).

Ahead of Wednesday's third and final World Cup group game against Sweden (live at 11:45 a.m. on ESPN) - with the top spot in the group and the likely added incentive of avoiding Marta and the Brazilians at stake - AP Sports Writer Nancy Armour dissects the USWNT journey under Coach Pia Sundhage:

WOLFSBURG, Germany (AP) -- Pia Sundhage came into the first meeting with her new team, pulled out her guitar and began playing the Bob Dylan classic, "The Times They Are A-Changin'.

With a name like Hope Solo it is little wonder her brilliant performance against Brazil in the 2008 Olympics finals was perceived as instrumental in the US winning gold. One lost count of the many saves she made.

A stunning comeback from the previous year after she fell out of favour of Greg Ryan who benched her for the semi-finals in the 2007 World Cup in favour of veteran Briana Scurry.

Another look back at the Sting's 1981 season from FireStingDoug:

On May 10, 1981 the Sting won their third game in a row after sweeping a home and home series with Dallas. A 5-0 win at Wrigley Field saw Rudy Glenn score twice while Karl-Heinz Granitz, Pato Margetic, and Greg Ryan provided the other tallies.