Posted on 09/27/2007 2:55:34 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
HANGZHOU, China -- As they left the stadium, two Brazilian players were banging out samba rhythms on drums, a third was slapping a tambourine and the rest of their teammates were singing.
They sashayed past Kristine Lilly, the last player still active from the teams who created the golden age of U.S. women's soccer -- an age that ended for good Thursday night, when the drums weren't the only thing Brazil pounded.
"It hurts," Lilly said, referring to her psyche, not her eardrums. "It just hurts."
Lilly has played in World Cups since the first in 1991, played with the national team since 1987, and never had she nor any U.S. player lost as badly as this, a 4-0 thrashing in the World Cup semifinals before 47,818 at Dragon Stadium.
It was the first defeat by more than three goals in the 22-year history of the U.S. women's program and the second straight lopsided U.S. elimination in the World Cup semifinals. Germany did it 3-0 in 2003.
"I'm not devastated by this loss at all," U.S. coach Greg Ryan said. "I'm disappointed for my players."
Brazil, making its first Women's World Cup final, goes on to meet the defending champion Germans Sunday in Shanghai, after the two-time champion U.S. plays Norway for third place.
That is where the U.S. women are now: the bronze age.
"We're not where we were 10 years ago, but it's not because we're not better," U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati said. "It's because everyone else is investing rapidly in the game.
"Am I concerned? No."
He should be. The United States (3-1-1) was overwhelmed by a Brazil team whose federation has invested almost nothing in its women's program, basically disbanding the team from the end of the 2004 Olympics . . . .
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagosports.chicagotribune.com ...
I will tell you this: a Google search on brazilian+women+soccer will provide a good deal of entertainment, if you are not at work or if your wife/girlfriend is not watching over your shoulder.
I’m sure Scurry’s girlfriend consoled her after the match.
I am sorry that Scurry has to end her soccer career on such a low note...This is her last her World Cup. She is getting too old. I do remember that she did a good job back in 1999.
US goalkeeper Hope Solo said on ESPN that Coach Ryan made a bad decision in deciding that Scurry will be the goalkeeper for the Brazil game.
Would Coach Ryan use her for Sunday’s game against Norway? (For the 3rd place game)
My opinion is that Solo should have spoken up after the World Cup was finished...It’s not a good idea to criticize your coach when there’s still one more game.
Why couldn’t she wait? Coach Ryan will probably resign after the World Cup anyway...
I am sorry that Scurry has to end her soccer career on such a low note...This is her last her World Cup. She is getting too old. I do remember that she did a good job back in 1999.
US goalkeeper Hope Solo said on ESPN that Coach Ryan made a bad decision in deciding that Scurry will be the goalkeeper for the Brazil game.
Would Coach Ryan use her for Sunday’s game against Norway? (For the 3rd place game)
My opinion is that Solo should have spoken up after the World Cup was finished...It’s not a good idea to criticize your coach when there’s still one more game.
Why couldn’t she wait? Coach Ryan will probably resign after the World Cup anyway...
Women’s soccer is awful. Can’t stand watching it. Leave it to the men.
LOL—right after she kicked your ass, no doubt.
I was sitting in a sports bar in Portland when the US played the Semis in the WC in 2003 and met Scurry’s “special friend”. She had pictures of them together, and ws so proud of their relationship. Scurry’s then GF was about 5’6” and about 220#.
Hope Solo would have saved the first goal because she would have come off her line to catch the corner before her teammate touched to ball. Scurry was very slow to react on the second goal. The third and fourth goal were very savable. I knew the US was in trouble when Scurry almost cost the US a goul when she badly misplayed the first crossing pass of the game.
Scurry shouldn’t have even been on the team.
On top of that Hope Solo’s kicks travel 20-30 meters farther than Scurry’s, so Hope was much better for the offense. Then there is the team chemistry factor.
Ryan’s replacement of Solo is clearly the worst coaching decision in the history of soccer. Solo had every right to criticize Ryan after the match. I’m surprised others haven’t publicly spoken out, but I bet they have in private.
Scurry is not that that big, or quick. The US defenders in the field made Scurry look a lot better than she was, even in her prime.
I heard about lesbians in WNBA...
Many in Women’s National Team seem to be happily married...
Like Mia Hamm, Brandy Chastain, Kristin Lilly...
(Hamm and Chastain have retired.)
I don’t think Coach Ryan will be in charge of the US Women’s Team for Olympics next year...
He'll be lucky to be in charge next week. I have no idea why the media has been critical of Hope Solo. Everything she said is true. Scurry had no business playing and shouldn't have even been on the team. Scurry lost it a long time ago.
Solo is far more athletic than Scurry ever was.
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