Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 12:26 am Post subject: U.S. Women Return With Heads Held High
After their heartbreaking loss to Japan in the Women’s World Cup final, the players on the United States team were nevertheless treated to a hero’s welcome near Times Square on Monday. Onlookers gathered outside the W Hotel on 47th Street and Broadway like a flash mob, snapping photographs, seeking autographs and calling out “Hope!” at the popular goalkeeper Hope Solo.
The team, weary from the flight back from Germany, and probably still a bit shellshocked from the loss Sunday in a penalty-kick shootout, kept the focus positive.
Solo, a standout in the tournament, said: “I’m proud of this team. We really showed passion, heart and fight.”
As fans clamored for autographs, the players took questions on the sidewalk and focused on the successes of the game as well noting that one of the goals they set for themselves against the Japanese team was to play a possession game.
“I’m sad about the loss, but I think we played a great game,” said midfielder Carli Lloyd, who missed the second kick in the shootout. “Our object was to possess the ball, and I think we displayed some really good soccer.”
The importance of keeping control of the ball peppered many of the sentiments. Abby Wambach, who scored in overtime and was the only American player to convert in the shootout, said: “We have to keep up with possession battles. And put away games when we have the chance. This game should have been won in regulation.”
Wambach returned home having earned the Silver Ball for being the second-best player in the tournament. Perhaps fittingly, she finished behind Homare Sawa of Japan.
The players said that after defeating Brazil in penalty kicks in the quarterfinal, they began to take note of the surging support back home.
“We’d watch all the YouTube videos and songs with our names in them,” said Christie Rampone, the team captain, who juggled interviews with her 1-year-old daughter, Reece, on her arm. “It just got our team pumped.”
On Tuesday, Solo, Wambach, Rampone and Alex Morgan will go on a media blitz, appearing in various combinations on “Good Morning America,” “Today,” several ESPN programs and finally the “Late Show With David Letterman.”
The final game against Japan drew an impressive 8.6 rating on ESPN, making it second to only the United States-China final in 1999 (13.3) on ABC as the highest-rated women’s soccer game in the United States. The attention clearly energized the players, who see it as a chance to promote the sport.
“We know this has had a big impact, and we just want to keep that inspiration going,” Wambach said.
Across the street, Kimberly Belcher, 24, a schoolteacher from Augusta, Ga., stood among fans and snapped pictures. She said she was happy about all the publicity the team was receiving.
“With all the bad role models out there in the news, this is a turn for the better, “ she said.
The players invariably routed questions of their future plans to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. With five players on this team over 30 — and Solo will turn 30 on July 30 — it is not certain what the composition of the team will look like for the next World Cup in four years. And thus, the Games in London will provide this team a chance to build on the groundswell of momentum established over the past few weeks.
Reflecting on this, Lloyd said, “This was one of the best World Cups we may ever be a part of,” she said, and with a slight wince added, “and we were so close.”
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The importance of keeping control of the ball peppered many of the sentiments. Abby Wambach, who scored in overtime and was the only American player to convert in the shootout, said: “We have to keep up with possession battles. And put away games when we have the chance. This game should have been won in regulation.”
Wambach returned home having earned the Silver Ball for being the second-best player in the tournament. Perhaps fittingly, she finished behind Homare Sawa of Japan.
The players said that after defeating Brazil in penalty kicks in the quarterfinal, they began to take note of the surging support back home.
“We’d watch all the YouTube videos and songs with our names in them,” said Christie Rampone, the team captain, who juggled interviews with her 1-year-old daughter, Reece, on her arm. “It just got our team pumped.”
On Tuesday, Solo, Wambach, Rampone and Alex Morgan will go on a media blitz, appearing in various combinations on “Good Morning America,” “Today,” several ESPN programs and finally the “Late Show With David Letterman.”
The final game against Japan drew an impressive 8.6 rating on ESPN, making it second to only the United States-China final in 1999 (13.3) on ABC as the highest-rated women’s soccer game in the United States. The attention clearly energized the players, who see it as a chance to promote the sport.
“We know this has had a big impact, and we just want to keep that inspiration going,” Wambach said.
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