WORLD CUP SOCCER U.S. women's team has more balance than ever
They open play Sunday against Sweden in Washington, D.C.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) -- There are the old-timers, the thirtysomethings playing in their fourth and final World Cup.
There are the younger veterans who have been through this pressure cooker before, particularly the phenomenal run to the championship in 1999.
And then there are the eight newcomers, from the college senior to the fearless goalkeeper.
The U.S. team that opens play Sunday against Sweden couldn't have more balance. Don't think it is unintentional.
Very versatile team
"We don't want players who are one-dimensional," coach April Heinrichs said Wednesday. "We want a team of players who are versatile and able to handle what is placed in front of them."
Nearly all of the World Cup novices have some national team experience. All but North Carolina senior Cat Reddick played in the WUSA. Goalkeeper Siri Mullinix was the 2000 Olympic starter.
Several of the "kids" could play pivotal roles in the tournament, particularly midfielder Aly Wagner and forward Abby Wambach.
Wagner, Wambach, Reddick, Mullinix, Kylie Bivens, Shannon Boxx, Angela Hucles and Danielle Slaton have a combined 212 national team games, from Boxx's low of two to Wagner's high of 47. Four of the veterans -- Kristine Lilly, Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy and Joy Fawcett -- each have more than that alone.
Chemistry develped quickly
That, however, is part of the charm of this squad. None of the youngsters are made to feel uncomfortable by the older players. Newcomers immediately are integrated within the team so that a chemistry can develop quickly.
Both Wagner and Wambach might start -- Wagner for her playmaking, Wambach for her finishing touch and power.
During practice Wednesday, Wambach twice crashed into keeper Briana Scurry and she also muscled her way to several balls in the air. At 5-foot-11, Wambach presents an unorthodox challenge to most defenders.
"A lot of the foreigners who don't know about her will feel they were run over by a Mack truck," Heinrichs said. "In the scrimmage against the Virginia men, she was the only one who physically, pound for pound, was as strong as those guys."
Wagner's quick moves with the ball and full vision of the field make her a catalyst on a team loaded with finishers such as Hamm, Tiffeny Millbrett, Cindy Parlow and Wambach.
"Aly is the best final passer in the world," Heinrichs said. "But we have other players who can make the final pass. If Aly is marked out of a game, does that mean we won't be any good? If they say, 'All we have to do is mark Aly Wagner out of the game to beat the United States,' well, we have to be more versatile than that."
Inspired by 1999 team
Like the other newcomers to World Cup play, Wagner was inspired by the events of four years ago. So inspired, in fact, that she went from a good player with potential to an international standout.
"I had no concept of what it was going to take, but I knew I wanted to be there," Wagner said. "But it was one of my dreams. I remember watching the USA-Germany game in the 1999 Women's World Cup while I was jumping rope in my living room, and I said to myself, 'I'm going to be there next time.' "