Memories of a heartbreaking loss to Japan on penalties in the 2011 final will inspire a star-studded United States in their quest to capture a record third world crown in Canada.
The Americans won the first global women’s football showcase in 1991, took the 1999 title on home soil by defeating China on penalties and twice led the 2011 final in Germany before Japan equalised, then won 3-1 on penalties.
This year, 13 players from that US squad return for the World Cup test in Canada that opens June 8 in Winnipeg against Australia.
“For me, 2011 was just a heartbreak,” returning midfielder Tobin Heath said. “The whole motivation now is for that not to happen again and to win a World Cup. For every player in the group, they’re believing that this is our World Cup to win and that’s how we’re preparing.”
American women have won the past three Olympic gold medals, with 11 players from the triumphant 2012 US gold medal game effort in London in the World Cup squad.
But players who basked in the London victory – some who didn’t even taste that bitter loss to Japan – are nevertheless motivated by that defeat.
“Absolutely. I think that loss in the final is part of our DNA,” US forward Christen Press said.
“It’s part of our identity as a team. Of course there are a ton of players that weren’t there. I wasn’t there. But it’s still ingrained in us that this is a little bit of a revenge story and a comeback story.”
American fan support for the women’s national team is well known, more than 90,000 filling the Rose Bowl for the 1999 final even though efforts to build support for a domestic league continue to struggle in its third and latest version.
Still, a sellout crowd of 27,000 in Los Angeles watched a 5-1 rout of Mexico on May 17, veteran Abby Wambach and Sydney Leroux each scoring twice for the Americans.
And the final US warm-up match – a goalless draw against tournament rivals South Korea last weekend – was attended by a capacity 26,467 crowd at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey.
The US can count on home support in Canada with their opener against Australia in Winnipeg near capacity as is their clash against Sweden on June 12.
Over 40,000 tickets have also been snapped up for the USA game against African champions Nigeria on June 16 in Vancouver.
The US have an experienced side with Wambach the world’s all-time leading goal scorer with 182 career international tallies after that victory, including a team-high five in 2015.
“Abby is a unique player. She steps it up a couple of notches right before a big tournament,” said US midfielder Carli Lloyd.
“She has been working really hard. She’s a great leader out there and I love playing with her. It’s just awesome to have her out there. She comes up big all the time for us.”
US captain Christie Rampone, a defender who will turn 40 during the tournament, makes her fifth World Cup trip, matching Kristine Lilly’s US record, men or women.
Wambach and midfielder Shannon Boxx will play in their fouth World Cups. Lloyd, Heather O’Reilly and goaltender Hope Solo are on their third World Cup roster.
“The players selected have the confidence, experience and desire to help us win a world championship,” US coach Jill Ellis said. “This group of players can accomplish our goal.”
That means solid defensive play in front of Solo.
“What we’ve been doing is trying to get a relationship, especially in the back line, and we’re on the same page and that’s important going into the World Cup,” US defender Julie Johnston said.
But it also requires scoring against foes who adapt a conservative posture against the high-powered US attack.
“In the World Cup, some of the teams are going to sit back on us and kind of pack it in, so we have got to be able to break that down,” US midfielder Megan Rapinoe said.
Because anything less than a dream run to a trophy figures to be a nightmare for this American squad.
“It’s every little girl’s dream to go onto the World Cup,” US defender Kelley O’Hara said.
“I think that being able to go twice now is pretty exciting – and hopefully things end better this time.”
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