After 90 minutes of intense soccer, the two sides that had met last July 4th in the World Cup semi-final were still scoreless. And since, incredibly, both teams had beaten their foes in the tourney bracket (Trinidad & Tobago and Costa Rica respectively) by identical 11-0 and 8-0 scores, first and second place were decided by heads and tails. The American women’s good fortune: continued, they won the toss with a call of “heads.” That means the American squad plays Canada in the semi-finals Saturday and averts a premature rematch with high-powered China before the finals Monday.
Much was made over last summer’s soccer megasuccess, which, if all the hype was to be believed, changed the face of sports in this country. It turns out that the women’s high-profile has had huge consequences abroad too. The thrilling images of that World Cup gave women’s soccer a big boost around the world. Less than a year later, the consequences are already visible on the soccer field. No longer is the game dominated by just three countries-the United States, China and Norway. In Gold Cup action this past week, Canada, which was practice fodder for the Americans in their ‘99 World Cup runup, pushed China to the limit before losing 3-2. (Canada had already upset China last month in an Australian tourney.) At the Olympics in Sydney in September, the eight-team women’s field, which includes all four Gold Cup semi-finalists as well as Norway, Germany, Sweden and Nigeria, will be the strongest ever.
That puts the pressure squarely on the new American coach, April Heinrichs. Inheriting a champion team, especially an aging one, is often a no-win proposition for a coach. And Heinrichs, a star on the very first American World Cup team and its first female head coach, has a doubly difficult task: Not only does she have to sustain the team’s success through Sydney, she must also make the transition to a younger team that will be ready in just a few years to defend the World Cup title as well.
Part of that change is being forced upon Heinrichs. Right now she is making do without two stalwart veteran defenders, team captain Carla Overbeck and America’s number one World Cup star Michelle Akers, both of whom are injured and battling chronic illnesses. Overbeck has Grave’s disease, a hyperthyroid condition that can cause weakness; Akers has long battled chronic fatigue syndrome. Neither is certain for Sydney. Even if both make it, the Olympics will certainly be their swan song, as it will be for other 30-somethings like Chastain and Joy Fawcett.
There is also the added pressure of the prospective launch of a women’s pro soccer league next spring. Despite this country’s affection for its women’s team, there is no certainty that it will translate into the commercial support necessary for a successful, sustainable athletic venture. The new league’s best hope is another high-profile victory, hyped on prime time as only the NBC Olympics team can hype. American sports fans may love Mia Hamm and her sidekicks, but their most fervent devotions are reserved for winners. A rebuilding year at the wrong time could prove to be a lost opportunity.
