World Cup 2015 in Review

Whew. Just needed to take a breath. This has been a monumental World Cup. From the start of the tournament, the field was high in anticipation and intensity. I’m talking about soccer here, guys, the FIFA World Cup 2015. But more specifically on this, I’m going to be writing about our girls on the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT). The heroes, the motivators, the gladiators, oh, and, the winners. Congratulations to the United States Women’s National Team on beating Japan in the 2015 World Cup!!

Lots of heroism. Lots of hard work. Lots of emotion. Lots of grit. Let’s give some back story: last World Cup, back in 2011, the women fought hard to get to the final (many a beautiful header by Wambach), only to lose in devastating penalty kicks to Japan. This team, with around 3-4 players planning to retire, wanted that Cup back. They were so close they could taste it, but it was brutally ripped away. Here was our lineup in games this World Cup:

1. Australia. This was a rude awakening to start out with. We have the best keeper in the world, yet Aussies showed themselves to be hardy when they scored a goal on Solo. We won 3-1, but it didn’t feel good coming off the bat.
2. Sweden. This was a big match for us: we played against a beloved former US coach, Pia Sundhage, but were not able to score a goal. Klingenberg pulled some epic heroics and saved a goal with her head when Solo was down. It ended with a 0-0, making our points in the group a little shaky.
3. Nigeria. This was a fierce game, but it ended with a red card on Nigeria (questionable reffing) and a 1-0 with us winning. At this point, our lineup is still a mess and we just aren’t coordinating right. But–we get to the next stage!
4. Columbia. Another good game, we didn’t play as well as we should have, but we still came out on top 2-0. However, two of our players (Holiday and Rapinoe–BIG time for offense) accumulated too many yellow cards and cannot play next game
5. China. FINALLY. Finally, something switches. With Rapinoe and Holiday out, the coach–Jill Ellis–had to find some way to keep winning. This game, we finally find our groove and deliver some great chemistry and teamwork to beat China 1-0 in this quarterfinal game.
6. Germany. The game we were so scared of. These Germans have unbeatable passing mechanics and teamwork, with ruthless scoring techniques. If the past game hadn’t triggered our greatness, we would be in big trouble. Luckily, we still had it. We had the grit and the chemistry to outplay the Germans and win 2-0. However, this game wasn’t without bleeding heads and nail-biting penalty kicks (by foul, not overtime). It was an intense, good  semi-final game. 
7. Japan. And here we are: back at the big stage (around 53,000 people at the stadium in Vancouver), facing the team that beat us four years ago for that World Cup. We want this and we want it bad. The first twelve minutes go by…and we score FOUR GOALS. FOUR. We were in shock! For the first time in Women’s World Cup History, Carli Lloyd got a hat trick (3 goals in one game). But, not just a hat trick. A hat trick with an amazing goal shot Beckham-like from the halfway line of the field. Although they scored two goals on us, we came out victors of this World Cup final 5-2.

And so our journey ends for this year. But, there are a few players I really want to call out:

• Becky Sauerbrunn: one of the most underrated players on the field. She is the center of our iron-strong defense. She doesn’t get a lot of shout outs, but without her, we would be in a lot worse shape. With quick feet, smart decision-making, and an unrelenting pressure on the attacking forwards, she deserves this Cup just as much as any of the offense.

• Meghan Klingenberg: newer to the team, this lady showed up, and she showed up hard. With an epic save in the Sweden game and a relentless effort on defense and offense, she proved herself to this team and to our country. I wasn’t completely sure of her, I never am at first of the newer players, but she earned my trust and sealed it too. Though she may be small, you wouldn’t guess it for how she hustles any attacker coming down the field.

• Julie Johnston: another newer player to this team and also a defender (is there a theme to this??). This defender is just as strong as her mates–working hard to never let an attacker through and giving 100% effort. She performed beautifully this tournament even when our offense wasn’t getting it together. She would often participate in free kicks and corner kicks and set up many a goal. She dedicates so much to the craft and puts her everything in. She saved the team many times and proved herself over and over to me. I trust Johnston: she’s a hero.

• Hope Solo: although she may have bad record off the field, she is a hero on the field. Without a doubt the best keeper on the team, Hope proved herself to live up to the title. With outstretched dives and rib-cracking punches, Solo defended that goal with everything she got. So glad to have her on the team.

• Megan Rapinoe: I remember first noticing this midfielder after a goal celebration in the previous World Cup where she was so overjoyed that she kicked down the corner flag. It had me in giggles. But then she impressed with her ability to easily manuever down the field and set up amazing goals. She assists in beautiful, smart set pieces. However, she did score her fair number in this tournament. She is absolutely necessary on this team and I love her quirky determined attitude. #PinoeforPresident

• Christie Rampone: the “mom” of the team at 40, Rampone leads these girls as the ultimate captain. Although she didn’t play much at all this tournament, she did hard work off the field: practicing, training, motivating, and leading the women to victory. It was a beautiful, special moment when Jill subbed her in the last few minutes of the final game. Here’s to you and I wish you a happy retirement. 

• Carli Lloyd: a hat trick in the freaking final game: enough said. But really, a slow start for Lloyd but the crescendo was beautiful. Great passes and wonderful goals.

• Abby Wambach: the heart and soul of the team and my personal favorite player. At 35 years old, she has the most international goals of women’s soccer: that’s a big title to wear (besting Mia Hamm). It was a heartbreaking suckerpunch to the stomach for Wambach when they lost to Japan four years ago. She said the pain never really goes away. That being said, she of course came with everything she had this tournament. Even though she didn’t start in several games, she did what she had to in order to win. She would happily sit on the bench in order to get the World Cup. They say her head is a national treasure for the damage it does in scoring. She is truly an inspiration and a gladiator: coming in at 5’11 180lbs. She never backs down and riles up her team every time. And they got it: they got the WIN! Congrats, Wambach, and if you do retire (probably, as you have said), I hope you’re finally content with that Cup in your trophy house.

Well, that’s a wrap. What a wonderful World Cup–I’m always sad when it ends, but this time it ended very well. Go USA! And as always, stay hungry and fit!