Third Place With 3-1 Win Over Canada

The U.S. women left the World Cup with their heads held high.

Led by veterans Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly and Tiffeny Milbrett, the Americans won the third-place game 3-1 over Canada. It was not the prize they set out for, but it was an impressive display of their talent against one of soccer's rising nations.

"It was very important to finish this way, whether it was for first, second or third,'' Milbrett said. "If there is a game we have to win in a tournament, we want to win.''

Before 25,253 at the Home Depot Center -- where Sweden plays Germany for the title Sunday -- the United States dominated the second half. The Americans, many of whom have said they won't play in another World Cup, then saluted the crowd at the sideline, throwing kisses, waving and clapping their hands. Some, including Hamm, pounded their hearts as the crowd chanted "U-S-A.''

"The atmosphere was tremendous,'' Hamm said. "We played well and really pounded the ball around.''

Hamm's perfect twisting corner kick was headed home by Shannon Boxx for the winning goal in the 52nd minute. It was the 1,000th goal for the U.S. women.

Then Hamm, soccer's all-time leading goal-scorer who has become a terrific playmaker as well, made a quick restart in the 80th. Her feed eventually found its way to Milbrett in the penalty area and she scored to improve the U.S. record against Canada to 26-3-3.

It's the second time the United States has finished third in the World Cup, also doing it in 1995. The Americans won the crown in 1991 and four years ago.

While this victory wasn't nearly as memorable as the 1999 penalty-kick shootout over China for the championship at a sold-out Rose Bowl, it was a strong performance. And the Americans believe it can be a catalyst for future events: After finishing third in 1995, they went on to win the 1996 Olympics and the '99 World Cup.

"It's something to build on for the future,'' Boxx said. "We're looking forward to doing that.''

A wide-open first half featured numerous scoring opportunities on both sides. In the 31st minute, 16-year-old Canadian midfielder Kara Lang missed a sliding shot and crashed into goalkeeper Briana Scurry, who also hit the goal post after the ball banged off the post. Scurry was down for four minutes, flexing her right leg, but stayed in.

Lang, who had five shots in the half, tested Scurry again moments later, but the American went to the ground to catch the ball. Earlier, Scurry had to soar to barely tip one of Lang's shots over the net in the 19th minute, signaling how threatening the teenager would be.

Scurry had no chance on Christine Sinclair's low 12-yard shot after a brilliant pass from Christine Latham in the 38th minute. It was Sinclair's third goal of the tournament and tied it 1-1.

Lilly, who scored the first U.S. goal of the World Cup against Sweden, had connected with the 93rd of her international career _ she's played in 261 games, more than anyone in soccer. From just outside the penalty area in the 22nd minute, her left-footed blast found the right corner of the net after the ball came loose in a scramble.

Lilly, Hamm and Julie Foudy, three of the core veterans of the team, were everywhere in the opening 45 minutes. But the Americans often misfired or just barely couldn't get to passes and crosses.

And it was Boxx, who never played for the U.S. team before making the World Cup squad, who provided the lead with the historic 1,000th goal.

Abby Wambach, another World Cup newcomer, was as menacing in attack as Lang was for Canada. But Wambach misplayed three superb opportunities, including a two-on-one break with Milbrett early in the second half. She also headed a floating free kick by Cat Reddick barely outside the net.

Milbrett hit the post in the 73rd, then saw goalie Taryn Swiatek make a hand save on the rebound, and Sinclair put a header off the crossbar two minutes later.

But Milbrett, who lost her starting place on the national team to Wambach, finished it with her first goal of the tournament.

Canada coach Even Pellerud caused a stir after the game by saying the Americans were an aging team and that Canada should surpass them soon.

"I still think the USA will be up there,'' said the man who coached Norway to the 1995 title. "But they are a little bit on the way down. They're not as organized as they used to be. They give away more space to their opponents. They're not as fit as they used to be.''

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Germany Eliminates USA 3-0

The stars who nurtured U.S. women's soccer and made it the best in the world will not win another World Cup.

That goal vanished in a 3-0 loss to Germany in the semifinal.
''It's the end of an era, a chapter in a book,'' U.S. goalkeeper Briana Scurry said.

Mia Hamm already has said she will retire after next year's Olympics, and many others on the team will not be playing the game when the next World Cup is held four years from now.

Tears streamed down Hamm's face as she hugged teammates at the finish.
''I've loved every minute of it,'' Hamm said. ''I wouldn't change one minute. Even in defeat, this is one of my favorite teams that I've been a part of.''

Germany, with a solid defense and spectacular play by goalkeeper will play Sweden for the World Cup title in Carson, Calif., next Sunday. Sweden rallied to defeat Canada 2-1 on Sunday night to earn its first finals berth.

The United States and Canada will meet next Saturday in Carson for third place.

Canada, ranked 12th in the world at the start of the tournament and a surprise winner over China in the quarterfinals, led 1-0 on Kara Lang's free-kick goal in the 65th minute.

''We got a little stressed, but we felt we were so much better and had so many more chances,'' Sweden's Anna Sjoestroem said.

Sweden tied it minutes later when Malin Mostroem caught the Canadians flat-footed for a goal, then Josefine Oeqvist glanced one off the post and into the net for the winner in the 86th minute.

The Americans mounted repeated attacks against the Germans only to see them thwarted or misfire.

''We had opportunities, but it's one thing to create them, it's another to finish them,'' Hamm said.

Rottenberg blocked everything that came her way, and even made a diving grab of the ball off Hamm's feet during a breakaway threat.
''This was one of my best games,'' Rottenberg said. ''Now I'm in the final and want to be world champion.''

The scene had been set for an emotional U.S. victory. Flag salesman were doing a brisk outside the stadium. Face painters drew U.S. flags on the cheeks of youngsters.

But Germany scored an early goal on a brilliantly executed header by Kerstin Garefrekes from a corner kick by Renate Lingor, then held off repeated attacks before sealing it with goals in the final two minutes by Maren Meinert and Birgit Prinz, who has scored seven of Germany's 23 World Cup goals.

''Honestly, I was disappointed,'' Garefrekes said of the Americans' effort. ''They didn't play their offensive game. It was not really organized and they missed many opportunities.''

It was the second World Cup loss ever for the United States. The other came in the semifinals against Norway in 1995. The Norwegians went on to beat Germany for the championship.

The capacity crowd of more than 27,623 in cozy but raucous PGE Park _ many of them youngsters wearing No. 9 jerseys with the name ''Hamm'' on the back _ chanted ''USA! USA!'' to the finish and then after the game ended.

''All those girls in the stands, that's the legacy,'' Hamm said.

Hamm and the rest of the aging core of U.S. players had wante
d so badly to go out with another Cup triumph this year and then Olympic gold in 2004. Now only the games in Athens provide an attainable goal. After that, Hamm will retire.

''It was a hard loss because of the way it went down,'' Scurry said. ''They were bending and bending, but they didn't break.''

The tournament was originally scheduled to be held in China, but was moved to the United States because of a SARS epidemic. The stage seemed set for a U.S. repeat as the Americans advanced through a tough group and a difficult 1-0 quarterfinal victory over Norway.

Germany nearly spoiled the U.S. World Cup triumph in 1999, twice leading its quarterfinal match before the Americans rallied to win 3-2. There would be no comeback this time against the maddening efficiency of the Germans.

That goal vanished in a 3-0 loss to Germany in the semifinals Sunday night.

''That's what they are. They're just soccer machines,'' American Tiffeny Milbrett said.

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Germany Smashes U.S. World Cup Hopes 3-0

The score read 3-0, but the only significant number was the zero. Germany had held the U.S. Women's National Team scoreless and advances to the 2003 FIFA World Cup championship game against Sweden, a 2-1 semifinal winner over Canada.

For most of the veterans on this U.S. team it meant there would not be another World Cup championship in their careers, which will likely come to an end after next year's Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. That will be the case for Mia Hamm, Joy Fawcett, Julie Foudy and most likely goalkeeper Briana Scurry.

Veteran midfielder Kristine Lilly has indicated that she may play on past the Olmpic Games.

''It's the end of an era, a chapter in a book,'' Scurry said.

It was an emotional loss for the U.S. players who had hoped to recreate the success of 1999 with a successful defense of the world championship they won in front of over 90,000 in Los Angeles. Now they will play Canada for third place next Saturday at Home Depot Center in Carson, CA.

Germany, which beat the U.S. with a solid defense and spectacular play by goalkeeper Silke Rottenberg, will play Sweden the next day at The Home Depot Center. The crowd will be smaller, and with Sunday afternoon filled with NFL football and the Major League Baseball playoffs, the television ratings are not expected to register much at all.

Tears streamed down Hamm's face as she hugged teammates at the finish
.
''I've loved every minute of it,'' Hamm said. ''I wouldn't change one minute. Even in defeat, this is one of my favorite teams that I've been a part of.''

Canada, ranked 12th in the world at the start of the tournament and a surprise winner over China in the quarterfinals, led 1-0 on Kara Lang's free-kick goal in the 65th minute.

Going into the semifinals Norway had been eliminated by the U.S. in the quarterfinals, and was already home when the U.S. squared off with Germany. Now Sweden, which lost 4-1 in the first group game of this World Cup to the U.S., will play the Germans for the title. It would be the first FIFA Women's World Cup for either.

''We had opportunities, but it's one thing to create them, it's another to finish them,'' Hamm said.

Rottenberg blocked everything that came her way, and even made a diving grab of the ball off Hamm's feet during a breakaway threat.
''This was one of my best games,'' Rottenberg said. ''Now I'm in the final and want to be world champion.''

The scene had been set for an emotional U.S. victory. Flag salesman were doing a brisk outside the stadium. Face painters drew U.S. flags on the cheeks of youngsters.

But Germany scored an early goal on a brilliantly executed header by Kerstin Garefrekes from a corner kick by Renate Lingor, then held off repeated attacks before sealing it with goals in the final two minutes by Maren Meinert and Birgit Prinz, who has scored seven of Germany's 23 World Cup goals. Prinz played the last two WUSA seasons with the Carolina Courage, and Meinert was the 2003 WUSA MVP with Boston.

''Honestly, I was disappointed,'' Garefrekes said of the Americans' effort. ''They didn't play their offensive game. It was not really organized and they missed many opportunities.''

It was the second World Cup loss ever for the United States. The other came in the semifinals against Norway in 1995. The Norwegians went on to beat Germany for the championship.

The capacity crowd of more than 27,623 in cozy but raucous PGE Park _ many of them youngsters wearing No. 9 jerseys with the name ''Hamm'' on the back _ chanted ''USA! USA!'' to the finish and then after the game ended.

''All those girls in the stands, that's the legacy,'' Hamm said.

Hamm and the rest of the aging core of U.S. players had wanted so badly to go out with another Cup triumph this year and then Olympic gold in 2004. Now only the games in Athens provide an attainable goal. After that, Hamm will retire.

''It was a hard loss because of the way it went down,'' Scurry said. ''They were bending and bending, but they didn't break.''

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Wambach's Header Beats Norway 1-0

It was a quarterfinals worthy of a championship game. It wasn't the U.S. women at their very best, but good enough to advance to the semifinals with a 1-0 win over Norway, which pitted the #1 and #2 ranked teams on the FIFA World Rankings against one another.

That happened because Norway lost to Brazil and finished second in group play. Though the U.S. has won the last four meetings, Norway remains the only nation with a winning record against the Americans at 18-17-2.

With the U.S. veterans leading the way in this World Cup, once again it was the young stars who provided the goal and the magic moment in the game.

Striker Abby Wambach rose high to nod home a long free kick from defender Cat Reddick in the 24th minute for the only goal in the contest played before 25,103 at Gillette Stadium.

The defending champion U.S. will play a Sunday semifinal at 7:30 p.m. (ET) at PGE Park in Portland, Ore., against the winner of Thursday's quarterfinal between Germany and Russia in Portland. The game will be broadcast by ESPN2 and TeleFutura.

Sweden, second in group play to the U.S., edged Brazil 2-1 in the opener of tonight's doubleheader and awaits the winner of tomorrow's China-Canada quarterfinal.

The U.S. dominated Norway, its fiercest rival, throughout, permitting only one shot on goal. But the match turned on the combination between two of its least experienced players.

"We've played Norway in my tenure probably more than we've played any other team," U.S. coach April Heinrichs said. "So strategically is was a simple game and we tried to keep it a simple game, keeping the focus on long balls, winning the first ball, winning the second ball, organizing for the second ball and then settling the ball. Those were sort of our priorities."

After Norway defender Ane Stangeland sent U.S. striker Cindy Parlow sprawling with a foul tackle, Reddick, 21, set up 42 yards away from goal. She lifted a free kick to the top left of the six yard box where defender Marit Fiane Christensen was in perfect position, bodied up against Wambach, but she simply could not elevate as high as the 5-foot-11 American. Facing the left post, Wambach, 23, flicked her header to the center of goal and goalkeeper Bent Nordby reacted quickly enough to get her left hand on the shot, but couldn't keep it out of the net and the Americans led 1-0.

"Catherine sent in a great ball to my head," Wambach said. "I don't want to use basketball as a term here, but I was kind of posted up down there and the ball found my head, and went in the goal obviously. This was a career game, a career goal. Just to be able to go out there and leave it all on the field and to play with pretty much all of your heart, thinking about all the preparation you've done to get here, this just encapsulates that entire past couple of years."

And in a moment of understatement, Wambach added, "It was the biggest goal of my life."

On a team where 11 players have 100 or more international appearances and four have well more than 200 caps, Wambach now has 12 goals in 18 international appearances. "Abby is obviously a force, somebody that they were keying in on and neutralize her presence," Heinrichs said, "Certainly in the air, she was dangerous all day long in terms of the goal that she scored, the balls that she flicked, but also you could see her willpower and her fighting presence and the competitiveness which she brought to her game today. I said to her after the game that was her best game of her life."

Wambach created havoc all night for the Norwegians who simply didn't have anyone who could negate her bulk and battling 5-foot-11 presence. "The more physical, the better for me,'' said Wambach who recorded her third goal of the World Cup. "That's my style. That's the way I want to play."

Norway's answer to an apparent deficit in size and talent was to foul and foul often. The Norwegians committed 24 fouls to 10 for the Americans and received four yellow cards to none for the U.S. Striker Mia Hamm was unceremoniously dumped on several occasions while Wambach and Parlow were also fouled on multiple occasions.

"April said this is going to be a physical game, it's going to be a battle in the air," U.S. midfielder Shannon Boxx said. "Norway's very good in the air, they dominate. That's one part of the game that the U.S has done so much better. I know that that's one thing April likes about me, is that I can battle in the air and Abby the same, and Cindy Parlow the same, so we're definitely getting even with them at that point."

This treatment did not diminish U.S. dominance with the Americans holding a 14-3 shots advantage, 7-2 on frame. Norway did not ever seriously test U.S. keeper Briana Scurry and did not even put a shot on net until late in the second half.

Nordby made a pair of stellar saves midway through the second half to keep Norway in the match. In the 66th minute, Parlow led Wambach with a long ball to the top left of the penalty area. Nordby charged out and slid, slightly catching Wambach's left toe, just inside the box, as she tried to hop over the keeper for a shot into an empty net.

"It was a great ball over the top by C.P. (Parlow) and I made a run down the line," Wambach said. "I was just inside the penalty box and I touched the ball. Nordby knew that I had touched it by her so she had nothing else to do, that she had to foul me, or else if I got by her it probably would have been a goal."

After Nordby was cautioned, Hamm took the penalty kick, but only sent it about one yard left of center. The keeper dropped quickly to her right to make the stop.

A minute later, Boxx placed a long cross from the right sideline directly onto the head of Parlow seven yards from the center of goal. Parlow rose and drilled a sharp header down to the right post, but Nordby sprang and corralled the well-placed shot.

The U.S. back line of Christie Pearce, Joy Fawcett, Kate Sobrero and Reddick were effective shutting down Norway's potent strike pair of Dagny Mellgren and Marianne Pettersen, employing a swarming style that seldom allowed the Norwegians a clean look a goal. Boxx, Julie Foudy and Kristine Lilly contributed to the defensive effort with a high work rate and some crunching tackles.

"The U.S. team was the better team tonight,'' Norway coach Age Steen said. "Today, they were stronger than the Norway team.''

United States 1, Norway 0
Lineups: United States Briana Scurry, Christie Pearce, Cat Reddick, Kate Sobrero, Joy Fawcett, Shannon Boxx, Julie Foudy - captain (Kylie Bivens 81), Kristine Lilly, Mia Hamm, Abby Wambach, Cindy Parlow (Tiffeny Milbrett 72). Norway - Bente Nordby, Brit Sandaune, Ane Stangeland, Monica Knudsen, Marit Fiane Christensen (Linda Ormen 77), Solveig Gulbrandsen, Unni Lehn (Hege Riise 84) Lise Klaveness, Trine Ronning (Anita Rapp 24), Marianne Pettersen, Dagny Mellgren (captain).
Scoring:
United States - Wambach (Reddick) 24.
Shots: United States 14, Norway 3. Shots on goal: United States 7, Norway 2. Saves: United States 2, Noway 6.
Corner kicks: United States 8, Norway 2. Fouls: United States 10, Norway 24. Offside: United States 3, Norway 2. Yellow card cautions: Norway - Nordby 66, Klaveness 75, Lehn 80, Riise 86.
Referee: Nicole Petignat (Switzerland) Referee assistants: Elke Luethi (Switzerland), Nelly Viennot (France). Attendance: 25,103 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Weather: 60 degrees, cool.

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Reddick Scores Two Against North Korea

Cat Reddick never imagined that she would be in this situation. With Mia Hamm on the bench, taking a day off work at Columbus Crew Stadium, Reddick was the offensive star in the USA's 3-0 win over North Korea.

That win puts the unbeaten Americans (3-0) in the quarterfinals against Norway in Foxboro, MA, next weekend.

U.S. Coach April Heinrichs chose to rest some of her top players, including Hamm and Cindy Parlow. Julie Foudy came on as a second half substitute. As it turned out, the team didn't need the veterans in this game.

Abby Wambach put the U.S. up 1-0 in the 17th minute on a penalty kick. Wambach, who tied Hamm, her WUSA teammate, for the league scoring lead this past season, and was a challenge for North Korea's defense.

Reddick scored both of her goals in the second half, both coming as the results of corner kicks. Shannon MacMillan got the assist on the second, which Reddick slammed in with a header.

The first goal was started by a deflected header by Foudy, which found it's way to Reddick on the back post, who calmly knocked it in off her thigh.

Reddick earned a starting defensive position when veteran Brandi Chastain broke her foot against Sweden. She replaced Chastain in that game, and started against Nigeria and North Korea.

U.S. goalkeeper Briana Scurry was brilliant in goal, making 3-4 outstanding saves in the second half.

The U.S. beat Sweden 3-1 in the opening game, and then routed Nigeria 5-0 in the second. Norway finished second in their group after dropping a 4-1 decision to Brazil in group play.

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Hamm Leads U.S. Over Nigeria

It was vintage Mia Hamm. Playing in her fourth and last FIFA Women's World Cup, Hamm rolled out a pair of goals and ignited a U.S. attack that buried Nigeria 5-0 before 31,553 fans in Philadelphia. Hamm increased her international goals total to 144 and her World Cup count to eight. With 12 assists, she has more points than any other player in the women's tournament.

"That was Mia at her best,'' coach April Heinrichs said as the Americans moved to the top of Group A with six points. They need only a tie Sunday with North Korea to win the group and advance to the quarterfinals. Sweden beat North Korea 1-0 Thursday.

"As a playmaker, a goal scorer, a leader, she understands the importance of trying to take the wind out of their sails.''

Hamm converted a penalty kick in the sixth minute with a shot low to the right corner after Cindy Parlow was taken down in the area by Nigerian captain Florence Omagbemi.

In the 12th minute, she sent a 35-yard free kick on a majestic arc, probably intended as a far post cross to Parlow. The ball drifted to the goal and Nigerian goalkeeper Precious Dede could only get her fingertips on it as the ball settled into the net.

"Honestly, I was trying to serve the box,'' Hamm said.

Two minutes later, Hamm nearly had a hat trick - her twisting shot from the left wing barely missed. She also hit the goal post in the second half.

"I think Mia's at the top of her game, for sure right now,'' Parlow said. "She's played great. She's given this team so much.''

She gave it even more two minutes into the second half as Parlow got her second goal of the tournament. It was an almost exact duplicate of her goal against Sweden as she headed home Hamm's precise corner kick.

"It was important for our team and our goal, which was to get three points and be a team that plays hard for 90 minutes,'' said Hamm, who has played in all four Women's World Cups.

Abby Wambach, Hamm's teammate with the WUSA champion Washington Freedom, scored her first World Cup goal in the 65th minute on a perfect cross from Kristine Lilly. Julie Foudy connected on a penalty kick in the 89th.

Nigeria coach Sam Okpodu didn't think it was a fair battle. He complained loudly about the officiating after his team was eliminated.

"Horrible. Horrible,'' he said. "They wanted to take the game away from us, the refs did. It's a shame there was a third party who took the game away from us.''

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Hamm Leads U.S. Over Sweden

Mia Hamm showed why she is the biggest star in women's soccer, setting up three goals Sunday as the United States beat Sweden 3-1. Kristine Lilly, who has played in more international soccer games than anyone, scored the first goal and was a dynamo all over the field.

Joy Fawcett, like Hamm, Lilly and Julie Foudy playing in her fourth World Cup, was a rock on defense, particularly after 1999 World Cup heroine Brandi Chastain hurt her right ankle and left at halftime.

Newcomers Shannon Boxx, who scored on a header off Hamm's corner kick, and Abby Wambach made a huge impact with their physical play.

It was just what the Americans were looking for.

"Our presence in this win was incredible today,'' Hamm said. "Our defense was extremely well-organized, and Bri (Scurry) had some good saves and Kristine led us all over the field. I hit some balls well, but those guys finished them.''

Those guys were Boxx and Cindy Parlow off corner kicks, and Lilly off a smart feed from Hamm. But soccer's career scoring leader was the catalyst, displaying her vastly upgraded playmaking skills.

"What a wonderful inspiration she is to this team,'' coach April Heinrichs said. "She inspired this group to get pressure on the ball. And if anyone saw Mia's celebration on the third goal, she came over to the bench and slapped hands with everyone. She is such a team player.''

Chastain out with broken foot
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Brandi Chastain broke a bone in her right foot on Sunday in a World Cup game and will miss the rest of the first round, at least.

Chastain, the heroine of the United States' 1999 victory in the World Cup with her penalty-kick goal against China, was injured in the first half as the Americans beat Sweden 3-1.

The defender was unsure when she was hurt, but she said a Swedish player kicked her in the foot "and I landed on the ankle.'' She was replaced by World Cup rookie Cat Reddick.

X-rays showed Chastain broke the third metatarsal.

"The most important thing about the day is we earned three points,'' Chastain said. "And we are one step closer to the quarterfinals.

"This is not an individual thing. My main concern is the team moving on, and if that means I have to contribute by cheering from the sidelines, I will cheer as loud as I can for my teammates.''

Still, Chastain believes her World Cup isn't over.

"I'm a quick healer and feel very good about my chances of playing in the later rounds,'' she said.
The Americans pride themselves on having a roster filled with team players, and it showed Sunday. Before 34,144 -- many of them young girls with red-white-and-blue painted faces and No. 9 Team USA jerseys -- they played physically when they had to, and kept Sweden, ranked fifth in the world, off-balance much of the game.

But the third U.S. goal was critical because the Swedes finally had taken control of the pace. Sweden got back into it when its star, Hanna Ljungberg, sent a long cross in front of the U.S. net and Victoria Svensson headed it over Briana Scurry in the 58th minute. But Hamm, playing in her WUSA home, sent a corner kick in the 78th minute that Boxx, in just her third international appearance, converted into her third national team goal. The three in three is a record for a U.S. woman.

"I am around great players and they make me better,'' said Boxx, who was chosen for the World Cup team without ever having played an international game for the United States. "I'm living a dream.''

For the Americans to relive the dream of 1999 -- and 1991, when they won the first Women's World Cup -- they might need to remain as brutish as they often were against Sweden.

Scurry drew a first-half yellow card for her a hard slide into Ljungberg. Wambach bulldozed defenders throughout her 55 minutes on the field. Boxx and Parlow were too tall and aggressive in the penalty area on their goals.

"Any time you get opponents to fear you or lose their confidence or concentration,'' said Wambach, "that's your job.''

On the first goal, Wambach played the ball behind Hamm in the penalty area, but Hamm wisely sent it to Lilly for a 15-yard left-footed blast. It was Lilly's 92nd national-team goal.

"It was a great pass from Mia,'' Lilly said. "I hit it on the sweet spot and it went exactly where I wanted it to go.''

Just eight minutes later, Hamm's perfect corner kick found Parlow. Using her 5-foot-11 height to advantage, Parlow headed the ball off the bottom of the crossbar and in for a 2-0 lead.

North Korea, which beat Nigeria 3-0 on Saturday, leads Group A on goal differential. But the Americans' performance against a much tougher opponent was more impressive.

"I think it will be between the Swedish team and North Korea for who will go through with the Americans,'' Sweden coach Marika Lyfors said. "I think the U.S. team will beat the North Koreans.''

Later Sunday, Brazil played South Korea in a Group B match.

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Heinrichs Talks About World Cup Draw

The U.S. Women's National Team was drawn into Group A for the FIFA Women's World Cup USA 2003. Already dubbed the "Group of Death" for this year's tournament, the U.S. will face off against two of the Top 10 teams in the FIFA Women's World Rankings in North Korea and Sweden, and will also face African Champion Nigeria. This is what head coach April Heinrichs had to say in a media teleconference Thursday evening.

General reaction to the draw:
After letting it set in, I actually feel like it's a draw much more similar to the 2000 Olympics where we've got four of the best seven or eight teams in the world in our group. It's a very challenging group. One of the things I like about the draw is that we don't play these teams regularly. I like facing some teams we haven't played. If you look at the other three groups, this is probably the toughest.
There is a lot of evidence to suggest that our group is very tough and difficult. Having said that and having been through the draw in 2000, none of us on the U.S. team expect to have an easy time of it. There's a lot of expectations on our team. We are the home team now. There is a lot of demand of our team. We are the team in the world that tries to carry the torch in the women's game. If we want to win a World Cup, we have to be able to beat any team.

On Sweden:
Sweden we played as recently as the Algarve Cup. We tied them 1-1 in a game where either team really could have won. Sweden also advanced to the European Championships two summers ago and won the Algarve Cup, which is a tournament that we have come to regard as one of the most difficult to win because of the days rest and the opponents that you are playing. For about two years now, the U.S. team has been saying that this is a team that is on the rise. We've had Sweden in our top five or six teams in the world for the last two or three years.

On Nigeria:
Nigeria is a team that we have played in 1999 and 2000. A team that is radically different from 90 percent of the games we'll play. We'll play European teams. We play China quite a bit who plays more similar to a European team. Nigeria is a team that has athleticism that is unheard of in the women's game - you just don't see it very regularly. It's unsettling to play against their athleticism and against their different style. We haven't seen them in almost three years. They are a very strong and powerful team.

On North Korea:
North Korea is a team that we know very little about and have not seen for many years. Whenever you are playing a team that is unknown, it's a little bit more concerning. The Sweden coach said that they had scrimmaged North Korea in October. She said that North Korea was very strong. She thought they were tougher to beat than China.

On any advantage that the U.S. has from drawing a similar schedule to 1999:
I think our players are very well versed that the game is much further along then four years ago. Take for example Denmark - Denmark is not even in this World Cup and that was the opener in 1999. Since the 1999 World Cup, North Korea has beat China twice. If it was a one-goal, one-time thing I would say maybe it is a fluke. But North Korea has beat China twice. North Korea beating China twice in their World Cup qualifying tournament is the equivalent of Canada or any other CONCACAF team beating the U.S. twice.

On the possible quarterfinal opponents from Group B:
When you are around long enough you realize that the speculation before the draw is just fun. But at the end of the day, Group A & B are probably the toughest two groups. It means that we all know that in our quarterfinal game we are going to face an outstanding team, if we get there. Gone are the days that we might have a fluffy third game. In 1999, we were in a position to rest some players. That might not be the case anymore. It wasn't in the 2000 Olympics.

On perhaps not being able to rest players in the final Group play game:
It's really more a reflection of parity in the women's game than anything else, including the age of our team. I am watching some of the WUSA games and some of our senior players are absolutely the fittest players. I have seen games in 85-90 degree temperatures. I have seen games where players have played 48 hours beforehand. Last night I watched a 93-minute game between Washington and San Diego and all those players played on Sunday in New Orleans in unbelievable heat. They then had to travel back.

On what she has learned after coaching in the Olympics:
I have learned that being the coach of this team, being in this difficult group just means that the team is all the more aware of the challenges in front of us. If you look back at the Olympics, we were in the "Group of Death" and we played Norway and played extremely well, played China well and played Nigeria well. We played Norway again in the finals. What that group did for us was raise all of our players' standards, and helped motivate them prior to the games.

On how the tough group will motivate the team:
I understand that this group that we will now face for the World Cup is going to a great challenge for our players. But, I also know that this challenge is what motivates them. That challenge is what gets the fire in their belly going. Going into this World Cup, I feel that the fire in our belly is as important as anything else.

On the team's record heading into the World Cup:
If you look back at our last 12 months, we've done very well and I am proud of the team. We've played Norway on several occasions and done well against them. We went to the Four Nations Cup and played three of the top four teams in the world, Norway, Germany and China, and we won. We went to the difficult Algarve Cup. We played four games in seven days. Winning the Algarve Cup is a great accomplishment, having gone through teams like Sweden, Canada, Norway and China.

On expectations of the team going into the tournament:
Expectations are something that you can't put your finger on. That is other people's opinions, statements and bold comments that we don't really address much. Our goal is to win the World Cup. We don't expect to win the World Cup, we know that there are going to be a lot of great challenges ahead of us. Expectations can be undue burdens, so our goal is to take one step at a time and find a way to get points off of Sweden, and after that we will focus on Nigeria and then North Korea.

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USA Drawn Into Toughest Group

The United States will enter the Women's World Cup ranked #1 in the world and the favorite to win the championship, but received no favors with the tournament draw.

The U.S. was drawn into Group A with Sweden, North Korea and Nigeria in what is the toughest of the four four-team groups. Sweden, ranked #5, is the highest non-seeded team in the tournament.

The U.S. play Sweden on Sept. 21 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C, followed four days later with the game against Nigeria in Philadelphia. The game with North Korea on Sept. 28 in Columbus, OH, will complete group play for the defending world champions.

The game with North Korea is interesting because of the political standoff between the two nations over #7 ranked North Korea's nuclear weapons programs. Nigeria is #23 in the FIFA World rankings.

The last time the U.S. played North Korea, in the 1999 World Cup, the Americans were scoreless at halftime with their first-round matchup before winning 3-0. It is the only time the two teams have played each other.

The U.S. team is 10-2-5 against Sweden and 2-0 against Nigeria, winning 7-1 in the opening round of the last World Cup.

"Sweden is going to be one of the surprise stories of this tournament,'' U.S. star Mia Hamm said. "They're extremely organized and young and they have probably one of the best attacking players that I've ever seen at the top in (Hanna) Ljungberg.''
The rest of the draw was (with seeded nations listed first):

Group B: Norway, Brazil, France, South Korea;
Group C: Germany, Argentina, Canada, Japan;
Group D: China, Australia, Ghana, Russia.

The tournament, moved from China because of SARS, begins with Norway playing France in Philadelphia. The other sites for the tournament are Carson, Calif.; Foxboro, Mass.; and Portland, Ore.

Portland is the site of the Oct. 5 semifinals, with the championship match Oct. 12 at Carson.

If the Americans win their group, they would face the second-place team from Group B at Foxboro in the quarterfinals on Oct. 1.

"It's going to be hard,'' said Hamm, who plans to retire after the 2004 Olympics. "Everything is in place. We know where we're playing, we know when, we know who. Now it's just a matter of being ready for it.''

The North Korea match comes at a time when American-North Korean relations are extremely delicate.

The U.S. government included North Korea in an "axis of evil'' and says North Korea's nuclear ambitions are a regional threat. China is trying to help resolve the crisis through discussions between the two sides. North Korea is desperate for economic aid.

North Korea is considered a strong World Cup challenger, having scored 60 goals and given up just three in qualifying. Forward Ri Kum-suk scored 15 goals at the Asian Championship, including both goals in the final.

China, which lost the 1999 final to the United States on penalty kicks, opens Sept. 21 against Ghana in Carson.

"After looking at the draw, I think it's very to similar to our draw in the 2000 Olympics. We have to face three of the best seven or eight teams in the world, so our work is cut out for us," said U.S. WNT head coach April Heinrichs, who has guided the U.S. to a 9-1-3 record so far in 2003.

"Sweden is a tough opponent that we tied in the 2003 Algarve Cup (in March) and Nigeria we played in 1999 and 2000, and they are a radically different team from the normal opponent we face. North Korea is a team that we know very little about, and it can be very disconcerting to be playing against such an unknown opponent.

"It's a very tough and difficult draw," summarized Heinrichs. "But we didn't expect it to be an easy time, and we're ready for the challenge."

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Six Venues Set For World Cup

The Women's World Cup has a site and date for the championship game. Now if organizers could just come up with a schedule for the openers.

The opening game is anticipated for RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. Of the six venues announced, none are in the Southeast USA.

The new, soccer-only Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., officially was selected as the site for the Oct. 12 final. The 16-team tournament will begin the weekend of Sept. 20-21 on the East Coast, but exactly where is not certain.

The U.S. Soccer Federation, which is organizing the event after FIFA, the world soccer governing body, switched it from China because of the SARS virus, hoped to have the host team open at Giants Stadium. When that could not be arranged, the New Jersey site was dropped from the tournament altogether.

"Availability was a major issue for the New York venue,'' USSF president Bob Contiguglia said.

"I am frustrated, disappointed and very angry,'' replied George Zoffinger, chief executive of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. "To have the Women's World Cup without the premier venue in the Northeast not involved is a travesty.''

The other sites are Philadelphia's new Lincoln Financial Field; Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass.; Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio; and PGE Park in Portland, Ore.

"Our first task since accepting this challenge two weeks ago was to find the six venues that made the most sense, both geographically and functionally, to host matches in the Women's World Cup,'' Contiguglia added. "With these six world-class stadiums, we know we have done that.''

RFK Stadium is the likely locale for the defending champion United States' opener. Philadelphia, because of conflicts with the Phillies in the same sports complex, won't be available for the first weekend.

The schedule must be approved by FIFA and is expected to be ready next week.

The highly successful 1999 Women's World Cup featured a sold-out opener at Giants Stadium and a standing-room-only finale at the Rose Bowl, which lost out to the Carson venue this time.

"Clearly the Home Depot Center represents our future,'' Contiguglia said. "The environment is fantastic for the players and the spectators. Soccer specific stadiums are the direction we are taking and Home Depot Center symbolizes that.''

The stadium is operated by Anschutz Entertainment Group, which runs six of the 10 Major League Soccer teams.

"Our faith and vision three years ago in building a unique soccer venue for the United States suddenly looks like one of the smartest things we've ever done,'' AEG president Tim Leiweke said. "I'm really excited for the U.S. women's team, because if we can make it to the finals, the environment is really going to be unbelievable. It's hard to top what they did four years ago, but I believe we now have the opportunity to do that.

"I think regardless of who plays in the finals, it's going to be sold out and a great environment.''

FIFA also insisted on less travel for the teams than four years ago. By choosing these six sites, USSF secretary general Dan Flynn said the number of team movements would be cut from 42 to about 30. The tournament also will move from east to west, thus limiting cross-country trips.

In all, 12 cities were finalists. Along with Giants Stadium and the Rose Bowl, others not chosen were San Jose, Calif; Seattle; Birmingham, Ala.; Atlanta; Phoenix; Hartford, Conn.; Charlotte, N.C., and Las Vegas.

As late as last Wednesday, USSF was in discussions with New Jersey Meadowlands authorities and the New York Giants about Giants Stadium. The Giants objected to the potential disruptions in their training schedule - their practice facility is just outside the stadium, and they planned to use the stadium for some workouts.

"The clock ran out,'' said Flynn. "It was several factors: installation of grass and the timing for the event itself. Other challenges came to light.''

The tournament will have games in two NFL stadiums, in Philadelphia and Foxboro. Games will be played on weekends and weekdays, and all will be part of doubleheaders.

Playing the final on a Sunday afternoon opposite NFL games did not seem to faze tournament organizers. With the World Cup originally scheduled for China, most games would have been televised in the early morning. Now, the games will go up against a busy calendar that also includes college football, the baseball pennant races and playoffs, and the start of the NHL season.

"The broadest window happens to be on Sunday,'' said MLS commissioner Don Garber, whose group controls the television rights that were sold to ABC and ESPN. "The most limited is Saturday by college football. We are very comfortable, particularly for the final. We have our piece of real estate. It is somewhat of a different market. This is a huge event and has global proportions.''

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