U.S. women have real shot at World Cup glory

On a steaming hot morning, the United States women's national team had ridden nearly an hour for a workout in the middle of New Jersey. Nobody in Somerset noticed the players' arrival earlier this month at a solitary field. Nobody on the team complained. That was the plan. They weren't there for autographs. A long workout, some quick interviews, back on the bus.

"The World Cup has been our focus,'' said Heather O'Reilly, one of five New Jersey women on the team.

Whatever they've collectively been doing for the last four years, the Women's World Cup, beginning Sunday in Germany, will determine this group's legacy. You could argue this is a real tipping point. The U.S., which opens group play Tuesday against North Korea in Dresden, fell short in the last two World Cups. They no longer dominate their own CONCACAF region.

Obviously, winning in Germany would alter the story line completely. The U.S. pulled out a surprising gold medal at the 2008 Olympics on an overtime goal by one of the Jersey girls, Carli Lloyd of Delran. That was the last time full national teams got together for top competition. A reprise of that success will put the Americans back on top of the pile.

"I think you have three, four, five, six, seven, maybe eight teams on a good day that could win the Cup,'' said U.S. coach Pia Sundhage. "It's so tight. Back in the good old days you had maybe four teams.''

The U.S. has a real shot since the Americans have the top goalkeeper in Hope Solo, who combines experience and athleticism. They have a top inside midfield pairing in Lloyd and Shannon Boxx, and a world-class winger player in O'Reilly. They have a constant goal-scoring threat in Abby Wambach. They boast a terrific blend of youth and experience, helped by the top domestic league in the world.

The host country is the clear favorite, though. Germany is two-time defending champion. For the first time, a Women's World Cup on European soil is expected to draw big crowds, so the Germans, led by forward Birgit Prinz, could turn this tournament into a magic carpet ride, just as the U.S. did in 1999. They open the tournament Sunday against much-improved Canada.

Other threats come from usual suspects: Brazil is overdue to break through and win a major competition. Japan has made a habit of reaching the semifinals of big tournaments. Although Sundhage suggested more teams could win, that was probably a politically correct observation. Realistically, half the 16-country field can't win. However, more than half the teams are capable of beating any of the favorites in a single match. In April, England beat the U.S. in a friendly. Mexico shocked the Americans in a final CONCACAF qualifier, forcing the U.S. to beat Italy in a two-game playoff to qualify.

"You lose, and it opens your eyes,'' said O'Reilly, now 26 years old, from East Brunswick, N.J. "You're reminded not to take anything for granted. I don't think this team does. I don't think this team has a habit of taking anything for granted. But I think it does give us that extra edge and that extra hunger.''

The U.S. captain is Christie Rampone from Point Pleasant, N.J., at her fourth World Cup, now a mother of two.

"She's the best captain I've ever had and the best captain I've ever played with,'' Sundhage said. "For me, she is a role model, and the fact that she has come back from having two babies, it's amazing. She helps this team and helps me quite a bit in the way she is around the team. She'll represent not only herself, she represents the team, makes sure I understand how they feel and how it is on and off the field.''

Sundhage believes the U.S. has to play a sophisticated game to prevail at the highest level. They've been working on their buildup, while acknowledging that Wambach is as good as any forward "in the air,'' as Sundhage put it. Look for the Americans to push it wide and then cross Wambach's head. Also, look for creativity from Lloyd in the central midfield. Lloyd has the green light from Sundhage to try to create some magic.

Up front with Wambach is Independence forward Amy Rodriguez, who scored a huge goal in the Italy game. Sundhage plans to bring 21-year-old scoring phenom Alex Morgan off the bench. Among the four Independence players on the U.S. roster is backup goalie Nicole Barnhart, a Gilbertsville, Pa., native who proved her mettle again by keeping Italy scoreless in the two-game playoff. The third keeper is a Villanova grad, Jillian Loyden, from Vineland, N.J.

Another U.S. success story with a Philadelphia connection is defender Heather Mitts, who played locally with the Charge of the defunct WUSA and is married to former Eagles quarterback A.J. Feeley. Mitts missed the last two World Cups because of injury. So she's both a rookie and a veteran at age 33.

The smart money has the U.S. team reaching the semifinals. But winning their group could set the Americans on a path toward a semifinal matchup with Germany. If the Americans make it to Berlin's Olympic Stadium, site of the July 17 final, they will have pulled off a feat every bit as impressive as their past World Cup triumphs. They don't mind coming in as the dangerous underdog, with "a little bit of a chip on our shoulder,'' as O'Reilly put it.