NEWCASTLE, England – Opposing coaches have agreed unanimously that the Americans have the best women's soccer team in the world, thanks in large part to prolific forwards Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan.
By Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports
Goalkeeper Hope Solo and the U.S. defense have posted shutouts in their last three matches.
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But does the USA play the world's best defense? The team gave up two early goals in an eventual 4-2 win vs. France at the Olympic opener and has yet to face an opponent in the class of the French in three shutout victories, including Friday's 2-0 win vs. New Zealand.
U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo says the team defense has improved over the course of the Games, though it's difficult to judge.
"It's hard to say because we haven't been really tested," she says. "I'm still waiting to get tested, but that's what happens when you're ranked No. 1; you only have one or two games to really see."
That test will likely come Monday, as the Americans will play for a berth in the gold medal game vs. North American rival Canada, which defeated host nation Great Britain 2-0 on Friday night.
Solo has championed her team's defensive play in these Olympics but on Friday offered a critique of American roster-makers.
"Over time the U.S. has been known for our defense," she said. "We had the best defense in the world, and when you focus more on the attack and creativity through the midfield you kind of start to lose a little bit of that dominance in the defensive area."
Had the best defense in the world.
"With that said, I have all the confidence in the world that we can go through to the finals," she said.
The Americans have certainly benefited from the additions of playmaking midfielders Heather O'Reilly (2002), Carli Lloyd (2005), Megan Rapinoe (2006) and Lauren Cheney (2007), who have contributed to sustained success including two consecutive Olympic gold medals. But do they have the kind of defensive credentials that Shannon Boxx brought to the national team in 2003?
Similarly, the back line is stocked with former midfielders and forwards.
Kelley O'Hara was converted from striker to defender after Ali Krieger went down with a knee injury during Olympic qualifying. Solo calls moving on from Krieger "quite an adjustment."
"In the beginning I have to admit it didn't look that good," says coach Pia Sundhage. "But if you believe in something and go for it and instead of looking at one or two plays, you look at the unit."
Sundhage says the stoppers have been solid over the last three games — shutouts of Colombia, North Korea and New Zealand have come with a combined five shots on the American goal.
Yet, as Solo noted, the true tests will be few, and they're just around the corner.
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