2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Team USA Watch- Bad Day At The Office

Team USA went into their final Group C match in Wolfsburg with a ton of momentum and their 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup destiny in their hands.

They were on a 15-0-2 match winning streak in World Cup play, had never lost a group match in Women's World Cup history, and already knew before the match started they were going to the quarterfinals.   The only question was whether it would be as the Group C champion or the runner up.

Hope Solo already had two clean sheets in the tournament and hadn't given up a goal since the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup.  Team USA was playing an opponent in Sweden whose captain was sitting out the match due to picking up a second yellow card in their July 2 match against North Korea and who they had a 3-0 record against during World Cup play, so things were looking good on that front.  . 

All the US needed was a win or draw against Sweden and they would be atop the group and play Australia in their opening quarterfinal match in Augsburg.   They lose and they get a return trip to Dresden for an early quarterfinal date with five time FIFA player of the year Marta and a Brazilian squad that's tired of playing title bridesmaid to the USA and German championship brides.

The number 3 FIFA ranked Brazilians were runners-up to the US at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics and again to Germany at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup 

But as ESPN NFL analyst Herman Edwards says, that's why you play the games.

In front a crowd of 23,468 that included the two time defending FIFA women's world champs Germany and German chancellor Angela Merkel, the FIFA world number one ranked squad was upset by the FIFA number 5 ranked Swedes 2-1.

Then again, this team seems to live for doing things the hard way.  After dropping games in CONCAFAF qualifying play to eventual CONCAFAF champion Canada and Mexico and beating Costa Rica to finish third, they had to endure a two leg playoff with Italy just to become the last team to qualify for the tournament.


"That’s kind of been our journey so far, so why change things now?” Abby Wambach said in an interview after the loss. 

Well, if you're going to lose a Women's World Cup match, better it be in group stage after you've handled your business and clinched your quarterfinal spot.  

Ironically, while the loss has them facing an early quarterfinal knockout match on July 10 with Brazil, if they get through the Samba Queens they would face the winner of England-France match in the semis on July 13 in Monchengladbach.

They wouldn't see the Germans, assuming they handle their business on the other side of the bracket until the championship game in Frankfurt on July 17. 

But Team USA and coach Pia Sundhage have a lot of work to do before that happens.