Women's World Cup Tuesday
Sean Hiller / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Shannon Boxx in action Sunday at Home Depot Center.
Sean Hiller / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
A determined Abby Wambach practices for the Finland game.
Former South (Torrance) High star Shannon Boxx, Hermosa Beach resident Abby Wambach and the rest of the World Cup-bound U.S. Women's National Team as they prepare for the final tune-up game Saturday against Finland in Carson is the subject of this week's column.
Incidentally, I asked both Coach Greg Ryan and striker Abby Wambach who among the young(er) Americans they believed capable of emerging as a star in the tournament.
Ryan, who knows the value of a good defense, went with goalkeeper Hope Solo, who has now displaced Briana Scurry as the number one between the posts for the U.S.
Wambach went with midfielder Carlie Lloyd, who was named tournament MVP while scoring four goals at the Algarve Cup earlier this year in Portugal.
"When she's faced with a bigger challenge she rises to the occasion," said Wambach, adding that the Rutgers product has the potential to emerge as the new face of the U.S. team.
"I'd like to get that off my back," Wambach said.
About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
Leave a comment