Sad Eyes Prophesying A New Day Has Come

Two losses in the span of just months for the USA, this time against a stronger, more energetic, more focused, and more driven Sweeden team.

Is the writing on the wall?  Is a new day about us?  Will the U.S.A. be overtaken as the perennial favorite?  There are many contenders who appear to be ready to take over the throne, including but not limited to Sweeden, Germany, Brazil and Canada.  The China 4 Nations Tour has just gotten very interesting.

Pia Sundhage has her hands full trying to build a new powerhouse.  No longer can she count on members of the Fab 5 to come to the rescue.  Kristine Lilly assured us of that when she was the last to retire earlier this month.  (Only two members of the 1999 World Cup winning team remain active in professional soccer: Christie Rampone and Tiffeny Milbrett.)

The pressure is on the new crop of ladies to step up and prove to themselves and the rest of the world that they deserve to be #1.  The 2011 women’s soccer race just got interesting, and even if this does not bold well for the USA at the World Cup, it certainly will make for a highly entertaining summer in Germany!

RECAP: The U.S. Women’s National Team lost its first game of the year and opening match of the Four Nations Tournament 2-1 to Sweden on a cold afternoon at the Yongchuan Sports Centre Stadium.  U.S. midfielder Carli Lloyd headed home a corner kick in the 11th minute, but Swedish defender Stina Segerstrom answered back six minutes later with an equalizer, also off a corner. Midfielder Kosovare Asllani, who played for the Chicago Red Stars in WPS last season, tallied the winning goal for Sweden with about 30 minutes remaining.