World Cup Corner

The U.S. national women’s football team is looking at a promising stint at the 2007 World Cup tournament, with equally promising midfielders empowering it. Made up of seven potentially winning women, the impressive roster of midfielders puts the team in a positive position against its opponents. The roster is composed of midfielders ranging from reliable mainstays in the team, as well as up and coming stars.

A perfect example of a rising star in the roster of national team midfielders is Carli Lloyd. A former player at Rutgers in college, Lloyd’s skill has flourished greatly under the training of national team head coach Greg Ryan. She is continuously unpredictable, and her creativity on the field is one of her strongest suits. Ryan has also managed to tone down her somewhat surprising aggressiveness and made her out to be a balanced player who exhibits brilliant but grounded moves. Her title as a “rising star” was further engraved in the minds of the public through a breakthrough performance at the annual Algarve, wherein she scored four goals in four games. A lot of people already expected her to be part of the roster, since she has been a constant presence in the team’s 2006 games.

Yet another rising star is Shannon Boxx. Four years ago, Boxx was considered a newcomer as she earned a spot in a World Cup roster with an uncapped record. Now, however, Boxx is now regarded as a veteran player after exhibiting an impressive game display that somehow made her reliable and promising in Ryan’s eyes. Indeed, the potential that Ryan saw in her eventually landed her the role of holding midfielder in this year’s World Cup. Even after taking a break to recover from a torn ACL, Boxx has proven that she belongs to the team and is intending to stay for a long time still.

A reliable source of scoring opportunities such as Lori Chalupny is just what Ryan needs to further strengthen his team. Returning to an attacking role with a vengeance, Chalupny has proven her worth in both an attacking position and an outside back role. It is her persistent energy that sets her apart from her teammates, and also makes the national team stand out from its opponents. Indeed, Chalupny is providing the team a spirit that no other player does.

If Ryan’s team is full of celebrated stars, he’s also got some unspoken talents in his roster. Formerly just a hopeful for the World Cup, Leslie Osbourne has now earned a sure spot in the roster. What is special about Osbourne was that she was not afraid to step up and grab her rightful spot on the lineup for the 2007 World Cup. She rightfully earned this spot despite challenges such as a recent ankle surgery, and a substitute stint. From a mere hopeful and a mere fill-in, she is now headed to a bright and promising career in women’s football.

With a challenge ahead of them, the U.S. national team is also equipped with players who are up for the challenge. One such example is Aly Wagner, who finally made it to the World Cup roster, after missing the same opportunity in 1999 as an 18-year-old player. Known for her excellent passes, Wagner has some valuable contributions to make to the team, even after a mediocre stint performance during the past year. Despite the injuries she had to face, what eventually landed her the coveted role in the World Cup lineup was her vision to get into the roster as well as her vision while playing on the field.

As if these powerful midfielders are not enough, Greg Ryan still has a couple of cards left. One of his worthy reserves is Angela Hucles. Already considered a veteran due to her presence in the 2003 World Cup and the 2004 Olympics, Hucles has proven her worth and is probably part of the reason why Ryan’s team is definitely unstoppable. No matter what happens, Ryan can definitely count on Hucles, with her skills and experience, to step in quite impressively when she needs to.

If Ryan has a worthy reserve, he’s also got someone who can protect his lead late in the game when necessary. Boasting of an intelligent presence on the field, Marci Jobson is an essential part of the national team. She has been a regular part of Ryan’s team, and is currently the head coach of the Northern Illinois women’s team. Her strong defense will definitely give Ryan the protection that he needs for his scores.

With this all-star roster, the U.S. national team is definitely in for a bright run at the 2007 World Cup.