Having gained five of the seven versions, the USA and Germany are firmly established because they are the most hit countries in FIFA Women’s World Cup records. But returned in 2003, there was no doubt which heavyweight duo held top billing. The Americans had been, in the end, -time winners, holders, and hosts having stepped into degree the match once more following the SARS outbreak in China. They had an all-star team proposing the likes of Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly, Brandi Chastain, and an excellent teen through the name of Abby Wambach. On the other hand, Germany had fallen quickly in every of their previous 3 World Cup campaigns. There changed into, but, to be a dazzling power shift, and it happened in Portland on 5 October 2003.
While few in the crowd had anticipated it to be easy for the US – it had taken the bizarre intention in five to see off the Germans four years in advance – no one expected the comprehensive three-zero defeat that followed. Defender Kate Markgraf, reflecting years later, made the apparent-speaking admission that the Stars & Stripes.
“got our asses kicked.” “The entire recreation, we got manhandled,” she said. “They were destroying us, gambling proper around us.” So advanced were the European champions that US superstar Julie Foudy, writing for ESPN, remembered “feeling like the Germans had a 12th player”. This becomes a recollection shared by using Hamm, the
American star player said it was the best time in her career that she experienced this kind of sensation. “At one factor, I even started counting their players,” the USA talisman recalled. “They have been sending such a lot of players via. I spent a lot of time gambling defense.” Germany went directly to win the trophy by beating
Sweden won the Final, and 4 years later, they grew to be the primary and, up to now, the handiest team to maintain the Women’s World Cup. The gauntlet has been laid down for the US and the rest of girls’ football. Did you already know? This semi-final became a tactical triumph for Tina Theune-Meyer and the German teacher’s charming preparatory notes characteristic within the FIFA World Football Museum’s USA 2003 show off.
