The best way to find out about a team is how they deal with adversity.
The U.S. women's national team had more than their share of it in the past three weeks at the FIFA Women's World Cup, especially in the last four or five days.
From playing in the so-called Group of Death to the benching or regular goalkeeper Hope Solo to the 25-year-old's reaction and criticism of coach Greg Ryan and her replacement, Briana Scurry, and finally until the 4-0 loss to Brazil in the semifinals, the emotions and uphill battle had taken its toll.
The U.S. bounced back with a dominating 4-1 victory against Norway in the third-place match Sunday night (before Germany took on and defeated Brazil 2-0 for the championship).
The win dominating performance helped the U.S. in a rather disappointing and sometimes controversial and dark tournament on a optimistic note, especially since they will return to this country for the Beijing Summer Olympics next August, assuming they qualify.
"I want to say how proud I am of my players and how impressed I was with how they dealt with the difficulties we have had this week," Ryan said. "They united, supported each other and pulled together. I've felt that, from the start of the tournament, we've been playing from behind the eight ball because we started off with such a tough group, and that made it very difficult for them to relax. Today, I think you saw the players completely relax and play some great, entertaining soccer, playing with confidence in themselves and their teammates."
They lacked those qualities against Brazil, when Scurry backstopped the team after Ryan thought that she was better suited to the task.
After opening up her mouth, Solo wound up being excluded from the team after she criticized Ryan and 'keeper Briana Scurry after she was benched for the 36-year-old veteran for the 4-0 semifinal loss to Brazil.
"There was a lot of pressure," defender Cat Whitehill said. "The Group of Death took its toll on the Brazil game. There was a lot of emotions that went into that Brazil game. There was a lot going on. We didn't handle it well."
Forward Abby Wambach, who captured the Silver Boot as the second-leading scorer of the tournament (six) after striking twice, agreed.
"These past couple days have been real emotional," she said. "It's never easy losing. Our team showed today that we have serious character. We are women of heart."
The U.S.'s performance just goes to show how much a difference three days and a teams with varying styles can make. Against technically superior and fast Brazilians in the semifinals, the USA looked slow, plodding and unsure of themselves.
Against the taller and less skilled Norwegians Sunday, the U.S. team at times looked like the Brazilians with their speed and craftiness.
"What I tried to do was leave every bit of energy and emotion that I had on that field," Wambach said. "It's not easy playing in the third place game but I was very proud of everyone."
Ryan's Hope: Soap opera continues. Like it or not, the Solo controversy still won't go away. Solo watched the game with her family back at the team hotel. It is not known whether she received a bronze medal, since she wasn't at the stadium to pick it up.
She hasn't eaten with the team since Ryan decided that that it would be best for the team if Solo did not practice or come to the stadium with the team for the third-place match.
Ryan wouldn't say whether Solo would return home with the team, but there were indications she might return on a separate flight. Ryan said that the situation was being handled internally with the team. The U.S. team is scheduled to fly home Monday.
Whitehill, Solo's roommate earlier in the cup and a good friend of the 'keeper's, said she had forgiven Solo.
"Anything is possible," she said. "We know what a great goalkeeper Hope is. She proved it during this World Cup. She's a good friend of mine, and I hope she will be able to do it."
Forward Abby Wambach sounded like she was willing to let bygones be bygones.
"If I were to see her, I'd probably give her a smile and a hug," she said. "I just want to celebrate the win and third place."
And was Scurry in a forgiving mood?
She certainly was, especially after Solo apologized to her in person.
"I'm an incredibly forgiving person, always has been," she said. "The most important thing to me is how we conduct ourselves on and off the field."
(Arm)band of sisters: Team captain and forward Kristine Lilly, who most likely played her fifth and final WWC, left the game for Natasha Kai to a nice ovation in the 88th minute. She gave her captain's armband to Scurry. Given what Scurry went through in the past few days, although she did nothing but follow orders and play, it was a symbolic gesture.
"I didn't have to say much," Lilly said. "I just gave her the armband and gave her a hug. She understood what I was saying."
Scurry certainly appreciated it.
"It felt incredible when Lilly gave the armband to me," she said. "The team has had great support for me all of these years, especially the last few days. For me to have that armband on for those few minutes, it meant the world to me."
Unfinished business: With all the speculation on whether U.S. women's coach Greg Ryan would return as coach due to the ongoing controversy, no one bothered to ask him if he wanted to be back and coach the team in next summer's Olympics and beyond.
So, he was asked after the U.S.'s 4-1 victory against Norway in the third-place match.
"Yes, I want to return to coach," he said. "I don't feel like my job has been done with this team."
U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati said he would determine Ryan's fate soon after the tournament, although he and secretary general Dan Flynn already have begun their review.
Ryan's contract runs through the end of this year.
A few things to remember: Ryan was not hired by Gulati, but his predecessor, Dr. Bob Contiguglia. If he decides not to rehire Ryan, Gulati has several directions in which he can turn. Because the Olympics are so close -- only 10 1/2 months away -- he could hire someone with experience in stop-gap situation. The obvious leading candidate would be Tony DiCicco, who guided the U.S. to the 1996 Olympic gold medal and the 1999 world championship.
The other option is more long term -- through the Olympics and next World Cup. One leading candidates would be former U.S. assistant Jillian Ellis, who served under ex-women's national coach April Heinrichs. Ellis guides the U.S. women's Under-20 team.
Michael Lewis covers soccer for the New York Daily News and is editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He can be reached at SoccerWriter516@aol.com. Views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's, and not necessarily those of Major League Soccer or MLSnet.com.
