the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics. They're ranked No. 1 in the world and they have never lost a game on the field during Ryan's two-year regime.
Let's ask Canada coach Even Pellerud, probably the world's greatest expert on the U.S. team. As coach of the women's national team in his native Norway, Pellerud's side lost to the U.S. in the first WWC final in 1991 and captured the 1995 title.
"I almost expected them to go a little bit backwards when some of their girls stopped playing, but that has not happened," he said. "They are so athletic. Just go beside them in a tunnel and they're scary. Combined with their high skill level and scoring machines like Kristine Lilly and Abby Wambach, it is really hard to see where you can beat them. You have to have a good game plan and have some luck as well. They have so many tools. They are just the strongest team in the world."
U.S. coach Greg Ryan isn't about to get into an argument with Pellerud.
"Right now, this team is playing great and they've got a great shot at the World Cup," he said. "I think this team's best soccer is still going to be a few years out from now."
Strong stuff. So, there's pressure on the U.S. Right? Well, not exactly.
"The standard that has been set for this team over the course of two decades has been a way of life," Wambach said. "The pressure that people on the outside may perceive is not as great as you may think as we enter a highly competitive training environment every day. When you are on a world's stage and you're training for a world championship, the pressure does get increased more, but I actually enjoy pressure. I thrive under pressure."
Ryan is optimistic his team can win a third World Cup crown in five tries. The USA captured titles in 1991 and 1999.
"You've got to be great in all areas to win the thing," he said. "We have a fantastic defense and I say that the whole team plays great defense. ... The other thing is that we have great attacking players. We're going to be a very difficult team to shut out. I just think that this team has got all of the elements.
"This team is a very hungry team. This is a team that wants to prove that they can win a world championship just like the guys did back in '99."
The U.S.'s first-round opponents are identical to the 2003 draw, (when the U.S. finished third). The U.S. takes on North Korea in Chengdu on Tuesday, Sept. 11, Sweden in Chengdu on Friday, Sept. 14 and Nigeria in Shanghai on Tuesday, Sept. 18.
Probably the two most important members of the new generation are central midfield with Carli Lloyd and Lori Chalupny, a converted left fullback. Lloyd enjoyed her coming out party during the USA's championship run to the Algarve Cup title in March, scoring four goals in as many games.
Two familiar names will start up front. Kristine Lilly, 36, who has played in more international matches (331) than any other person on the planet, has scored 126 goals and assisted on 100 others. The most dangerous weapon is Wambach, who scores goals at the fastest rate of any player (80.2 percent, 77 goals in 96 international games, including a team-high 11 this year).
Wambach gave the U.S. a major scare after sustaining what looked like a serious toe injury in a 4-0 win against Finland last month.
"The World Cup floated in front of my eyes," she told ESPN2.
But she said he was OK.
Added Ryan: "She's going to be fine. It's sore."
The solid defense is led by goalkeeper Hope Solo, who has secured the position from previous No. 1 Brianna Scurry, and backliners Christie Rampone, Cat Whitehill and Markgraf.
"We just have great talent on this team," Ryan said. "You're not going to be able to have this kind of success without great players. I think the other thing is just the unique blend we have of veteran leadership who are still fantastic players mixed in with a lot of young players that very talented, very enthusiastic, very energetic. It just makes a great mix."
If there is a weakness, well, it's difficult to find and to exploit.
"You certainly can see some tactical unbalance things that you can try to take advantage of," Pellerud said. "I don't think anyone can beat them (athletically). You have to beat them tactically. So far they resist to be beaten. so I think you have to go with tactics to become a little bit smarter."
Of course, that's easier said than done.
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.
