2007 Women's World Cup Preview - USA

Soccer Betting Lines

09/05/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Captain Kristine Lilly believes the United States "can do great things" at the World Cup.

For the United States, two-time winners and ranked No. 1 in the world, great means only one thing: a championship.

Anything else would be a disappointment.

Although this is a much different team than the one that finished third in the 2003 World Cup - better or worse is yet to be determined - the United States is confident it can claim its third title.

"I think confidence is potentially the thing that wins you championships. So, the more confident this team is," U.S. forward Abby Wambach said, "I think the better we are."

In the last two years, there's been no team in the world better than the United States.

The United States is 31-0-6 in the last two years with its lone blemish a loss in penalty kicks to defending World Cup champions Germany in the 2006 Algarve Cup final. That game is officially a draw in the record books because it was decided on penalty kicks.

Sure doesn't seem like the United States has really missed Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy or Brandi Chastain, stars who have retired since the '03 Cup.

So, with a team that's only real "weakness" is 12 players who will be making their World Cup debuts in 2007, is there any question who the favorite is?

"We're going to go after teams and if they can hang with us OK, if not, we'll just keep swinging until we knock them out," U.S. coach Greg Ryan said.

Lilly, 36, is soccer's ageless wonder. She's the only player - man or woman - to play in 300 international games and has appeared in every World Cup. The United States won in 1991 and 1999 and was third in 1995 and 2003.

She had the second-highest goal total of her career last year with 13 in 20 games. She also had seven assists. She continues to fill the nets this year and combines with Abby Wambach to form one of the best scoring combos in the World Cup.

Wambach has 77 goals in 96 career games, including a team-high 11 in 2007. She had an injury scare in the United States' last game before the Cup, a 4-0 win over Finland, but is fit for the tournament.

"I jammed my toe going into the tackle and it caused some pain, so we got an X-ray," Wambach said. "I know I'll be ready for the first game because I'm not sure anything could keep me off the field."

Wambach's injury nearly spoiled the United States' perfect "Send-Off Series." The team played six games starting in mid-June to prepare for the tournament and finished a perfect 6-0, including wins over five World Cup qualifiers - China, Brazil, Norway, Japan and New Zealand.

"The 'Send-Off Series' has been very wonderful in that we've been able to face such different opponents, all of which have made our preparation vital as well as effective," said U.S. defender Kate Markgraf, who will start in her third World Cup.

Markgraf, Christie Rampone and Cat Whitehall are the defensive anchors for the United States, and their roles are important with goalie Hope Solo starting her first World Cup.

Solo has solidified her status as the United States' starter, but Cup veteran Briana Scurry is also on the team. It's important Solo starts the tournament strong because the United States can't afford to slip up in any of its games.

"Every game in our bracket is tough," U.S. midfielder Shannon Box said, "but we are taking it one game at a time."

The United States is a major reason why Group B is considered the toughest in the Cup but Sweden and North Korea are also world powers. Sweden is third in the world according to FIFA's rankings and North Korea is fifth.

"We have to go in there knowing that we are playing a great team in North Korea and need to get a result, then an incredibly talented Sweden team and then we play African champion Nigeria," Ryan said. "Every game is going to require great focus and intensity to get the results we want."

PAST ACHIEVEMENTS:

-- FIFA World Cup first: 1991, 1999.

-- FIFA World Cup third: 1995, 2003.

-- Olympic Games gold medalists: 1996, 2004.

-- Olympic Games silver medalists: 2000.

-- CONCACAF Gold Cup first: 2000, 2002, 2006.

-- CONCACAF Championship first: 1991, 1993, 1994.

-- Algarve Cup first: 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007.

-- Algarve Cup second: 1994, 1999, 2006.

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