U.S. Women Want World Cup Repeat

They are the champions of the world. They proved Americans can, indeed, play this foreign game. Win at it, in fact.

Beginning next week, the U.S. women’s soccer team - with more experience, more depth and certainly more attention than it received four years ago - goes after a second straight World Cup crown.

The Americans begin defense of their title against China, and also face Australia and Denmark in the first round of the 12-team tournament. The strongest competition is expected to come from the Chinese, the Scandinavian nations of Sweden, Norway and Denmark, plus European champion Germany.

But this U.S. team claims it is well-prepared for the staunch opposition.

“The first thing you have to consider is the experience level,” says coach Tony DiCicco, who was an assistant on the 1991 squad and took over as coach last August. “We have nine players back from the 18 of ‘91. Eight are starters. We have a lot of experience.

“Talent-wise, both teams were very, very good, although I think this team has the ability to be a better team. That can only be measured with how far they go. The ‘91 team accomplished everything. Can this team? I think so.”

The nine holdovers include captain Carla Overbeck, high scorers Michelle Akers, Mia Hamm and Kristine Lilly, and goalkeeper Mary Harvey. Among the newcomers are college stars Tisha Venturini and Sarah Rafanelli and 17-year-old Tiffany Roberts.

Overbeck believes the success of the women’s team has erased much of the negative feeling toward American soccer players. She points to France allowing the U.S. women to use the men’s national team’s training facility earlier this year.

“No other women’s team had that before,” she says.

No other U.S. women’s team has been world champion before, either. The 1991 tournament was the first for women. Now they want another title.

“I think this team has confidence, but it is not arrogant,” Overbeck says. “We know what to expect over there and know our competition and have beaten those teams.”