Congratulations goes out to the United States Women's National Team for winning the Gold Medal game. The US did what no one really thought would be possible - shut down the Brazil attack. Even the most optimistic US fans had to think that Brazil would score at least once especially after taking apart Germany in the semifinals but that wasn't the case as excellent team defense and a great game from Hope Solo kept Brazil scoreless.
Speaking of Solo, I'm sure that she learned her lesson last year so you won't hear it from her but I would love to hear a couple "I told you so"s slip out. Looks like she was right - maybe she would have made those saves last year. Her reflex save on Marta was tremendous and she was strong in the air too. Carli Lloyd scored the goal but I would give Solo the MVP for the final.
And for Carli, what a great strike for the Jersey girl. We won't know about USWNT allocations for about a month more but how great would it be to have the Gold Medal hero in a Sky Blue WPS professional uniform. Sky Blue will be playing on the same field that she starred on in college so that would be a great story.
On the other side of the field, for Brazil it's more heartbreak finishing second three tournaments in a row including one World Cup and two Olympics. You have to think that they're really wondering what they need to do to win one of these things. Losses in overtime to the US in 2004 and 2008 and then the loss to Germany with Marta missing the tying PK - so close but yet so far. If it's any satisfaction, they're still the most fun team to watch.
Let's hope that the great Olympics tournament can help WPS as it heads towards its first season. The entire US team will definitely be playing in the league next year while you have to think that most of the Brazil players will be here as well with no suitable alternative in their native country. On top of that Brazil coach Jorge Barcellos has been rumored to be linked to a coaching position with a WPS team so everything you saw on the field today could be a part of WPS in a slightly altered form in 2009.
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