SOCCER-WOMEN/WORLD CUP TEAM U.S. Women's National Team looks ahead to the World Cup

Record ID: 165442

  • Title: SOCCER-WOMEN/WORLD CUP TEAM U.S. Women's National Team looks ahead to the World Cup
  • Date: 27th May 2015
  • Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (MAY 27, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS PROFANITY*** (L-R) HOPE SOLO, MEGAN RAPINOE AND ABBY WAMBACH SEATED, RAPINOE TAKING A PICTURE MAN TAKING PICTURE (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM GOALKEEPER HOPE SOLO, SAYING: "What I can tell you is that I am in the best place of my life, both on the field and off the field. I have great teammates behind me, a great coaching staff. And I'm just honestly really excited for my third World Cup." SOLO, RAPINOE AND WAMBACH SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM FORWARD ABBY WAMBACH, SAYING: "You're damn right I need it. It's all that I'm thinking about. It's all that's on my mind. It's the thing that I haven't been able to be a part of. I haven't won yet. And it's something that I know all of us have to be willing to be forever disappointed in not winning. Because that's what it takes. You have to completely give into it. You have to completely allow yourself to be crushed by something. It's like love. And if we give into it. If all of us give into it, then I think that we have a chance at this. I do." SOLO, RAPINOE AND WAMBACH SEATED CAMERAMAN CHRISTIE RAMPONE, ALEX MORGAN AND CARLI LLOYD TAKING SEATS (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM MIDFIELDER CARLI LLOYD, SAYING: "We're at a point now where if we win this thing, this could be huge. And there's no better time to win it, with the coverage, with social media, and just with the fact that we haven't won it in 16 years. So it's a great time to win it. It's one of the best environments that we could be in. And we're ready to go after it." RAMPONE, MORGAN AND LLOYD SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM DEFENDER CHRISTINE RAMPONE, SAYING: "I think being away from the game while you are pregnant makes you want to play even more. And missing your teammates and that environment of competing every day and playing at the highest level, you crave it and you want to come back. Especially being a female, I want to let my daughters know that anything is possible. If you keep working at it and push at it. You know, mommy wanted to continue playing soccer and wanted to have a family and I was able to do both. So it's pretty special." RAMPONE, MORGAN AND LLOYD LEAVING PHOTOGRAPHERS U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM HEAD COACH JILL ELLIS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM HEAD COACH JILL ELLIS, SAYING: "I think from the very beginning the focus is to win the World Cup. That's why I was hired. I know the players, the expectations. But we've really always looked to this as an amazing opportunity. It's been a long time since we've won a World Cup. That's the focus. That's the goal and that's what we plan to do." ELLIS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM HEAD COACH JILL ELLIS, SAYING: "I think for us it will be.. It's two parts for me. One, on a sentimental level, I think it establishes the legacy of the players that we have here that have done so much for game, but have not quite got that one piece that they want, the world championship. So I think for me, that piece is important for our players. But as it resonates with just our community, I think it will... The ultimate goal is to have little girls fall in love with the game, fall in love with these players and want to go out and kick the ball around. And that's hopefully the fallout from having this amazing event up in Canada." VARIOUS OF U.S. NATIONAL TEAM LOGO
  • Embargoed: 11th June 2015 13:00
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  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAA6495BODQUOLK9VJ17YD0HRH9
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: **CONTAINS PROFANE LANGUAGE IN SOUNDBITE #5**
    The United States Women's National Team said they are ready to win the Women's World Cup.
    Speaking during a media day event in New York City on Wednesday (May 27), U.S. women's national soccer team goalkeeper Hope Solo said, "What I can tell you is that I am in the best place of my life, both on the field and off the field. I have great teammates behind me, a great coaching staff. And I'm just honestly really excited for my third World Cup."
    Earlier this year, Solo was suspended by the team for 30 days following an incident during a training camp.
    Solo was suspended after her husband, former NFL tight end Jerramy Stevens, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in Los Angeles last month. Media reports said Solo was in the car but was not cited by police.
    Teammate Abby Wambach, who is the all-time leading goal scorer (182 goals) in women's international soccer, has not won a World Cup. Speaking to journalists, Wambach said she needs to win.
    "You're damn right I need it. It's all that I'm thinking about. It's all that's on my mind. It's the thing that I haven't been able to be a part of. I haven't won yet. And it's something that I know all of us have to be willing to be forever disappointed in not winning. Because that's what it takes. You have to completely give into it. You have to completely allow yourself to be crushed by something. It's like love. And if we give into it. If all of us give into it, then I think that we have a chance at this. I do."
    The U.S open their campaign in Winnipeg against Australia on June 8.
    The squad is packed with experience, featuring 14 members of the 2012 Olympic gold medal winning team and averaging 101 caps per player and a combined 122 Women's World Cup matches under their belt.
    "We're at a point now where if we win this thing, this could be huge. And there's no better time to win it, with the coverage, with social media, and just with the fact that we haven't won it in 16 years. So it's a great time to win it. It's one of the best environments that we could be in. And we're ready to go after it," said team midfielder Carli Lloyd.
    Defender Christie Rampone, who will turn 40 during the tournament, will feature in her fifth World Cup having been part of the last U.S. squad to win the World Cup back in 1999. Rampone also is now the mother of two daughters.
    "I think being away from the game while you are pregnant makes you want to play even more. And missing your teammates and that environment of competing every day and playing at the highest level, you crave it and you want to come back. Especially being a female, I want to let my daughters know that anything is possible. If you keep working at it and push at it. You know, mommy wanted to continue playing soccer and wanted to have a family and I was able to do both. So it's pretty special," she said about her return.
    Head coach Jill Ellis said the team's goal is clear.
    "I think from the very beginning the focus is to win the World Cup. That's why I was hired. I know the players, the expectations. But we've really always looked to this as an amazing opportunity. It's been a long time since we've won a World Cup. That's the focus. That's the goal and that's what we plan to do."
    But she added, "The ultimate goal is to have little girls fall in love with the game, fall in love with these players and want to go out and kick the ball around. And that's hopefully the fallout from having this amazing event up in Canada."
    After the Group D opener against Australia, the Americans take on Sweden on June 12 in Winnipeg and Nigeria on June 16 at BC Place in Vancouver.
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