Disaster in San Diego

Why do they even call them friendlies anyway? 30 minutes into the first half, on perhaps one of only several non-flagrant collisions by a Brazilian player, Abby Wambach was sent tumbling to the ground and immediately called for aid. Air casts are serious business in the world of medicine and, after applying one to Wambach's left leg, it was only conceivable that she would not be participating in the Beijing Olympics in 4 weeks. Abby Wambach - the US women's leading goal scorer - will be out for 12 weeks with a left tibia-fibula fracture.


Oh, how did the rest of the game go? Well, the US continued their attack, despite some lapses on defense. *cough cough* Kate Markgraf in particular (I'll blame it on the face mask). The US women were able to maximize off of a hustle play by Amy Rodriguez, who saved the ball from going over the endline. Natasha Kai almost gathered the ball before being chopped down by a Brazilian defender, awarding a free kick for the US. After a slew of what seemed to be not so nice epithets from Kai, Lloyd took the kick just outside the box. The ball crossed over the goal and was headed into the net by Kai. The US took the 1-0 win.



Okay, so they won a meaningless friendly against a weakened Brazil team that was missing three of their players. How will the US team perform in the Olympics without Abby Wambach? My first thoughts were they are fu- screwed. Then I realized, as I was brushing my teeth this morning, that the only thing that is certain is death and taxes. It will take a collective effort by the entire team to win gold. And I mean all 18. Not just the starting 11. If it ever was a good time for an injury it would be now, rather than after the start of the Olympics. They have 4 weeks to prepare before the big dance in Beijing, Abby-less.


The US's over-reliance on Wambach during the Greg Ryan era is now over. US head coach Pia Sundhage will be asking - and has asked - for more balanced scoring. It will have to be very balanced - very, very balanced. More balanced than ever before. Kai and Rodriguez are going to have to step in and step up and everyone will have to do their part - all the way down to the girl who hands out the water - if the US wants to come back with gold. The 1-0 win over Brazil despite Wambach's absence is a good start. The US can win without Wambach. Brazil might not have been full strength, but in the very least, it shows they can win without her. It has always been a question, since Wambach rarely ever leaves the field during games, what would happen if she ever got hurt? That question will be answered in a few weeks. The team will have to move forward. The earth hasn't stopped rotating. The stars haven't fallen out of the sky. But the task to actually win gold has become a lot more daunting. The US women can either fall apart in Beijing like a cheap pair of cleats or they can overcome this tragic circumstance, and make their best attempt to come home with a medal. We will see in 4 weeks.