U.S. Women’s National Team Beats Brazil; Advances to World Cup Semi-Finals

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July 13, 2011
Ceci Ferrara
Sports Writer
Sports Insider

U.S. Women’s National Team
When the U.S. Women’s National Team beat Brazil on Sunday, the world was watching. The World Cup quarterfinal match was a nail-biting, edge of your seat ride that included questionable calls, a limited roster and an overtime tie that led to a game decision based on penalty kicks.

It was during the 122nd minute that Abby Wambach headed in the tying score against Brazil’s Andreia. It was the latest goal in any World Cup game, and though it didn’t win the game, it made the difference between penalty kicks and a long, unpleasant ride home. When the penalty kicks started, fate seemed to be on the side of the U.S. on Sunday, though the referees may not have been. They outscored Brazil 5-3, completing one of the most exciting games in women’s soccer since the 1999 World Cup win against China.

Incredibly, Sunday’s win came exactly twelve years to the day that Mia Hamm and the rest of women’s soccer dream team took home the World Cup’s gold trophy. But Sunday’s team was a victory for a new group of women — ones who fought back after the odds were stacked highly against them.

Nationals

The Nats enter the all-star break at .500 for the first time since 2005. Much like the 46-46 record indicates, it’s been an up and down year for the Nationals. They played the bulk of those games without their marquee player Ryan Zimmerman and continue on without their rookie phenomenon Stephen Strasburg, who is still out recovering from Tommy-John (elbow) surgery. Jayson Werth has been an expensive disappointment, with the $126-million price tag hitting just .217 with 10 homers and 31 RBIs. Nats fans are anxious for the return of Strasburg and for the major league debut of Bryce Harper, their No. 1 pick, who is quickly moving his way through the minor league ranks in anticipation for his 2011 debut.

Redskins

Though the NFL lockout is still in effect, an impending deal seems to be on the horizon and the Redskins are among the teams who are planning to go on with business as usual. With Mike Shanahan telling all players to report for training camp on July 28 — the first day — they would be allowed back under the old collective bargaining agreement, and just 15-days before their first pre-season game. One of the biggest question marks hanging over the Skins is who the starting quarterback will be come fall. It’s no secret that Donovan McNabb didn’t exactly work out the way the Skins were hoping. After his worst season since 1999, McNabb was infamously demoted to third-string quarterback for the last three games of the season. Publicly humiliated, McNabb showed his disdain by requesting a release by the Skins, which was denied. Shanahan was coy about the situation, stating at a guest speaking engagement on Friday, “I love Donovan McNabb. He’s one of the best guys you’ll ever be around. You cannot find a better person in the world. The thing that you do when you put a football team together is you sit down and make some tough decisions, and I will sit down with him once we are able to talk.” This of course, won’t happen until a new collective bargaining agreement is reached, something Shanahan refers to as “the light at the end of the tunnel.” McNabb’s future with the franchise will also hinge greatly on which free agents the Skins sign once the lockout is lifted.

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