Soccer In the Usa

US women's soccer coach aims to defeat the Chinese players she coached only months ago

By WILLIAM FOREMAN, Associated Press Writer
January 19, 2008

Just a few months ago, Pia Sundhage was teaching the China women's soccer team how to attack and defend. Now she's hoping they've forgotten her lessons.

Sundhage, the new U.S. women's soccer coach, will face her former team Sunday for the title in the Four Nations Tournament.

The Swede was hired last November after the U.S. failed to win the World Cup. She was an assistant coach for the China team during the World Cup. She is familiar with many of the U.S. players, having coached in the WUSA during the league's three-year existence.

"For me, I've been very privileged to be in different soccer cultures, both in China and the U.S.," Sundhage said. "It is special to be a Swedish woman coaching the United States of America and playing against China."

The Americans have been dominating their opponents in the Four Nations Tournament. They rolled over Canada 4-0 in the opening game Wednesday, and they defeated Finland 4-1 on Friday.

China has been less impressive, defeating Finland 2-0 and tying Canada 0-0.

Finland's coach, Michael Kald, said Sundhage has a solid squad.

"It's a team that's full of speed. They were a technical team. They have power. They have everything and they can score goals," he said.

Sundhage, whose contract runs through the 2008 Olympics, replaced Greg Ryan, whose contract wasn't renewed after the failure to reach the World Cup final. The U.S. team finished third, and he finished with a 45-1-9 during his tenure.

Sundhage, a longtime Swedish captain who played in 146 international games and scored 71 goals, was so popular in her country that her image appeared on a postage stamp in the mid-1980s. In 2000, she finished sixth in voting for FIFA Women's Player of the Century.

The tournament is a warm-up for the Americans, who will attempt to qualify for the Olympics in April. China automatically qualifies as host.