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Exclusive: Brandi Chastain comments on 2011 Women's World Cup
Chastain was part of the last USA women's team to win the World Cup in 1999. She speaks to Goal.com's Andrea Canales as the tournament approaches next month.
May 16, 2011 6:05:00 PM
By Andrea Canales
The USA has not won the Women's World Cup since 1999, while Germany has claimed the title twice in that time. Now the American squad, ranked #1 in the world of women's soccer, faces the daunting task of trying to reclaim the title on Germany's home ground.
Brandi Chastain, who scored the title-clinching penalty kick for the USA women in 1999, when it won as hosts, believed there was a simple reason why the American women hadn't managed the same feat since that time.
"It's a hard thing to do," Chastain said bluntly.
Competition has improved in the women's game, with a number of other countries emerging as contenders in the sport.
Still Chastain believed the USA women have the sort of superlative performers who can help the squad reclaim the World Cup and win it a record third time.
"Hope Solo is an incredibly talented goalkeeper and has enhanced that position for the US team," Chastain said. "Briana Scurry, who is a friend of mine, would agree that having the ball at her feet was not her comfort zone, but Hope is very comfortable with the ball at her feet, both right and left footed. She can punt the ball, 3/4ths of the field and I think that changes things for the US team. They have an edge in that department."
Unlike in 2008, when the women's squad marched to Olympic gold, the current USA team has forward Abby Wambach available.
"They have a dominant goalscorer in Abby Wambach, just as the team in '99 did with Mia Hamm and Tiffeny Milbrett," Chastain continued.
Most teams control matches through the center of the field, and Chastain saw this as a USA strength as well.
"A hardworking midfielder like Shannon Boxx, like Julie Foudy was a hardworking midfielder for us," Chastain explained, comparing the '99 squad with the current version. "Julie was the cog that made the wheels of our US team go around. She and Carla Overbeck were in complete control of what happened. For the US to get it right, Boxx and Carli Lloyd need to take on that role and do the best job they've ever done to help the team go to the championship."
Chastain's view of the USA team's recent loss of Lindsay Tarpley was that it could be more crippling to morale than to actual field tactics.
"It's emotionally difficult," Chastain pointed out. "That's the part that they're going to have to get over. Not having a player like Lindsay available is going to be hard for coach Pia Sundhage, but it's the experience that she has, that's really where they're losing something."
Chastain pointed out that Tarpley had not been starting matches of late, but that her veteran savvy and versatility were still key options for the USA.
Though Sundhage has yet to name a player to fill Tarpley's roster spot, the player that Chastain believed could be a viable replacement for Tarpley was young forward Kelley O'Hara.
"That's a dangerous player," Chastain assessed. "Even though she's played as a forward, I think she could be a wide midfielder. I think she can really impact the national team in a positive way, especially when games get tight and they need goals and players who can attack teams. Kelley O'Hara can do that."
Chastain was a versatile player in her days on the field, moving from forward to defense, to midfield at various stages in her career. She is now involved in the college game, specifically with the Capital One Cup, a unique competition that combines points for thirteen different sports, for both women and men, played during the university year into one grand total.
"It's a way to recognize NCAA athletic performance at the highest level," Chastain explained.
The winning universities gain not only a trophy at the ESPY awards, but also a $200,000 scholarship.
"For women, that's priceless, because most of the players who participate in NCAA Division I atletics will not go on to become professional athletes," Chastain stated. "Post-graduate work is really important."
Chastain will also be a commenter at the Women's World Cup in Germany this summer.
Click here for more information on the Capital One Cup, or to follow the competition on Twitter, click here.
Brandi Chastain, who scored the title-clinching penalty kick for the USA women in 1999, when it won as hosts, believed there was a simple reason why the American women hadn't managed the same feat since that time.
"It's a hard thing to do," Chastain said bluntly.
Competition has improved in the women's game, with a number of other countries emerging as contenders in the sport.
Still Chastain believed the USA women have the sort of superlative performers who can help the squad reclaim the World Cup and win it a record third time.
"Hope Solo is an incredibly talented goalkeeper and has enhanced that position for the US team," Chastain said. "Briana Scurry, who is a friend of mine, would agree that having the ball at her feet was not her comfort zone, but Hope is very comfortable with the ball at her feet, both right and left footed. She can punt the ball, 3/4ths of the field and I think that changes things for the US team. They have an edge in that department."
Unlike in 2008, when the women's squad marched to Olympic gold, the current USA team has forward Abby Wambach available.
"They have a dominant goalscorer in Abby Wambach, just as the team in '99 did with Mia Hamm and Tiffeny Milbrett," Chastain continued.
Abbey Wambach, #17, will be counted on to score goals for the USA
Most teams control matches through the center of the field, and Chastain saw this as a USA strength as well.
"A hardworking midfielder like Shannon Boxx, like Julie Foudy was a hardworking midfielder for us," Chastain explained, comparing the '99 squad with the current version. "Julie was the cog that made the wheels of our US team go around. She and Carla Overbeck were in complete control of what happened. For the US to get it right, Boxx and Carli Lloyd need to take on that role and do the best job they've ever done to help the team go to the championship."
Chastain's view of the USA team's recent loss of Lindsay Tarpley was that it could be more crippling to morale than to actual field tactics.
"It's emotionally difficult," Chastain pointed out. "That's the part that they're going to have to get over. Not having a player like Lindsay available is going to be hard for coach Pia Sundhage, but it's the experience that she has, that's really where they're losing something."
Lindsay Tarpley was a late roster scratch due to injury
Chastain pointed out that Tarpley had not been starting matches of late, but that her veteran savvy and versatility were still key options for the USA.
Though Sundhage has yet to name a player to fill Tarpley's roster spot, the player that Chastain believed could be a viable replacement for Tarpley was young forward Kelley O'Hara.
"That's a dangerous player," Chastain assessed. "Even though she's played as a forward, I think she could be a wide midfielder. I think she can really impact the national team in a positive way, especially when games get tight and they need goals and players who can attack teams. Kelley O'Hara can do that."
Chastain was a versatile player in her days on the field, moving from forward to defense, to midfield at various stages in her career. She is now involved in the college game, specifically with the Capital One Cup, a unique competition that combines points for thirteen different sports, for both women and men, played during the university year into one grand total.
"It's a way to recognize NCAA athletic performance at the highest level," Chastain explained.
The winning universities gain not only a trophy at the ESPY awards, but also a $200,000 scholarship.
"For women, that's priceless, because most of the players who participate in NCAA Division I atletics will not go on to become professional athletes," Chastain stated. "Post-graduate work is really important."
Chastain will also be a commenter at the Women's World Cup in Germany this summer.
Click here for more information on the Capital One Cup, or to follow the competition on Twitter, click here.
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