Ramsey: Coach led U.S. to women's soccer upset of Brazil

BEIJING • Pia Sundhage should coach the U.S. World Cup soccer team, and I'm not talking about the women.

After leading American females in a conquest of the world, Pia needs a fresh challenge.

Under this woman's brilliant leadership, the Americans could rule the men's world, too.

On Thursday, Sundhage directed the U.S. women's team to an unlikely, dramatic and hugely entertaining 1-0 overtime upset of Brazil in the Olympic gold-medal game.

Her brilliance started early. On Tuesday the Brazilians demolished Germany, 4-0, making the defending World Cup champs look helpless.

The Brazilians, who offered happy dances after each goal, carried an invincible aura. Any team would shake with fear if it watched the frightening footage from the German rampage.

Sundhage knew this. She never showed her players footage of Brazil's victory.

That's how she walks through life. Sundhage is entrenched in the present, with little use for the past. She didn't care about Brazil's past exploits. She was plotting America's future reign.

When Sundhage took control in late 2007 of a team drained by dissent, she started her rule by singing "The Times They Are A-Changin" in a voice nearly as strange as Bob Dylan's.

Her message was clear. She didn't want to dwell, or even talk, about the U.S. 1999 World Cup and 2004 Olympic titles.
Led by Mia Hamm the Americans dominated the infancy of the women's world soccer scene. Hamm was America's sweetheart, a cultural icon, an inspiration.

U.S. softball pitcher Jennie Finch told me girls once wanted to grow up to be Barbie.

"Now," Finch said, "they want to grow up to be Mia Hamm."

Yet Sundhage swept away the past and began anew. At the time, this plan seemed an absurd attempt to isolate American players from a precious heritage.

But it worked. The U.S. women were obsessed with carving their own identity. And on a misty night in China, that's exactly what they did.

"It's no longer the Mia Hamm show," said defender Kate Markgraf. "It's new stars on the rise."

When the game ended, the U.S. women, again rulers of the soccer world, hugged and laughed and shouted.

Goaltender Hope Solo hopped around with a fake gold medal dangling from her neck. Aided by defenders Heather Mitts and Christie Rampone, she stifled Brazil's mighty offense.

Of course, not everyone shared the glee. A few feet from the American party, Brazil superstar Marta stood motionless, hand on hips, staring into the distance.

The best female player in the world had lost.

"I'm more angry than sad," a grim-faced Marta said through an interpreter.

Sundhage respected Marta's and Cristiane's immense talent enough to construct a sound, conservative plan.

In the first 70 minutes, the Americans surrounded Brazil's dangerous duo and barely bothered with offense. The strategy deflated a Brazilian teams that itches for goals and the chance to dance.

When the fun-loving Brazilians grew bored, the Americans pounced. The U.S. offense awakened and dominated the rest the game.
The U.S. nearly scored twice in the dying minutes of regulation, setting the stage for Carli Lloyd's goal early in the first overtime.

The Brazilians threatened, just as you knew they would, but could never answer.

And when the game ended, one of the game's great generals joined her triumphant team in a giant group hug.

It's great to have ruled the world yesterday.

Sundhage and her players know it's even better to rule today.
-
Contact the writer: Columnist David Ramsey can be reached at 476-4985 or david.ramsey@gazette.com. Check out David's blog at http://daveramseysez.freedomblogging.com