World Cup Change Is ‘Crazy’
The reigning women’s world soccer champions believe FIFA has made a mistake in switching the Women’s World Cup to the same year as the men’s and have promised to fight the move.
“It’s ridiculous. It’s crazy. We’re going to fight that,” U.S. co-captain Julie Foudy said Thursday night after the American team had defeated a World All-Star team, 9-7, in front of an announced crowd of 11,613 at the Arrowhead Pond.
“This summer was an indication of how well this tournament [the Women’s World Cup] can do on its own,” Brandi Chastain said. “There’s no need to piggy-back it with the men’s tournament.
“The tournament needs to be a stand-alone event. It stood alone this summer and drew greater crowds [more than 630,000 in all] than playoff football and almost as many people as the Pope. I think that says enough.”
Sepp Blatter, FIFA’s president, said in Tokyo on Tuesday that the 2003 Women’s World Cup--tentatively set for Australia--would be moved to 2002 to allow the women to have qualifying play in 2003 for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
In the past, the World Cup before the Olympic Games has served as the Olympic qualifier. The top seven teams in the 1999 Women’s World Cup, plus host Australia, will be playing in Sydney, for example.
In 2004, the Olympic women’s soccer tournament will grow to a 12-team field, and Blatter believes qualifying play will give the women’s game more exposure.
As for the U.S. coaching situation, Foudy said the players do have some input in the process of selecting a successor to Tony DiCicco, who stepped down in November after five years in charge, but they are staying neutral in terms of naming their choice.
“Carla [Overbeck, the other co-captain] is on the [selection] committee. So we get to pose questions and so forth,” she said. “I don’t think, ultimately, we can make the decision, but we can give a lot of input. At least they’ve given us that option and understand that this is important to us.
“We have a lot of vested interests in this team and want to keep it on a high [level] in the future.”
Kristine Lilly sparked Thursday’s victory, scoring five goals. Michelle Akers, playing her first game since the World Cup final victory over China in July, scored two and Shannon MacMillan and Tiffeny Milbrett scored one goal apiece.
The World team got two goals from Pretinha of Brazil and one apiece from Charmaine Hooper of Canada, Roseli of Brazil, Patience Avre of Nigeria, Ann Kristin Aarones of Norway and Julie Murray of Australia.
The U.S. team’s victory was its fourth against five losses on the indoor victory tour. Three games remain, in San Jose, Tacoma and Portland, before the players get back to the more serious business of preparing for the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
