China, U.S. Dominate Spots on All-Star Team

Seven Chinese and five American players were included on the 16-member Women’s World Cup all-star team announced Thursday.

On behalf of the players, MasterCard, an official sponsor of the tournament, will make a donation of $16,000 to SOS Children’s Villages, a charity that provides homes for disadvantaged children worldwide.

The 16-member team: goalkeepers Briana Scurry of USA and Gao Hong of China; defenders Wang Liping and Wen Lirong of China, Doris Fitschen of Germany and Carla Overbeck and Brandi Chastain of USA; midfielders Sissi of Brazil, Zhao Lihong and Liu Ailing of China, Bettina Wiegmann of Germany and Michelle Akers of USA; and forwards Jin Yan and Sun Wen of China, Ann Kristin Aarones of Norway and Mia Hamm of USA.

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Experience transmits itself in strange ways. Take the case of Kate Sobrero, for example.

The 22-year-old defender from Notre Dame has played only 29 times for the U.S. team. The three defenders alongside her--Joy Fawcett, Overbeck and Chastain--have played 393 games.

“One thing I’ve noticed about all the veterans is that their experience makes them tougher,” Sobrero said. “Like in the last 10 minutes of the Germany [quarterfinal] game, there was no way they were going to lose. It’s because they’re veterans. They’ve been in that situation so much, they can give it 100%. They don’t care if their legs are falling off.

“I know I was like, ‘Oh, my God.’ And Joy was like, ‘Suck it up. Deal with it.’ All the veterans just give you so much strength.”