Don't Even Think About It

By MIKE PENNER

July 10, 1999 12 AM PT

What if they lose?

What happens to the runaway love train that Team USA’s Women’s World Cup campaign has become if the Americans lose to China--a very real possibility--in today’s championship final at the Rose Bowl?

What happens to the future of American soccer, the endorsement-earning power of the U.S. midfield and, for heaven’s sake, Soccer Barbie if the United States can’t find a way to prevent China’s dangerous Sun Wen from finding the upper corner?

Or, to borrow some of the amazing analogies that have been tossed around during the latter stages of the Americans’ magic bus ride through this tournament:

What would have happened if the Beatles came to America in 1964, played “The Ed Sullivan Show” and had Paul McCartney break into “Silly Love Songs” instead of “I Want To Hold Your Hand”?

What would have happened if the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team had celebrated its stunning upset over the Soviets a tad too closely to the hilt and, badly hung over, bricked the gold-medal game to Finland?

What would have happened to the Spice Girls if Geri Halliwell left the group before it had recorded a good album?

(OK, that last one did happen, but you get the drift.)

The helium balloon that has transported Team USA to previously unimagined heights during the last three weeks could deflate in a hurry if the Americans can’t close out the deal and win the tournament they were supposed to win on their home soil.

“I’m sure there will be some of that, especially among the non-soccer crowd,” U.S. midfielder Julie Foudy said Friday after the team’s final tuneup at the Rose Bowl. “America loves a winner. That’s just the nature of the beast. And so, if we don’t bring home the Cup, I’m sure you’re going to lose some fans.”

Tony DiCicco, the U.S. coach, concedes that an American defeat would provide a soapbox to “the naysayers. There are going to be people out there saying, ‘Well, OK, it was a flash in the pan, big deal, soccer still isn’t an American game.’ ”

There is much more at stake today than a shiny trophy and a few $12,500 bonus checks from the U.S. Soccer Federation. A legacy, if not quite on the line, is likely to be tarnished if Team USA’s final tournament step is a downer.

U.S. assistant coach Lauren Gregg refuses to consider that scenario because, she said with a smile, “We’re not entertaining the possibility of defeat.”

But Gregg has scouted the Chinese national team, so she knows the possibility of victory is something the American players need to handle with care.

“If people have favored us, I don’t know if that’s accurate,” Gregg said. “China is an incredible team, and they are incredibly prepared.”

Today’s match is really a tossup. To quickly scan the tale of the tape: China has the edge in team speed, has beaten the United States twice in their last three meetings and played the best overall match of the tournament in Sunday’s 5-0 thrashing of Norway. The United States counters with a more physical lineup, an explosive attack that has played to its full potential only once in five games--the 7-1 triumph over Nigeria--and those 92,000 throats warming up the bullpen.

And because 92,000 spectators will be in the house, Foudy believes she and her teammates can claim victory, with or without the gold medal dangling from their necks.

“Obviously, it’s going to help if we win,” she said, “but I think this tournament’s already been a success, in terms of how the kids have responded to it.

“Just the fact that now they can finally watch women doing great things on the field in front of great crowds. It’s such a huge lasting image to leave with them, because they always watched men do that and never thought it was realistic for them.”

Midfielder Michelle Akers said she isn’t concerned about any loss of momentum--for the popularity of the team, of soccer, of women’s sports in general--should the United States falter against China because “I get tons of e-mail from my Web page and the response I’ve gotten is, ‘You guys rock. We don’t care if you’ve won or lost. We love you.’ I think they’re more enamored and impressed with our spirit and our heart [as opposed to] our success on the field, and our success Saturday.”

DiCicco believes the United States’ most crucial match of the World Cup has been already played--against Brazil in the semifinals.

“I don’t think this event would have reached full potential unless we were in the final,’ he said. “And for us, it will not reach full potential unless we walk out of the stadium with the gold medal.

“But in many areas, we’ve [met] the challenges that we had, by the interest this team has generated and our being able to carry through onto the final. I don’t know what the face of soccer in this country is going to be after this, but I know it’s going to have a higher priority and a higher profile.”

According to Gregg, “the cup is already spilling over, in my opinion, in terms of impact that has been made in this country and around the world. Our message is about young girls and boys and the sport of soccer empowering and inspiring the next generation. We’ve already done that, and Saturday’s game--whoever wins--will certainly do that.”

Just then, Gregg was interrupted by the young son of an old friend, former U.S. and University of North Carolina teammate Suzy Cobb. The boy, barely as tall as Gregg’s kneecap, looked up and made the coach an offer.

“If you win,” he told Gregg, “I’ll buy you an ice cream.”

Bursting into laughter, Gregg looked at a writer and exclaimed, “That’s what’s at stake!”

“And,” the little boy continued, “if you lose, you get a cookie.”

Gregg laughed again.

“Cookie or ice cream? Hmmm,” she said, pondering the proposal. “I think I’ll have to take the ice cream.”

THIRD-PLACE GAME

Today at Rose Bowl

BRAZIL vs. NORWAY

10:15 a.m., ESPN

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WORLD CUP CHAMPIONSHIP

Today at Rose Bowl