U.S. team sets 21-player roster for upcoming women's World Cup

Associated Press
Posted: May 10, 2011

CHICAGO - The U.S. women say they are ready for anything in the upcoming World Cup.

With Hope Solo and Heather Mitts healthy, the roster coach Pia Sundhage released yesterday contained few surprises. Star scorer Abby Wambach warns the rest of the soccer world to not be surprised by anything the Americans accomplish as they go after their first world title since 1999.

"I will do everything I can to make sure we will be standing on top of the podium," Wambach said. "It will be the most difficult championship to win, World Cup or Olympics, and I am excited to get started. We always fight, we are a resilient team."

Wambach, Solo and Mitts were joined on the 21-player roster by Christie Rampone, Amy Rodriguez and Heather O'Reilly, all mainstays of the U.S. team since Sundhage took over following a disappointing finish at the 2007 World Cup. Wambach scored nine goals at the last two World Cups, and Rampone was captain of the squad that won the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics.

The Women's World Cup will be played June 26 to July 17 at nine sites in Germany. The top-seeded Americans will be seeking their third World Cup title and first since 1999 when they begin play June 28 against North Korea.

Solo was magnificent in the gold medal game against Brazil. But she had shoulder surgery in September and missed World Cup qualifying, where the Americans were upset by Mexico and forced to beat Italy in a two-game playoff to earn a spot in Germany. She returned to the national team in March, and leads the Women's Professional Soccer league with a .50 goals-against average.

Mitts, one of the best U.S. defenders, has been struggling all year with a hamstring injury. But she returned for the 3-week training camp that ended last Friday.

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