World Cup warmup

U.S. to face its biggest rivals in Goodwill tournament

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Posted: Saturday July 18, 1998 04:20 PM

The United States, led by Mia Hamm, won the gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics (Al Bello/Allsport)

NEW YORK (CNN/SI) -- Four of the world's top-ranked women's soccer teams USA, China, Norway and Denmark kick their way to Long Island's newly-renovated Mitchel Athletic Complex to participate in the first Goodwill Games women's soccer competition.

The women's soccer format will consist of four games-two semifinals and two finals. In the semifinal games, the two winners go on to play in the gold-medal match and the two losing teams play in the bronze-medal match

The U.S. women's team is considered the best in the world and currently is the world's No. 1 soccer power coming off a gold-medal performance in the 1996 Olympics.

The U.S. had an outstanding 1997, posting a 16-2-0 record in full international matches, while winning the U.S. Women's Cup '97.

Names such as Michelle Akers, Julie Foudy, Joy Fawcett, Kristine Lilly and Mia Hamm have not only established the U.S. as a powerhouse in the women's soccer world, but have generated a wave of enthusiasm for the sport in the United States.

The U.S. has its sights set on the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup at home in the United States in hopes of regaining the trophy it lost to Norway in 1995.

The USA, as host of the 1999 World Cup, automatically earns a berth into the competition.

"We are looking to the Goodwill Games as an excellent preview to the competition we will face at the 1999 Women's World Cup," said Tony DiCicco, U.S. head coach.

Norway, the 1996 Olympic bronze medalist and the defending 1995 World Cup Champion, is a dominant force in European women's soccer.

Norway has remained a thorn in the side of the U.S. team since their meeting at the 1991 World Cup, where the Norwegians lost 2-1 to the U.S. in the Championship game on a last-minute goal from Michelle Akers.

The teams met again at the 1995 World Cup.

This time Norway was victorious, defeating the USA, 1-0, and forcing them to settle for the bronze.

In March Norway beat the U.S. 4-1 in the Algarve Cup in Portugal. It was the worst defeat in the 13-year history of the U.S. women’s team.

Norway is currently in second place in group three in European qualifying for the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup.

The Chinese women began their rise to the top in 1991 by hosting the first-ever women's World Cup.

At the 1996 Olympic Games, China finished second to the United States and won the silver medal.

China has qualified for the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Denmark was the sixth-place finisher at the 1995 World Cup and the eight-place finisher at the `96 Olympics.

Denmark is leading group four in European qualifying for the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup.

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