The U.S.Women's Soccer team celebrated Independence Day weekend in about the most American way possible. They showed the world that the United States is the best at yet another thing, as they became FIFA World Champions for the first time since 1999.
The U.S. national team has given the country even more reason to celebrate as they won their third FIFA Women's World Cup Final, defeating Japan in a 5-2 victory. The U.S. showed their dominance immediately when team captain, Carli Lloyd, scored two goals in the first five minutes of the game. Lloyd set the tone for her team as the U.S. managed to grab a 4-0 lead by just the 16th minute.
The final match-up was a rematch from the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, where Japan defeated the U.S. in penalty kicks to claim the throne of women's soccer. This year, the U.S. national team came in with an experienced team, with one goal on its mind: redemption. The team did just that.
In this World Cup the U.S. has won seven games, defeating three teams that were ranked in the top five of the world rankings. When the U.S made it through group stage at the top of what many considered to be the hardest group, they proved that this year could be the year. The United Stated defeated Germany in the semifinals in a 2-0 victory, showing that the American defense could shut out even the highest-scoring team in the tournament. After beating the number one team in the world in the semifinals, the team moved on to the finals to dethrone the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Champions.
Team captain, Carli Lloyd, led the team to victory by being only the second player in FIFA World Cup history, both men's or women's, to score a hat trick in the championship game. Lloyd only needed 16 minutes to put her name in the history books, and she did it with a goal that will be remembered by the world for years to come. Lloyd intercepted a pass in her own half of the field, took two touches and then sunk a shot from the center of the field. She had the vision to see the Japan goalie out of her box, and more impressively, she had the skill to score the longest goal in Women's World Cup history. The captain rightfully earned the Golden Ball Award, which is given to the most valuable player in the tournament.
Japan managed to score two goals on the U.S. (though one was an own goal by U.S. defender, Julie Johnston), putting an end to the streak of allowing no goals. For 540 minutes, the team did not let a goal slip by them, which ties the record set by Germany for longest streak with no goals allowed.
U.S. goalie, Hope Solo, received the Golden Glove Award, an award given to the best goalie in the tournament. With 15 saves and only three goals allowed in seven games, Solo led the defense in a performance not soon to be forgotten.
This victory is extremely rewarding to the U.S. for many reasons. Besides defeating the team that stopped them from becoming world champions in 2011, the U.S. managed to get Abby Wambach, the American icon, the one thing she was still looking for: a FIFA World Cup Championship Trophy.
Wambach did not play nearly as many minutes as she had in the previous World Cups; however, her role on the team has never been more important. She brought a sense of experience no other player could, and she was in the center of every huddle making sure each player was motivated and ready to play. At the end of the games when the U.S. needed to control the ball and play possession, Abby was the player who was subbed in to take over.
Wambach entered the game against Japan late in the second half, and the stadium erupted in applause. This would be the last time the world would get to see, arguably, one of the game's all-time greats step onto the field. Lloyd took her captain's band off and handed it to Wambach as a sign of respect and appreciation that the entire nation feels.
The U.S. national team didn't just win the FIFA Women's World Cup. They showed the world what can be done when a team comes together to accomplish a common goal. They showed how facing moments of defeat can lead to moments of victory. They showed what it looks like to never give up and to lay everything out on the line. They showed what it looks like to believe.
During a time where the nation is facing many difficulties, the U.S. national team gave us all something to smile about. Take a moment to celebrate, because the United States is a World Champion, once again.
