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| Karl |
Posted - Feb 15 2004 : 12:54:47 PM
A new wave set to rise
(FIFA.com) 13 Feb 2004
Inspired by Brazil’s superb performances at last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup USA, many of the traditionally strong nations are looking towards youth to cement their position at the top of the women’s game. Following last month’s Four Nation’s tournament in Shenzhen, China, we take a look at some of the potential stars of tomorrow from Canada, China, Sweden and USA.
USA: new ponytails?
Journeying with eight players under the age of 24, three of whom had never played for the national team before, the new U.S. team certainly viewed the trip as a chance to test a few fresh faces. And mixing the new crew with some of the old guard proved a powerful cocktail as coach April Heinrichs claimed consecutive trophies for the Americans. Amy Pepeilbet and Stacey Tullock, in particular, seemed to give the team who finished a disappointing third at USA 2003 an extra fizz. “They played relaxed football, showed laudable patience and created good chances,” said the wise coach. “We played together as a team and the young players were confident enough to knit in well.”
Perhaps USA’s bubbliest pair was in attack. Leslie Osborne and Lindsay Tarpley came to the fore two years ago at the FIFA U-19 World Championship in Canada, with the latter scoring the golden-goal winner against the hosts. And the players, now 21, proved that the future of the American game would not be as bleak as many had feared. Left out of that squad, Tarpley was as keen as mustard to show she could be the one to fill the boots of Mia Hamm. Thanks to two goals and a sparkling performance in the 3-0 opening win versus against, she was honoured with both MVP and Best Goal awards. Tarpley again hit the target in award-winning fashion in the final game, a 2-0 victory versus Canada.
China: Four-year plan
In the opening game, between the hosts and Canada, a group of young girls clothed in China’s traditional red were intently watching the game and scribbling notes. The girls were part of the Steel Roses’ U-19 team hoping for a berth at this year’s FIFA World Championship in Thailand.
“Our head coach asked us to watch the games carefully and write what we think is important,” said full-back Liu Xiaoyan, before going on to earn top marks in tactical observation. “They played 4-1-4-1 today, from a 4-3-3. I think they’ve strengthened the midfield area in order to create better chances.”
Xiaoyan revealed that two of her U-19 teammates, Zhang Ying and Wang Kun, had been recruited into the national team. “Zhang Ying played pretty well against Canada today,” said China’s U-19 head coach Wang Haiming. “My team has two major goals: qualifying for the U-19 championship in Thailand, and supplying the senior national team with young blood.”
Because veterans such as Sun Wen, Bai Jie and Zhao Lihong have finally called it a day, China have been forced into looking at their youth development programme. “Our major long-term goals are the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2007 and Beijing 2008 Olympics, both being hosted in China,” reiterated head coach Zhang Haitao. “In order for us to be successful, our young team will play around 20 international matches per year from now on. And we hope by the time those finals come around, many of them will have earned 100 or more international caps with enough experience to cope with the pressure.”
Sweden: technique from Europe
Last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup finalists fascinated audiences at Shenzhen Athletic Centre with their fast and silky football. “I have tremendous admiration for their ability to keep hold of the ball. They are technically gifted and with their talented forwards, they pose a constant threat,” admired U.S. coach Heinrichs.
Swedish boss Marika Domansike Lyfors, who handed out five new caps during the tournament, emphasised the Swedish way: “Traditionally Swedish football is very technical. We might be Norway’s neighbours but we adopt very different styles of play.”
Domansike Lyfors, a star among Sweden’s first generation of women footballers, explained that in tight situations, the most technical side usually wins out. “Women’s football in Sweden is only 15-years old,” she said. “Our population is but nine million and our grass-roots game is not as extensive as say U.S. and China, so our technique has to be priority number one.”
Canada: bottom but on the up
Despite three straight defeats in the tournament, Canada’s experienced coach Even Pellerud is confident his team has a bright future. With 13 players under the age of 24 (four of them teenagers), Canada were the youngest team of the tournament. Brittany Timko, 19, and Veronique Maranda, 18, who scored their only goal of the tournament against China, are two that could go far. But the one most eyes were watching was Jamani Aysha. And in her one start against the U.S., the 16-year old proved she has the talent as well as the temperament to be a future star in the women’s game.
“They may lack experience and need to work on technique, but they are young enough to improve,” reflected their Norwegian coach, happy in the knowledge that more and more Canadian girls are being attracted to the game. “We are still a young team and our players are making progress every day.”
The next world championship may be a few years away but with such young talents ready to bloom, it already looks like being well worth waiting for.
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