Didn't they take over Saddam's palace and convert that to their national team training facilities? I seem to recall them building a pitch there awhile ago..Solo was big in the France game. Somewhat low energy game from both sides. Maybe the heat.
The crowd is now yelling "Zika!" on most goalie kicks from other teams it seems. Brazil-Iraq men was 0-0 in a packed stadium. Iraq looks pretty good.
Rapinoe had ACL surgery back in December, so she is not really fit. Her selection to the team was somewhat controversial because it's a small roster. But she's known as a game changer even in a limited role, and someone whose personality is a big part of the team, so I think it's probably a pretty good choice to take her along.
... I'm sure she also pushed like hell to be able to play in the Olympics, and it seems like she pulled it off without blowing out her graft. I wonder how lucky she was. Was she only taking a minor risk, or was she putting a lot on the line? Would a second ACL blowout effectively end her career?
Not necessarily. I know there are several NFL players who have come back after a couple. The women's Olympic and World Cup rotation puts them in successive seasons, so that there is a 3-yr gap between Olympics and the next World Cup (2019). Not only is that plenty of rehab time, but who's to say you'll still even be on the team by then? Yes, there is pro soccer, and other tournaments, but those are the biggies for USWNT mainstays. So I think the risk is more excusable, if you will. And WC comes before Olympics, both in importance and in the calendar, so I think if this were a year ago, she still would have played, even while risking the Olympics. I'm just speculating here, of course, but I think the risk-reward was high enough.
Skier Kaya Turski had a second tear too soon before the Olympics to do regular surgery, so she had a synthetic ligament put in. (described here: http://xgames.espn.com/xgames/skiin...rski-bouncing-back-revolutionary-knee-surgery) It is described as a short-term solution, but with the Olympics coming up, that was her decision. She ended up winning the XGames, but then was sick during the Olympics and didn't even qualify for the final. Which is really sad, because the surgery did what she wanted it to do, and a different problem derailed her.
Yeah, there are definitely different calculations for pro athletes, and the four year (three year) gap makes a big difference - and adds even more incentive to try early. I'd never heard of a temporary ACL reconstruction, but then, why would I? That's crazy stuff.
I guess with a successive ACL tear, I was thinking more of the mental cost of going through it again, and how that would impact performance. But then, these people are not me.
Off to a good start against Mexico in spite of the cheap shots.
Well that came out ok. Bradley almost won it off the post.
I'd imagine there will be much ridicule in the Mexican press over that last botched corner. You're basically out of time and the questionable ref gives you time for a corner. So instead of hitting it into the box you pass it?