A general view shows the Olympic stadium before the opening ceremony of the Women's World Cup in Berlin June 26, 2011.
Photograph by: Thomas Peter, REUTERS
BERLIN — The occasion didn’t overwhelm them. But it did knock them for a bit of a loop.
A once-in-lifetime experience, all agreed.
“In warm-up,” said Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod, thinking back to the 73,630 fans crammed into the Olympiastadion, “I thought I’d pee my pants.
“I was so nervous. I mean, 73,000 people. . . . But to see family up there, a bit of home, makes it easier.”
For the Canadian women’s soccer team, Sunday’s 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup opener at a facility that ranks among the most amazing in Europe, had been long awaited, much discussed, infinitely analyzed.
Could reality ever live up to expectation?
“Amazing,” said midfielder Sophie Schmidt, following a 2-1 loss to Germany, favourites to win its third straight World Cup. “Words cannot describe it. I think it may not ever happen again in women’s soccer and I’m very thankful and blessed to have been a part of it. I’ve been dreaming about this game for a very long time and it still blew my expectations of what I thought it was going to be.
“Standing in the tunnel, we were like ‘Wow, this is actually happening for real.’ And then for the gate to open up and the crowd to go crazy . . . it couldn’t help but put a smile on your face. I couldn’t thank them enough for the atmosphere they created for women’s soccer.
“It’s fantastic.”
Said midfielder Melissa Tancredi: “It gave you goosebumps. It’s something we may never experience again. We wanted to come here, play our game and soak up the atmosphere. This is a game you’ll never forget. The fans cheered on their team, of course, but they reacted in a good spirit, too. I think they respected us and the way we played.”
Canadian coach Carolina Morace thoroughly enjoyed herself, too.
“I love soccer. I was a player, too, and I hope that many countries will copy what the German federation does for German soccer.”
For midfielder Diana Matheson, the atmosphere could not have been more congenial, yet electric. Always a nice combination.
“The crowd here was incredible,” she praised. “It was a fun atmosphere. Sometimes you play in front of South American crowds and it can get nasty: they’re angry, they boo your anthem.
“Here, everything was positive. Everything was upbeat. They respected both teams. We’re disappointed with the result, obviously, but the game, the crowd . . . it lived up to everything we hoped it would be.”
Calgary Herald
Gjohnson@calgaryherald.com
A once-in-lifetime experience, all agreed.
“In warm-up,” said Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod, thinking back to the 73,630 fans crammed into the Olympiastadion, “I thought I’d pee my pants.
“I was so nervous. I mean, 73,000 people. . . . But to see family up there, a bit of home, makes it easier.”
For the Canadian women’s soccer team, Sunday’s 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup opener at a facility that ranks among the most amazing in Europe, had been long awaited, much discussed, infinitely analyzed.
Could reality ever live up to expectation?
“Amazing,” said midfielder Sophie Schmidt, following a 2-1 loss to Germany, favourites to win its third straight World Cup. “Words cannot describe it. I think it may not ever happen again in women’s soccer and I’m very thankful and blessed to have been a part of it. I’ve been dreaming about this game for a very long time and it still blew my expectations of what I thought it was going to be.
“Standing in the tunnel, we were like ‘Wow, this is actually happening for real.’ And then for the gate to open up and the crowd to go crazy . . . it couldn’t help but put a smile on your face. I couldn’t thank them enough for the atmosphere they created for women’s soccer.
“It’s fantastic.”
Said midfielder Melissa Tancredi: “It gave you goosebumps. It’s something we may never experience again. We wanted to come here, play our game and soak up the atmosphere. This is a game you’ll never forget. The fans cheered on their team, of course, but they reacted in a good spirit, too. I think they respected us and the way we played.”
Canadian coach Carolina Morace thoroughly enjoyed herself, too.
“I love soccer. I was a player, too, and I hope that many countries will copy what the German federation does for German soccer.”
For midfielder Diana Matheson, the atmosphere could not have been more congenial, yet electric. Always a nice combination.
“The crowd here was incredible,” she praised. “It was a fun atmosphere. Sometimes you play in front of South American crowds and it can get nasty: they’re angry, they boo your anthem.
“Here, everything was positive. Everything was upbeat. They respected both teams. We’re disappointed with the result, obviously, but the game, the crowd . . . it lived up to everything we hoped it would be.”
Calgary Herald
Gjohnson@calgaryherald.com
© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar