US predict toughest Women's World Cup title fight

A once-mighty United States squad that struggled simply to reach the Women's World Cup have something to prove in what the Americans expect to be the toughest title fight in female soccer history. "It will probably be the most difficult World Cup to win ever," US coach Pia Sundhage said. "It will be tough and hard, but we will find a way to win." The Americans lost a semi-final to Mexico in World Cup qualifying and needed a two-leg playoff victory over Italy simply to book the last berth in Germany. "It did test us but that's what this team always does. We fight," US forward Abby Wambach said. "We're resilient women and we're not willing to go down without a fight." The American lineup includes 14 players who were part of the US 2008 Beijing Olympic gold medal squad. Each American player is from the six-team US league Women's Professional Soccer. US captain Christie Rampone takes the field for her fourth World Cup and the 35-year-old defender is the only remaining player from the 1999 US championship squad. "We have a good mix of experienced players as well as young players that bring great energy," Rampone said. "Everyone has that passion for the game. We went through some rough times with this team so I think that's going to help." Wambach, with a team-best 118 career goals, and midfielder Shannon Boxx are each in their third World Cup. "I would feel very unhappy and unsatisfied with a career without a World Cup championship so I will be doing whatever I can to make sure that we're standing at the top podium at the end of this tournament," Wambach said. "It's not going to be easy. It will be the most difficult world championship to win, World Cup or Olympics. I’m excited to get started." The Americans first match will be June 28 against North Korea. Brazil beat the US team 4-0 in the 2007 Women's World Cup semi-finals after then-coach Greg Ryan benched goalkeeper Hope Solo, who had won three shutouts, in favor of backup Briana Scurry, who backstopped the 1999 US Cup title run. Solo ripped Ryan after the match. He dropped Solo from the squad but he was soon replaced by Sweden's Sundhage and Solo returned to lead the Americans over Brazil in the 2008 Beijing Olympic final. "You have to learn from it," Solo said. "Things like that happen. I have no regrets. You learn and you move on. It's not all about what happened in 2007. "It has been way too long, 12 years, since we brought home that trophy."