Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • Page 214

Women's World Cup 4 Section 9 Chicago Tribune, Friday, June 18, 1999 GROUP A ID EH MARK GROUP OR WAY 91: 7th "95: 6th 91: 2nd 1st COACH: Jorgen Hvidemose OUTLOOK: The experienced Danes are favored to hold their own against newcomers Nigeria and North Korea to advance to the second round. One of three perenially strong Scandinavian teams, Denmark probably will COACH: Per-Mathias Hagmo OUTLOOK: Good chance to. win second straight title with veteran team including Hege Riise, named top player in 1995 World Cup, where she was No. 2 scorer. Nucleus of squad "bunker in" pack the defensive end of the field in the June 19 opener against the U.S.

team, a style that sometimes gives the hosts fits. NOTEWORTHY: The Danish roster features one U.S. export, former Santa Clara star Mikka Hansen, a. midfielder who grew up in California. has been together since 1991 World Cup.

Linda Medalen has eight goals in two World Cups. NOTEWORTHY: Norway won the first (unofficial) women's world title in 1988, beating Sweden in the final in China, and the bronze medal at the 1996 Olympics. WOMEN'S WORLD CUP '99 The world is watching By Bonnie DeSimone and Philip Hersh The largest women's sporting event in the world begins Saturday. More than 425,000 soccer fans are expected as 16 teams begin a three-week competition at eight sites around the nation, ending with the championship game July 10 at the Rose Bowl. Chicago will play host to four first-round games, and for the first time in Women's World Cup history, all 32 games will be televised.

A look at the 16 teams (including results from the previous two World Cups played in 1991 and 1995), the schedule and the venues: THE SCHEDULE How the schedule works: The field of 16 was divided into four groups of four teams each. In the first round, each team faces the other teams in its group, earning three points for a victory and one point for a tie. The top two teams in each group advance to the quarterfinals, where the tournament shifts to single elimination. JAPAN NIGERIA 91: 10th "95: 11th COACH: Ismaila Mabo COACH: Satoshi Miyauchi OUTLOOK: Japan had to scramble for its third World Cup berth after averaging 10 goals in its first three qualifying matches. Striker Homare Sawa, 20, is the OUTLOOK: The Super Falcons, led by striker "Marvelous" Mercy Akide, will be looking to win their first match in three World Cup appeSrances.

They never have faced the United States, their opponent at Soldier Field on June Ky FIRST ROUND I Vy 1 june 19 rvy i JITn JUNE 26 I aHHMS JUNE 20 2 4 I 27 in New York iyiyTTW II 7 "YTTTn New York United States Canada in Boston CTSPnTU 'n 6 in Washington Denmark Australia in Washington Russia 2 p.m. Norway 11a.m. TV: ABC a JtL player to watch. NOTEWORTHY: Japan has had a women's league (now 10 teams, including the Lovely Ladies) since 1989. The semipro league recently stopped allowing foreigners in an effort to build domestic talent.

24. Nigeria dominated the African women's tournament, shutting out five opponents while scoring 28 goals. NOTEWORTHY: Clubs In Nigeria's women's professional league include the Lagos Flying Babes, the Warri Glamour Queens and the Oyo United Female. r. jj.m.

i I NORTH KOREA -95: '91: '9S: tT mom nBmt mma mwm i in Boston ffFfWFn in in Washington Norway MMMMM4J4 United States Nieeria Mexico Washington Australia Nigeria 1 4:30 p.m. Australia Miria 1:30 p.m. if" ESPN 3Tm, 7-SoTm. Tp" i I mmmm ESPN2 1ESPN mmsu WESPN2 XX COACH: Yuri Bystritsky OUTLOOK: Russia got a relatively late start in women's soccer, with a national team debuting only in 1991, but comes to the U.S. with a good chance to make the second round.

COACH: Myong Tong Chan OUTLOOK: North Korea has mystique on its side. The team, an unknown quantity outside Asia, defeated Japan in the 1997 continental championship to qualify for the World Cup a stunning upset considering the far more Team won a playoff with Finland to qualify. NOTEWORTHY: Russia has a two-division, 17-team women's league. The national team was eighth in the 1997 European Championship. established state of the sport in Japan, which has a respected women's league.

The North Koreans went on to hold powerful China to just two goals in a 2-0 defeat. NOTEWORTHY: Its June 27 meeting with the U.S. will be the first-ever game between the teams. in Los Angeles IffflflfH Jlu2 Sweden Germany North Korea Sweden mrrn. Chan I TV- FSPN2 rCDMO I i Wmmm MO H4MI2I1 ICANADA 5jlI i "150 tooti ir I UNITED STATES -9i: ist COACH: Neil Turnbull OUTLOOK: Canada hopes to make the second round.

Team outscored opposition 42-0 in five games to win its regional qualifying tournament. COACH: Tony DiCicco OUTLOOK: It would be a major disappointment for the team and the tournament organizers alike if the U.S. doesn't advance to the July i nLosAngees ffflrrrs inroruonu in Boston -v Cawda NorthKorea UJ Gemny UnHedState. 9:30 p.m. Japan C( 1 jp- 107pm.

NorthKorea 1V 1 i JUNE 19 TV: ESPN 2 10m TV: ESPN JUNE 26 TV: ESPN2 Vlj. numerous players have more than NOTEWORTHY: Canadian star Charmaine Hooper lives in St. Charles III. A record crowd for women's soccer in Canada (4,971) saw the team beat Mexico 1-0 to gain its World Cup berth. a decade of service, most key performers are in their late 20s or early 30s and primed to take back the trophy.

The starting lineup features only two players without previous World Cup experience: forward Cindy Parlow and defender Kate Sobrero. NOTEWORTHY: Eight U.S. players have played in more than 115 international matches, but the average age of the team is just 24.5 years. QUARTERFINALS GROUP CHINA 91i 5th '95: 4th JULY 1 in Washington Group winner Group A second place 8:30 p.m. TV: ESPN 2 JULY 1 in Washington Group A winner Group second place 6 p.m.

TV: ESPN JUNE 30 in San Francisco Group winner Group second place 7 p.m. TV: ESPN 2 live JUNE 30 in San Francisco Group winner Group second place 9:30 p.m. TV: ESPN2 (tape 11 p.m.) GROUP BRAZIL '91: 9w'j COACH: Ma Yuanan OUTLOOK: China'has become a U.S. nemesis. The Chinese lost to the United States in the finals of the 1996 Olympics and 1998 Goodwill Games, but ended the 50-game U.S.

FINALS SEMIFINALS COACH: Ze Duarte OUTLOOK: Many observers thought '96 Olympic semifinalist Brazil should have been a seeded team instead of Germany. The Nike-sponsored squad has profited from increased acceptance and JULY 4 in Boston Winners of June 30 6:30 p.m. TV: ESPN2 JULY 10 in Los Angeles Third-place game 12:30 p.m. TV: ESPN JULY 10 in Los Angeles CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 3 p.m. TV: ABC JULY 4 in San Francisco Winners of July 1 3:30 p.m.

TV: ESPN domestic win streak with a 2-1 victory in April. China also beat the United States 2-1 in March at Algarve, Portugal Cup final. NOTEWORTHY: After losing to Sweden in the 1991 World Cup quarterfinals at Guangzhou, China, the country's sports authorities were so upset they shut down the women's national team program for two years. For tickets to the June 24 and 26 games at Soldier Field, call 800-992-8457. support in this soccer-mad country recently.

Could be a dangerous knockout-round opponent for the United States. NOTEWORTHY: Sadly, the legally renamed Michael Jackson is no longer on the roster, but the singular brigade does include Sissi, Raquel, Didi, Nene and star striker Pretinha, who keeps her own scoring stats because she considers any others to be unreliable. THE VENUES The 32 World Cup matches will be played at eight venues in the U.S.: 0 II '91: 3rd GERMANY '91: 4th 95: 2nd If Portland Civic Stadium Capacity: 27,396 COACH: Tina Theune-Meyer COACH: Marika Domanski Lyfors OUTLOOK: Sweden began to rebuild its team after finishing fifth at the 1996 Olympics, where its all-time star, Pia Sundhage, made San Francisco Stanford Stadium Capacity: 85,429 i I Boston Foxboro Stadium Capacity: 58,868 New YorkNew Jersey Giants Stadium Capacity: 77,716 Washington, D.C. Jack Kent Cooke Stadium Capacity: 80,593 Chicago Soldier Field Capacity: 65,080 OUTLOOK: Germany, which had to go to an extra playoff round to qualify for the tournament after finishing second to Norway in group play, will be a contender. With more parity and a possible quarterfinal matchup against the San Jose Spartan Stadium Capacity: 26,000 Los Angeles Rose Bowl her last national team appearance.

Defender Karolina Westberg, just 21, already is a top player. NOTEWORTHY: Sweden hired its first female head coach in 1988 and is one of two World Cup teams with a woman in that position. tZl COACH: Greg Brown Capacity: 98,000 United States, however, the Germans will have a tougher time advancing to the finals. They are 3-8-1 against the home team, losing to the United States most recently last June in Chicago. NOTEWORTHY: Forward Steffi Jones, 26, is the daughter of a U.S.

serviceman payback for several German-American products who have played on the U.S. men's team. THE LINGO The irreverent fan's abbreviated guide to soccerspeak: OUTLOOK: Building toward ITALY 91: 8th "95: Friendly: Anything but. It's a full international a match between national teams that doesn't count in any tournament standings, tne uiympics, me Matildas would be thrilled to make the second round. Australia began a women's soccer scholarship program COACH: Carlo Facchin OUTLOOK: Though they come from but can get just as nasty as any game.

Cap: An appearance in a full international match. Refers to the days when players actually received headgear for their a country steeped in soccer tradition, the Italian women get meager respect and resources at home. Nonetheless, the team sports some fine individual talents, many of whom played alongside labors. Nutmeg: More suited to a condiment, mustard. A spicy move in which an attacker advances the in July, 1998, creating 20 resident athletes and becoming the only World Cup entry with a centralized training program.

NOTEWORTHY: Midfielder Kelly Golebiowski was only 14 when she made her international debut in a 1996 match against the United States ball by kicking it between a defender's legs. Megged: Slang form of the above, a boys during their formative years. NOTEWORTHY: Mia Hamm's 108th international goal recently eclipsed the totals of two retired Italian scoring sensations, Carolina Morace (105) and Elisabetta Vignotto (107). Veteran midfielder Antonella Carta now has the most goals of any Italian World Cup player with 27. GHANA '91: 9S: verb.

As in "Hamm megged the Brazilian at the 18-yard line." Pitch: A soccer field. Used as a conceit by British wanna-bes Side: A soccer team. See above. Dummy: It's a decoy. A player who is the apparent target of a pass lets the ball go through (often contributing a leg MEXICO 91: '95: I COACH: Emmanuel Afrani OUTLOOK: The Black Queens, as Ghana calls its women's team, were the surprise of the 1998 African Champ- ionships, where they qualified for the World Cup fake) to a teammate.

Bunker in: Mimicking traffic on the Stevenson, a team r-y -y i 0 (jauro imc ucicmoivg emu Ul UIC nctu give f- attackers road rage. finjAi Tr fll tr tho ti tri ac if chnt anH uritho in in COACH: Leo Cuellar OUTLOOK: Mexico's recent improvement can be charted over two games, six months apart. The U.S. team dismantled the Tricolores 9-0 last September, then had to work hard, scoring two late goals, to earn a 3-0 win in March. pain due to an alleged injury, then make a if miraculous recovery in less man iwo minutes (often after being carried off the field in a stretcher).

by making the final, losing to Nigeria. Vivian Mensah, 26, held fans "spellbound," according to tournament reports. Ghana qualified with an all-domestic team, but Afrani hoped to bring in players based outside Africa to bolster the World Cup effort. NOTEWORTHY: This is the first World Cup in which Africa was given two spots. Chicago TribuneStove Lavlon Booked: Slapped with a yellow (caution) card, NOTEWORTHY: The first team from a Spanish-speaking country to qualify for the World Cup, Mexico's distinction comes with an asterisk.

Half a dozen players on the roster grew up andor attended college in the United States, inr-luding three-time UC Santa Barbara star Laurie Hill. Dan-O. Two in one game get you ejected. Sacked: Fired, as in most national team coaches i after World Cups. Mexico's Laurie Hill prepareo nutmeg an opponent.