The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 62

2003:09:20:22:37:55 D6 SOCCER LOSANGELESTIMES COACHAPRIL HEINRICHS Age: 39 Caps: 47 Goals: 37 International honors: World champion (1991, as player); Olympic gold medalist (1996, as assistant coach); Olympic silver medalist (2000, as coach) Personal: A feisty, inspirational player, Heinrichs was one- third of the offense with Michelle Akers and Carin Jennings that carried the U.S. to the first world championshipin China in 1991. She was an assistant under Tony DiCicco at the 1995 World Cup in Sweden and at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. She has a 53-14-15 record since becoming U.S. coach in 2000.

NO. 11 JULIE FOUDY Age: 32 Position: Midfielder Caps: 231 Goals: 41 International honors: World champion (1991 and 1999); Olympic gold medalist (1996); Olympic silver medalist (2000) Personal: Aholdover from the memorable team and the vocal leader of the U.S. pack, Foudy, from Mission Viejo, will be playing in her fourth World Cup and participating in her fifth after her stint as an in-studio TV analyst during the World Cup in Korea and Japan last year. Recognized as a natural leader in sports, she served a two-year term as president of the Sports Foundation. She remains a vital part of the U.S.

midfield. NO. 12 CINDY PARLOW Age: 25 Position: Forward Caps: 128 Goals: 62 International honors: World champion (1999); Olympic gold medalist (1996); Olympic silver medalist (2000) Personal: At 18, Parlow was the youngest member of the 1996 Olympic team and has since developed into one of the best all- around players on the U.S. squad. Her height (5 feet 11) makes her a threat in the air on offense and a force on defense.

She is the best player on the team when trying to shield the ball with her back to goal, and her finishing ability puts her in the same category as such goal- poachers as Hamm and Milbrett. NO. 6 BRANDI CHASTAIN Age: 35 Position: Defender Caps: 171 Goals: 30 International honors: World champion (1991 and 1999); Olympic gold medalist (1996); Olympic silver medalist (2000) Personal: One of the who remain from the 1991 world championship-winning team, Chastain will be remembered even by non-soccer fans for her celebratory shirt-removal after scoring the goal that clinched the 1999 title for the U.S. at the Rose Bowl. The move put her on the cover of four national magazines.

Now moved from left back to center back, she remains apotent defensive force and attacking threat. NO. 14 JOY FAWCETT Age: 35 Position: Defender Caps: 216 Goals: 26 International honors: World champion (1991 and 1999); Olympic gold medalist (1996); Olympic silver medalist (2000) Personal: Part of the and the best-known soccer mom in the country, mother of three Fawcettwill be playing in her fourth World Cup and will be co-captain this time. She scored the game-winning goal on a header in a 1999 quarterfinal, when the U.S. came from behind to defeat Germany, 3-2, in Landover, Md.

She has moved from right back to center back; she and Chastain give the U.S. vast experience and composure in the heart of the defense. NO. 9 MIA HAMM Age: 31 Position: Forward Caps: 239 Goals: 142 International honors: World champion (1991 and 1999); Olympic gold medalist (1996); Olympic silver medalist (2000) Personal: The all- time leading international goal scorer continues to be the most recognizable name in soccer 16 years after she first donned a U.S. uniform.

Engaged to the Red Nomar Garcia- parra, she has rediscovered her enjoyment of the sport, although she is rumored to be considering retirement after the 2004 Olympics. A new zest for playmaking and defense has turned her into one of the best all-around players in the world. NO. 13 KRISTINE LILLY Age: 32 Position: Midfielder Caps: 255 Goals: 91 International honors: World champion (1991 and 1999); Olympic gold medalist (1996); Olympic silver medalist (2000) Personal: The member sets a world record every time she steps on the field. No playerhas as many international appearances as the midfielder from Wilton, who comes into her fourth World Cup having played 255 games in 16 years.

She is still among the fittest and cleverest players on the was her defensive header off the goal line in 1999 that denied China the World Cup and set up the U.S. victory. NO. 3 CHRISTIE PEARCE Age: 28 Position: Defender Caps: 102 Goals: 4 International honors: World champion (1999); Olympic silver medalist (2000) Personal: Less outgoing and less sought-out by the media than others on the national team, Pearce has quietly gone about her work for the last six- plus years and, on July 13, made her 100th appearance for the U.S. An exceptional athlete, she is among the quickest players on the team, an ability that allows her to overlap down the wings from her outside back position and provide unexpected and valuable support to the offense.

NO. 1 BRIANA SCURRY Age: 32 Position: Goalkeeper Caps: 120 Goals: 0 International honors: World champion (1999); Olympic gold medalist (1996); Olympic silver medalist (2000) Personal: Unquestionably one of the finest goalkeepers the U.S. has ever produced, Scurry is in the best physical condition of her career and is determined to defend the world championship that her penalty kick saves helped win in 1999. Her kicking game has improved dramatically under Phil Wheddon, the goalkeeper coach, and her reflexes are as sharp as they were when she made her international debut in 1994. NO.

15 KATE SOBRERO Age: 27 Position: Defender Caps: 97 Goals: 0 International honors: World champion (1999); Olympic silver medalist (2000) Personal: It is a standing joke on the U.S. team that one of the goalkeepers is more likely to score a goal before Sobrero does. However, the former Notre Dame standout has been one of the best defenders for several years, and no one else on the team can boast of being part of a Detroit Airport mural of famous folksfrom Michigan. A polished player who is comfortable anywhere on the back line, she likely will start at left back in her second World Cup. NO.

20 ABBY WAMBACH Age: 23 Position: Forward Caps: 14 Goals: 9 International honors: None Personal: If any U.S. player is capable of being the surprise of the World Cup, it is the striker from Rochester, N.Y. Unknown on the international scene until just recently, Wambach already is being compared to a young Michelle Akers. She has the size and the power to be a dominant force in the game and the willingness to run through opponents as often as around them. The goals are flowing, and if most valuable player can bring her game up to the next level, she could be the star of 2003.

KYLIE BIVENS Age: 24; Position: Defender; Caps: International honors: None ANGELA HUCLES Age: 25; Position: Midfielder; 19; Caps: 24; Goals: International honors: None SHANNON MacMILLAN Age: 28; Position: Forward; Caps: 155; Goals: honors: World champion (1999); Olympic gold medalist (1996); Olympic silver medalist (2000) TIFFENY MILBRETT Age: 30; TIFFANY ROBERTS Age: 26; Position: Midfielder; Caps: 101; Goals: International honors: World champion (1999); Olympic gold medalist (1996) DANIELLE SLATON Age: 23; Position: Defender; 17; Caps: 40; Goals: International honors: Olympic silver medalist (2000) ALY WAGNER Age: 23; Position: Midfielder; 10; Caps: 47; Goals: 12; International honors: None Position: Forward; 16; Caps: 191; Goals: 98; International honors: World champion (1999); Olympic gold medalist (1996); Olympic silver medalist (2000) SIRI MULLINIX Age: 25; Position: Goalkeeper; 18; Caps: 40; Goals: International honors: Olympic silver medalist (2000) CAT REDDICK Age: 21; Position: Defender; Caps: 36; Goals: International honors: None THE REST NO. 7 SHANNON BOXX Age: 26 Position: Midfielder Caps: 2 Goals: 2 International honors: None Personal: Perhaps the success story in soccer in 2003, Boxx, from Redondo Beach, made the unimaginable leap from never having played for the U.S. to being selected for the World Cup roster. She scored in each of her first two games for the national team, despite playing as a defensive midfielder, and now is considered a likely World Cup starter. Excellent in the air and on the ground, the former Notre Dame standout played for New York Power, tying Kylie Bivins for the league lead in yellow cards this season.

UNITED STATES WORLD CUP PROJECTED STARTERS, RESERVES Capsules by Grahame L. Jones Times Staff Writer By Grahame L. Jones Times Staff Writer PHILADELPHIA Mia Hamm was there. She knows what happened. She remembers how it almost went horribly wrong for the United States.

It was the U.S. opening game of the first FIFA World Championship it called the World Cup back then and the opponent in Pa- nyu, China, that November 1991 afternoon was Sweden. Things were going well, Hamm recalled. remember we played 40-minute she said. were up, I think 3-0, and Sweden scored two goals and then missed a PK We kind of let down in the second half and they turned it up.

think we were all saying that if the game had gone five more minutes, they probably could have tied it up. It was a game that walking off the field we felt very fortunate to have The Americans did win, and the victory put them on the road to their first world championship. Playing that day in addition to Hamm were Joy Fawcett, Julie Foudy, Kristine Lilly and April Heinrichs. All five will be on the field today as the U.S. again plays Sweden in the opening match of a world championship, this time in the fourth FIFA World Cup, at RFK Stadium in Washington.

The first four will be playing, while Heinrichs will be coaching. The game is expected to be every bit as intense and as close as that one 12 years ago. The U.S. holds a 10-2-5 edge over the Swedes in 17 games over the last 16 years, but in the last six matches that advantage is not evident. The teams are 1-1-4 since 1999.

that close. The U.S. is ranked No. 1 in the world. Sweden is No.

5. another measuring stick: The U.S., offensively the best team in the world, has scored only four goals against the Swedes in the last six games. are organized defensively, they are great individual Heinrichs said. just so well-versed in the foundation of defending that hard to beat, individually and collectively. have good speed all over the place.

play in a classic 4-4-2 with wide midfielders. Symmetrically, tough to penetrate a team that plays a 44-2. a fairly conservative system the way playing it. play very direct. going to see a lot of long balls from Sweden, especially if wet.

The idea is to dump it in your danger zone, your red zone, to steal language from football, and then if you clear it, bouncing around. And if you do clear it to midfield, just swarming And then there is Hanna Ljungberg, the 24-year-old striker whose 48 goals in 88 internationals have made her the talk of Europe. is every bit as good as any of the forwards in our Heinrichs said. mean, she is good. spotted her two years ago.

I was encouraging the WUSA to sign her. She is awesome. She works both sides of the ball. aggressive. I love watching her Add fellow forward Victoria Svensson and midfielders Malin and Malin Andersson to the mix and Sweden becomes quite a challenge in a first-round group that also includes Nigeria and North Korea.

Sweden Coach Marika Domanski Lyfors says it is fine by her if opponents want to focus on Ljungberg. It just leaves other players open. Hamm knows better than that. a very well-organized team, a team that plays attractive she said. get numbers forward.

They have front-runners and midfielders who work hard off the ball. very And Ljungberg? Hamm said. you talk to our defenders, tell you what a handful she is. She just seems able to turn on anything. Even if she have a lot of space, she can turn on you know what she wants to do and you still stop In other words, if the U.S.

builds a 3-0 lead this time around, Sweden has the ability to come back. Just like in 1991. Kickoff Foe Is Familiar to U.S. Sweden, the first opponent 12 years ago, has played the Americans tough in six games over the last four years. bounded off the left post in the 36th minute after beatinggoal- keeper Ri Jong Hui.

North Korea made certain of the victory with two late goals. First, Jin beat defender Kike- lomo Ajayi on the left flank, cut into the penalty area and then passed the ball for Ri Un Gyong to score the second goal from close range in the 73rd minute. Jin capped off a fine personal performance one thatshe later said she hoped had joy and happiness to our leader Kim Jong when she scored her second of the afternoon in the 88th minute. Nigeria Coach Samuel Okpo- du said his team was in a somber mood in the locker room after the defeat. know they play he said.

have to tell them. They already know By Grahame L. Jones Times Staff Writer PHILADELPHIA Asian champion North Korea served notice Saturday that the United States and Sweden might not have it all their own way in the first round of the fourth FIFA World Cup. Powered by two goals from forward Jin Pyol Hui and another by midfielder Ri Un Gyong, the Koreans swept past African champion Nigeria, 3-0, in front of 24,347 fans at Lincoln Financial Field. The game started out at a furious pace, with North Korea keeping the Nigerians pinned back in their own half, battling gamely to withstand the onslaught.

Tackles were neither side was willing to back down from physical challenges. It was the African team that blinked first, with Jin shouldering her way past Nigerian defender Florence Omagbemi before unleashing a low shot that flashed into the bottom left corner of the net to give North Korea a 1-0 lead after 13 minutes. The Koreans might have doubled or tripled their lead by halftime but were let down by poor final shots and a few good saves by goalkeeper Precious Dede. Overall, North Korea out- shot Nigeria, 20-9, a statistic that will cause its next opponent, Sweden, to think twice. The pace slowed in the second half, and Nigeria might have tied the match had striker Mercy 25-yard shot not re- North Start Is Fast and Furious Gina Ferazzi Los Angeles Times EYE ON THE PRIZE: Effioanwan Ekpo and North Ho Sun Hui struggle for control of the ball.

Nigeria gamely battles the onslaught as the Asian champions set a torrid pace en route to a 3-0 victory. World Cup At Philadelphia NORWAY 2, FRANCE 0 First scoring. Second Norway, Rapp 1, 47th minute. 2, Norway, Mellgren 1, 66th. Yellow Rapp, Norway, 86th minute; Lise Klaveness, Norway, 91st.

Seitz, U.S. Sutton, U.S.; Sharon Wheeler, U.S. Lineups Nordby; Brit Sandaune, Ane Stangeland, Monica Knudsen, Solveig Gulbrandsen (Ronning 80th); Anita Rapp, Unni Lehn (Riise 89th), Marianne Pettersen (Ormen 90th), Dagny Mellgren, Gunhild Folstad, Lise Klaveness. Marty; Sabina Viguier, Peggy Provost, Laura Georges; Corinne Diacre, Sandrine Soubeyrand, Stephanie Mugneret-Beghe (Kramo 82nd), Sonia Bom- pastor, Marinette Pichon, Elodie Woock, Hoda Lattaf (To- nazzi 72nd). NORTH KOREA 3, NIGERIA 0 North First North Korea, Jin 1, 13th minute.

Second North Korea, Ri Un Gyong 1, 74th. 3, North Korea, Jin 2, 88th. Yellow Akide 22nd, Ajayi 28th. North Korea, Ri Hyank Ok, 25th, Jon Hye Yong, 71st. Petignat, Switzerland.

Luethi, Switzerland; Nelly Viennot, France. Lineups Dede; Bunmi Kayode, Kikelomo Ajayi, Ifeanyichkwu Chiejine (Onome Ebi, 85th), Florence Iweta, Florence Omagbemi (Maureen Mmadu, 44th); Perpetua Nkwocha, Stella Mbachu; Effioanwan Ekpo; Mercy Akide, Nkechi Egbe (Patience Avre, 46th). NORTH Jong Hui; Yun In Sil, Ra Mi Ae, Jang Ok Gyong, Jon Hye Yong; Yun Yong Hui (Pak Kyong Sun, 57th), Kum Ran, Ri Un Gyong, Ri Hyank Ok; Ri Kum Suk (Ho Sun Hui, 81st), Jin Pyol Hui. At Columbus, Ohio GERMANY 4, CANADA 1 First 1, Canada, Sinclair 1, 4th minute. 2, Germany, Wiegmann 1, 39th.

Second 3, Germany, Gottschlich 1, 47th. 4, Germany, Prinz 1, 75th. 5, Germany, Garefrekes 1, 92nd. Yellow Karina LeBlanc, Canada, 21st minute; Charmaine Hooper, Canada, 38th; Linda Bresonik, Germany, 46th. Eun Ju IM, Korea.

Jin Choi, Korea; Kum Nyo Hong, PRK. Lineups Rottenberg; Kerstin Stegemann, Linda Bresonik, Sandra Minnert, Ariane Hingst (Kuenzer 65th), Stefanie Gottschlich; Steffi Jones, Renate Lingor (Garefrekes 73rd), Bettina Wiegmann; Birgit Printz, Maren Meinert. LeBlanc; Sharolta Nonen; Charmaine Hooper, Brittany Temko, Tanya Dennis; Andrea Neil, Kristina Kiss, Diana Matheson, Christine Latham, Christine Sinclair, Kara Lang (Wilkinson 46th). JAPAN 6, ARGENTINA 0 First Japan, Sawa 1, 13th minute. 2, Japan, Sawa 2, 38th.

Second 3, Japan, Yamamoto 1, 64th. 4, Otani 1, 72nd. 5, Otani 2, 75th. 6, Otani 3, 80th. Yellow Villanueva, Argentina, 16th minute; Rosana Gomez, Argentina, 18th; Sabrina Barbitta, Argentina, 59th.

Red Gatti, Argentina, 39th minute. Elovirta, Finland. Parviainen, Finland; Andi Regan, Northern Ireland. Lineups Yamago; Yumi Obe, Yasuyo Yamagishi (Hiromi Isozaki 73rd), Kyoko Yano; Tomoe Sakai, Yayoi Kobayashi (Eriko Arakawa 57th), Naoko Kawakami, Tomomi Miyamoto, Emi Yamamoto; Homare Sawa (Karina Maruyama 80th), Mio Otani. Ferro; Clarisa Huber, Mariela Ricotti (Noelia Lopez 76th), Andrea Gonsebate, Sabrina Barbitta; Marisa Gerez, Natalia Gatti, Rosana Gomez (Valeria Cotelo 46th); Fabiana Vallejos, Mariela Coronel, Maria Villanueva (Karina Alvariza 46th).

SUMMARIES GROUP A TeamWLTGFGAPts North Korea100303 Sweden000000 United States000000 Nigeria010030 Saturday North Korea 3, Nigeria 0 Today Sweden vs. U.S. at Washington, 9:30 a.m. Thursday North Korea vs. Sweden at Philadelphia, 1:45 p.m.

Nigeria vs. U.S. at Philadelphia, 4:30 p.m. Sept. 28 Nigeria vs.

Sweden at Columbus, Ohio, 10 a.m. North Korea vs. U.S. at Columbus, 12:45 p.m. GROUP TeamWLTGFGAPts Norway100203 Brazil000000 South Korea000000 France010020 Saturday Norway 2, France 0 Today Brazil vs.

South Korea at Washington, 12:15 p.m. Wednesday Brazil vs. Norway at Washington, 2 p.m. France vs. South Korea at Washington, 4:45 p.m.

Sept. 27 Norway vs. South Korea at Foxboro, 9:45 a.m. Brazil vs. France at Washington, 9:45 a.m.

GROUP TeamWLTGFGAPts Japan100603 Germany100413 Canada010140 Argentina010060 Saturday Germany 4, Canada 1 Japan 6, Argentina 0 Wednesday Germany vs. Japan at Columbus, 2:45 p.m. Argentina vs. Canada at Columbus, 5:30 p.m. Sept.

27 Canada vs. Japan at Foxboro, 12:30 p.m. Argentina vs. Germany at Washington, 12:30 p.m. GROUP TeamWLTGFGAPts Australia000000 China000000 Ghana000000 Russia000000 Today Australia vs.

Russia at Carson, 5:30 p.m. China vs. Ghana at Carson, 8:15 p.m. Thursday Ghana vs. Russia at Carson, 4:15 p.m.

Australia vs. China at Carson, 7 p.m. Sept. 28 Australia vs. Ghana at Portland, 5:15 p.m.

China vs. Russia at Portland, 8 p.m. STANDINGS Group United States vs. Sweden 9:30 a.m. at Washington, Channel 7, 46 (KFTR) Group Brazil vs.

South Korea 12:15 p.m. at Washington, 46 (KFTR) Group Australia vs. Russia 5:30 at Carson, Galavision Group China vs. Ghana 8:15 at Carson, ESPN2, Galavision All times PDT GAMES By Jack McCarthy Chicago Tribune COLUMBUS, Ohio Canada seized the early edge in World Cup opener, but it seemed just a matter of time before a more aggressive German team took command. And in the 39th minute, it all started to unravel.

German captain Bettina Wiegmann tied the score on a penalty kick late in the first half and three other teammates added second-half goals on the way to a 4-1 victory at Crew Stadium. "Our confidence went down after tying goal," said Canada Coach Even Pelle- rud, whose team remains winless (0-5-2) in three World Cup appearances. were able to expose us on both the flanks and in the middle they moved the ball quicker than our players are used At halftime, Pellerud shored up the midfield to slow the German attack. It work: Germany quickly seized the lead in the 46th minute and never looked back. Things looked promising at the outset as Canadian forward Christine Sinclair struck just before the three-minute mark.

Midfielder Kristina Kiss lofted a feed from the right sideline toward the German net and Sinclair, a 20-year-old from British Columbia, headed the ball into the left corner. German forward Birgit Prinz narrowly missed an equalizer in the 19th minute when she slipped on an open attempt on Canadian goalie Karina LeBlanc and shot wide. Defender Stefanie Gottschlich had a similar opportunity in the 28th minute, but Canadian veteran Charmaine Hooper swooped in to kick the shot away. But 11 minutes later, Hooper was assessed a yellow card in the goal box for a hand ball, and Germany was awarded a penalty kick. Wiegmann sent the shot to left to tie the score.

Japan 6, Argentina 0 The Japanese routed Argentina at Crew Stadium as star midfielder Homare Sawa scored two first- half goals and forward Mio Otani added a second-half hat trick. very satisfied with the Coach Eiji Ueda said. focused on good defense, stealing the ball and attacking from the sideline, and we did statistical edge was overwhelming as it outshot Argentina 29-4 and had 21 shots on goal. The Argentines managed just one on goalie Nozomi Yama- go. GROUP Germany Overwhelms Canada in Second Half How they got there: At the CON- CACAF Gold Cup to qualify, the U.S.

nipped Canada, 2-1, in the championship game. Sweden won a tiebreaker with Denmark to lead UE- second qualifying group. Players to watch: Any talk of U.S. soccer begins with Mia Hamm, who will look to add to her record 142 international goals in her final World Cup. Sweden forward Hanna Ljun- berg is as strong on the ball as in the air, with 48 international goals.

Previous appearances: Winners at home in 1999, the U.S. is seeking its third World Cup in four tries. Sweden placed third in the inaugural World Cup in 1991 and then faltered in the quarterfinals in 1995 and 1999. Quick look: With their experience, depth and talent, the U.S. is the favorite to win the whole thing again.

But getting out of Group A dubbed the of will be no easy chore. Playing at home gives the Americans an added edge, so expect them to set the Group A standard with Sweden, Nigeria and North Korea in a good battle to advance with the second-place spot. Sun GROUP A UNITED STATES vs. SWEDEN at RFK Stadium, Washington 9:30 a.m., Channel 7 HAT TRICKS Three-goal games in the World Cup: 8 Carolina Morace, Italy (5) vs. Chinese Taipei (0), Nov.

17, 1991 8 Michelle Akers (five goals), United States (7) vs. Chinese Taipei (0), Nov. 24, 1991 8 Carin Jennings, United States (5) vs. Germany (2), Nov. 27, 1991 8 Kristin Sandberg, Norway (8) vs.

Nigeria (0), June 6, 1995 8 Ann Kristin Aarones, Norway (7) vs. Canada (0), June 10, 1995 8 Sissi, Brazil (7) vs. Mexico (1), June 19, 1999 8 Pretinha, Brazil (7) vs. Mexico (1), June 19, 1999 8 Sun Wen, China (7) vs. Ghana (0), June 23, 1999 8 Inka Grings, Germany (6) vs.

Mexico (0), June 24, 1999 8 Mio Otani, Japan (6) vs. Argentina (0), Sept. 20, 2003.