South Florida Sun Sentinel from Fort Lauderdale, Florida • 65

SOCCER South Florida Sun-Sentinel Sunday, October 12, 2003 7D WOMEN'S WORLD CUP Germany is -favorite to claim first title BY BARRY WILNER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS carson, calif. The way Germany has handled every challenge in the tournament, it deserves to be favored over Sweden in today's Women's World Cup final. No less an authority than the U.S. team expressed that opin ion. Of course, the Americans beat Sweden in the tournament opener, then lost in the semifinals to the Germans 3-0.

So U.S. co-captain Julie Fou-dy, for one, wouldn't. be surprised if Germany hoists the trophy for the first time. "I think Sweden is very good, but that Germany will be Meinert, Betting Wiegmann, Birgit Prinz on the field. They have all the elements and they are playing in a sophisticated way and are patient with the ball." The Germans don't back down, either, asserting their attacking mode on opponents.

They don't get frustrated if a able to handle them physically," Foudy said. "That was something I was more impressed with than what we had seen on video how strong the German players were. "They also are great in the air and so good at combining different styles. They have so many personalities Maren here, with Birgit Prinz leading the tournament with seven goals. "It's important that our outside defense takes care of the midfielders, and I and Jane Toernqvist will take care of Prinz," defender Karohna Westberg said.

"It's important that we start aggressive." team bunkers down on defense, simply kicking the ball out of danger and then looking for counterattacks. Germany defeated Sweden in overtime to win the 200 1 European Championship and holds a 6-5 edge against the Swedes. The Germans have outscored the opposition 22-3 'in UNDER-23 TEAM GOMES TO TOWN 7 4 JEFF RUSNAK ON SOCCER Is If Iff I i i if i 9 I il Kt p-aJ BOXX TOPS: Shannon Boxx outjumps Canada's Sasha Andrews to score the U.S. team's second goal in the 51 st minute. Kristine Lilly and Tiffeny Milbrett also scored for the Americans.

AP photoMark J. Terrill Given how little time the United States' Under-23 team has spent together this year, it's doubtful that the Americans will be fully in sync when they play Haiti's U-23s on Wednesday at Lockhart Stadium. Coach Glenn Mooch Myernick's squad has played seven games in 2003, just once since beating Mexico 3-1 in May in Guadalajara. Other than a six-game tour of Portugal in January, Myernick's players have spent most of this year as adversaries in MLS instead of as teammates preparing to qualify forthe 2004 Olympics. The precious time together means getting the most out of a one-week training camp that begins on Monday at the Hilton Soccer Complex in Sunrise.

Unfortunately, two of the players Myernick is counting on most DaMarcus Beasley and Bobby Convey won't be here. Beasley will remain with the Chicago Fire for Wednesday's U.S. Open Cup final against the MetroStars. Convey played for the Under-20s last week in Carson, and returned to D.C. United.

While those losses deprive Myernick of half his midfield, he still has plenty of attacking talent to pester the Haitian backline. Landon Donovan will be here, as will Columbus forward Edson Buddie, who got his first cap with the full national team earlier this year. The midfield includes 2002 MLS Rookie of the Year Kyle Martino (Columbus) and former Fusion backup Kyle Beckerman, who has five assists in a starting role at Colorado. A good number of the players Myernick brought to Fort Lauderdale will be on the U.S. roster for the 2004 Olympics being staged in Athens, Greece, next August, assuming the Americans qualify.

Donovan is certain to be included, and the conventional wisdom suggests Buddie will be as well. Buddie, 22, has nine goals and three assists for Columbus despite missing eight games with an injury. Donovan has a career-high 12 goals this season for San Jose and is a favorite to win league MVP honors. Donovan, 2 1 appears to have made the transition from teenhood to manhood, at least in terms of being more tenacious with opponents and less guarded with the media. Last week, he received a yellow card for a harsh foul on Amado Guevara in a 2-0 loss to the MetroStars, which he chalked up to "frustration" and Guevara's showy style.

"He had it coming anyway," Donovan said. "If you dance around like that, you're going to with win cans ena get hit. When he was down, in" Spanish, I told him I had to do'jt." Donovan was even less 13 apologetic for a collision witFr" MetroStars goalkeeper Jonnj Walker, which the veteran of the Chilean League milked for effect. "He's been playing in South America too long, with all those floppers," Donovan saitf! "This is America." Donovan will sign autograpis from p.m. Monday at Soccer Max near the Sawgrass Mills Mall in Sunrise (954-382-0040).

Match time ofi Wednesday is 7 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 day of game; $5 for ages 12 and younger. Call 877-877-7677 or see '1 www.tixops.com to purchase'1 online. (J Haiti's U-23s play the Dominican Republic in an il: Olympic qualifier at 7 tonightat the Orange Bowl. Haiti won the away leg Tickets are $20.

C0PA INVITATION The United States has been invited to play in the 2004 Cop America being held in Peru next July, but no decision has been reached about whether to accept the invite. Coach Bruc Arena! wasn't too keen on the idea of playing in the South American nations cup after the recent Gold Cup, but he didn't rule out the possibility. Gold Cup champion Mexico will join 10 South American nations Major League Soccer's expansion plans came into focus last week at the Honda Symposium in Los MLS Commissioner Don Garber told an audience of soccer insiders that the Chivas USA1 team under Mexican owner Jorge Vergara would play in either San Diego or Houston. Garber added that Cleveland is the leading candidate for a second franchise because of il efforts to build a soccer-specific stadium in that city. BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS Germany-Sweden, 12:30 p.m.,' ABC and WAMl; MLS Wrap, 4 p.m., FSW; Boca lu-niors-Atletico Rafaela, 6 p.m.

(SDD), FSW; Sao Paulo-Corinthians, 8 p.m. (SDD), FSW. WEDNESDAY: Metrostars-Chicago, 8 p.m.. FSW: Mexico-Uruguay, 9 p.m., Telemiihdo. SATURDAY: Leeds-Manchester United, 7 a m.

and noon (tape), FSW; Werder Bremen-Stuttgart, 9:30 a FSW; MetroStars-New England, JeffRusnak's soccer column appears Sundays. United States dominates Canada 3-1 in third-place game has become a terrific play-maker, made a quick restart in the 80th. Her feed eventually found its way to Tiffeny Milbrett in the penalty area, and she scored to improve the U.S. record against Canada to 26-3-3. "It was very important to finish this way, whether it was for first, second or third," said Milbrett, who came on in the 43rd minute after Cindy Parlow suffered a concussion.

"If there is a game we have to win in a tournament, we want to win." It's the second time the United States has finished third in the World Cup, also doing it in 1 995. The Ameri-canswonthe crown in 1 99 1 and four years ago. While this victory wasn't nearly as memorable as the 1 999 penalty-kick shootout over China for the championship at a sold-out Rose Bowl, it was a strong perfor the semifinals, the Americans vowed they would take the third-place game seriously. In front of 25,253 at the Home Depot Center, the United States dominated the second half against one of soccer's rising nations. And the U.S.

women left the World Cup with their heads held high. "Obviously this is not where we wanted to be," said Lilly, who scored the first goal. "But this is where our destiny ended. We started strong, and we ended strong. We wanted to end this World Cupvithawin." They did because they never backed down against the young, physical Canadians.

Hamm's perfect twisting corner kick was headed home by Boxx in the 52nd minute. It was the goal for the U.S. women. Then Hamm, soccer's all-time leading goal-scorer who mance. And the Americans believe it can be a catalyst for future events: After finishing third in 1995, they went on to win the 1996 Olympics and the '99 World Cup.

Canada coach Even Pelle-rud caused a stir after the game by saying the Americans were an aging team and that Canada should surpass them soon. "I still think the USA will be up there," said the man who coached Norway to the 1 995 title. "But they are a little bit on the way down. They're not as organized as they used to be. They give away more space to their opponents.

They're not as fit as they used to be." Hamm didn't buy that, believing the Americans responded superbly to the challenge. "The atmosphere was tremendous," Hamm said. "We played well and really pounded the ball around." By Barry Wilner THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CARSON, CALIF. With third place in the World Cup secured, Mia Hamm and Kristine Lilly did what they nearly always do: lead. Key components in the United States' 3-1 victory over Canada on Saturday, Hamm and Lilly led their teammates to each sideline, clapping their hands above their heads, waving, throwing kisses, even pounding their hearts.

It was not the prize they set out for, but it was still worth a celebration. "We never gave up, we played the entire time and it is a credit to our leadership and ourteam," said Hamm, who set up the winning goal by Shannon Boxx with a corner kick. "To anyone who thought we would not be at our best, this was a good answer." After losing to Germany in Aussie cricketer hayden breaks Lara's Test record allegiance to Slovenia, tested positive for nandrolone in the late 1990s. But she was cleared on a technicality when she faceq an IAAF tribunal. Britain's former world champion sprinter, Unf ord, Christie, also returned a positive test.

Both have maintained innocence. -1 Recent research indicates that certain agents found in over-the-counter medications could show traces of substances resembling items on the banned list. Ottey has maintained that she had taken medication that is in keeping with IAAF regulations. fj game at Kensington Park in East Kingston, Jamaica, last week. Test player Mervyn Dillon of Trinidad and Tobago, who was batting, and Windward Islands seamer Fernix Thompson, who was about to deliver the third ball of the 39th over, fell to the turf.

Dillon was struck along the left side of the face extending down past the shoulder. Thomas was struck just below the back of the neck. They were taken to a hospital and kept overnight, but both were reported to be in good condition. With two points from the. abandoned game, joined host team Jamaica in the semis, which will be played at Kaiser in St.

Ann this week. The two qualifiers meet today in the final preliminary fielders Rkardo Gardener, Theodore Whitmore, Richard Langley, Micah Hyde, Andy Williams and Jamie Lawrence to keep the Brazilian forwards and midfielders at bay while hoping that forwards Ricardo Fuller, Damiani Ralph and Kevin Lisbie will find the Brazilian net. Brazil will pocket 60 percent of gate receipts, while Jamaica and the host stadium will receive 20 percent each. TRACK AND FIELD According to reports out of Europe, recent tests indicate that former Jamaican sprint queen Merlene Ottey and other high-profile athletes could have been victims of faulty drug-testing procedures that resulted in their returning positive results. Ottey, who switched her round game to determine the group winner.

SOCCER Jamaica's Reggae Boyz will be David seeking to topple Goliath when they take on five-time World Cup champion Brazil in a full friendly international in England today. Although the Brazilians will be without forward Ronaldinho, out with a leg strain sustained in a King's Cup match last week, they will boast a galaxy of stars that rivals any aggregation ever put together for a friendly international. The presence of Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Denilson, Ze Roberto, Gilberto Silva, Juninho and rising star Kaka should ensure that the stadium is filled. Jamaica will rely on mid- Nine years and six months after Trinidadian-born West Indies batting genius Brian Charles Lara broke Sir Garfield Sobers' decades-old record for an individual Test innings, a new mark was set Friday when Australian opener Matthew Hayden smashed 1 1 sixes and 38 fours in compiling 380 runs against Zimbabwe. Lara had posted 375 in 1994 to eclipse Sobers' mark of 365 not out, made against Pakistan in the late 1950s.

But Hayden, the latest in a long line of outstanding Australian batsmen, smashed the Zimbabwe bowling to all parts of the ground to pass Lara's record after occupying the crease for 622 minutes while facing 437 balls. Wicketkeeperbatsman Adam Gilchrist also helped himself to three figures with an TIN0GEDDES SPORTS OF THE CARIBBEAN unbeaten 1 13, while captain Steve Waugh got 78 and Damien Martyn 53 in a massive Aussie total of 735-6 declared. All five bowlers used by Zimbabwe conceded well over 100 runs. By close on the second day, Zimbabwe had reached 79-1, trailing by 656 runs Lightning felled two West Indian cricketers in a Red Stripe Bowl regional one-day Tino Geddes' Sports of the Caribbean appears Sundays. ft tt Ik ti.

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