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An All-American at the University of North Carolina, where she earned her degree in Psychology, she captained the 1982 NCAA Championship Team and played with the U.S. Women's National Team in the North America Cup in 1986. Gregg received her Master's Degree in counseling and consulting psychology at Harvard where she was the women's assistant coach for two years. After working as an assistant coach at the University of North Carolina in 1983 she was appointed as Head Coach of the women's team at the University of Virginia and had an outstanding career there, resigning early this year to devote her time to the National Team program. In 1990 she was named Coach of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, taking Virginia to the NCAA Final Four Tournament in 1991 and earning seven consecutive NCAA tournament bids (1987-1994).

1998 - Year in Review
By Lauren Gregg

It is hard to believe we are only eight months away from World Cup 1999. It has been another year of tremendous growth in soccer around the world. The level of play continues to evolve as countries take different approaches to their preparation.

Level of competition around the world

This year the U.S. National Team traveled to Brazil, China, Portugal and Japan to prepare for the Cup. As we expected, our opponents are constantly improving, which makes the sport so exciting right now. As the President of FIFA, Seth Blatter, said, "The future of football is feminine!" In my opinion, Brazil is the team to watch in 1999. No country has grown as much as they have in as short a time. Surprising? Not really. In a nation with such a soccer tradition, it was only a matter of time before the women adopted the passion and prowess of their men. In 1998 we saw Brazil really come into their own. Clearly, their league has given women a place to flourish and embrace the sport. As Brazil's acceptance and support for women competing in soccer increases, they will surely be a dominant world force. Look to see them amongst the best in 1999. This year Germany consolidated the Bundesliga into a top 12 team elite league. That move has unquestionably helped their development. Japan is another country which has shown tremendous growth and improvement in the past several years. Is it due to the growth of their league? Certainly, both countries have been importing some of the best players from around the world to compete in their leagues. In Germany and Japan, while the leagues technically may not be considered "professional" in that not all players are paid, no one can deny their impact. China and Australia will prepare for the Cup by training in a type of resident camp, like the United States. This is a vital component and at present the best short term training solution for the U.S. as we put in place the foundation for our women's professional league (tentative discussion suggests a U.S. league starting in 2001).

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Under-21 Nordic Cup Title Goes to Norway
By Lauren Gregg

USA and Norway Meet Again in Final for Second Year in a Row

The 1998 Nordic Cup offered an impressive preview of the next generation of soccer stars. As the premier event for U-21 Women's National teams, the tournament is often considered an unofficial World Championship. Many of the players who competed here will take part in the 1999 Women's World Cup.

The level of play in this tournament continues to grow. The European structure is such that players have a two year cycle with each national team from U-16, U-18, to U-21. With the advent of the U-18 European Championship, which takes two years, these young players are competing internationally on nearly a basis from age 15. This develops a sophistication and savvy at an earlier age, making the overall level of the women's international game better as well as creating greater parity between the teams.

The USA, Sweden, Finland and Holland played in one bracket while Norway, Germany, Denmark and Iceland made up the other.

The first U.S. match was against Finland, who played a 4-4-2 (which is still the predominant system internationally for women's soccer, the exception being the United States). Like their senior team, Finland played a low restraining line defensively, taking away the space to attack. They play with a very organized defense while on the offensive side they like to play a direct, counter-attack style, which is tricky to play against if you get impatient. If you do, two things can happen: 1) first start forcing attacks and not possessing it in the final third around their compact defense, and 2) defensively, you can become vulnerable, if you start sending players forward to help solve the situation on the offensive side.

Overall, we did a great job possessing the ball and staying secure against them. We were able to generate nine corner kicks and an almost 5-I shot margin; yet, the score remained 1-0 for the United States. Finland is a great example of the calculated tactical style some teams are playing. Last year in the Nordic Cup they scored on every opponent, held Germany to a tie and Norway to a 1- 2 result. They are soccer players, good athletes and understand how they want to play. We were the only team to shut them out this year. Their keeper, Satu Kunnas, did a great job anchoring their defense. We were able down the stretch to get a goal from our youngest player at the tournament, Susan Bush, who marked her first international appearance in this game. Her potential seems tremendous.

In our second match, we met Holland, the home team. Holland played a 3-5-2 against most countries but because we play three high had to play a 4-4-2. They used the flanks playing out one side to look to counter attack with someone getting in off the opposite flank. Defensively, they marked almost in a man-to-man fashion with a covering player, "sweeper" in a very compact shape. Again, although we had the run of play, they made it difficult at times because of their shape. It was important to switch the point of attack, use tho flanks to get behind and hold the ball in tight play making seams. In turn, in characteristic fashion of the international game, they converted the one opportunity they developed. Thus, the final result, 1-1.

Holland's National Women's Team has a very interesting claim: every world championship year they have beaten the team which went on to later be World Champion. In 1991 they defeated the United States and later that year we won the First FIFA World Championship. In 1995 they defeated the soon to be World Champions Norway. In 1996, Holland defeated the United States in a friendly and we went on to win the Olympics. I feel they do a tremendous amount with their resources. The young team they had at this year's U-21 Nordic Cup was very good. They had good athletes, were well organized defensively and showed tremendous fighting power. I really respected how they went after this event. With a similar style to Finland's, Holland made it hard to penetrate their defense and had a dangerous counter attack. The improvement for both of these teams from last year is remarkable, especially Holland's.

Our last group opponent, Sweden, came into our match with two victories. Due to the format of this tournament the victor in this match would play in the final. Needless to say, the stakes were high for both teams.

Sweden is always one of the hardest fighting teams. If any of you saw our match from the Olympics you remember the physical nature and heart the Swedish play with. Well, this team was no exception. Their coach, former national team player Sundhage, embodies these qualities.

Both sides have great respect for each other. The game was everything we envisioned. We had to fight for everything. Sweden plays a 4-4-2. In the back, they played a zone with a sweeper. Their "sweeper" was not as deep as the classic sweeper but more of a cover and condensing personality. Unlike the Norwegians, they track very hard in their zone and at times appear more to be marking in front of a sweeper than a rigid zone. This plays more into their dueling, combative style defensively.

In our match, flank play and changing the point of attack were critical. They gave us the flanks. Sweden attacked a lot through and with their outside midfielder, especially their right flank, Tina Nordlund (which again is similar to the style they play with their full women's national team). Because of this, they often tried to let their back four absorb our attack to prevent their midfielders from tracking. I believe we were too successful, requiring them to get back more on defense. This made it harder for them to generate offense as well. Michele French for the United States was critical in neutralizing and winning this baffle. Our defenders, the Fair twins (Ronnie and Lorrie), along with our central back, Jenn Grubb, stayed secure under the dangerous attack provided by Sweden's leading scorer, Therese Sjogran, and her counterpart Malin Gustafsson up front. Sweden's Jenny Engwall, coming out of midfield, was also dangerous but was secured through the play of our central midfielders Kristy WeIchel and Rebekah McDowell. Rebekah's defensive work rate in midfield was possibly the best we have ever had in that position.

The mobility of our attack was difficult for Sweden to control. Veteran Cindy Parlow was relentless in her attacking commitment. Despite the numerous opportunities we generated we could never rest in the game because we couldn't put them away. Sweden's goal keeper, Caroline Johnson, denied us countless chances, as did the pressure we put on ourselves to score, knowing the consequences of the game's outcome. Our bench was vital for us this match and eventually helped break the Swedish team. Raven McDonald, a first-time national team player came in, and under great pressure slipped a wonderful pass to Parlow for our lone goal, advancing us for the second time in two years to the finals.

In the other bracket, the Norway-Germany match decided who would advance to the finals. The German squad fielded six players who also play for their full team which had recently been in the United States competing with our Women's National Team. Their team is being built with a combination of veterans and younger players. The style they play is very attractive as it is with many teams from Germany. Coach Tina Theune-Meyer is expanding how they play in a very effective way. In 1991, when we faced Germany in the World Championship quarter finals, Germany insisted on playing one way and one way only and had little capacity to make even slight changes to be more effective against our high pressure. Under new leadership, I see the great qualities Germany has always had (the ability to possess the ball, the wonderful combination play) but now they are also harder physically and psychologically, and show an ability to play with a better balance.

Norway, like most teams in the Nordic Cup, returned over ten players from last year's second place team. They play a similar style at almost every age group, a 4-4-2 with a distinctively flat back four. They are the best women's side in the world at playing this system. Offensively, they are direct, yet, many people watching them would say they play a kick ball game. It is much more and actually a very calculated style. Their off ball offensive organization is tremendous. The match between Norway and Germany was very entertaining. Norway scored an early goal to go ahead for good. Germany generated many opportunities but did not convert their chances. They did a good job holding the ball against Norway but weren't as effective in the final third. This is a credit to Norway's organized defense. Germany's Renate Lingor and Nicole Brandebusemyer controlled the tempo for Germany out of midfield. Yet, they came up short losing 1-0 to Norway. Germany went on to defeat Sweden for third place overall.

The final was different than in 1997. Last year the match had been a battle. This year, with the same intensity there was befter soccer played by both teams. The strides in both programs were visible. Norway did a great job converting their opportunities - which is classic Norwegian style. We are used to being so dominant offensively that at times we do not make all we should from chances we generate.

Norway's other great quality is their ability to strike your most vulnerable spot with their first pass after regaining possession. They are deadly that way. If you lose possession while expanding into an offensive shape they play forward very quickly and effectively. That is how they scored both goals. We were able to score through possessing the ball in front of their back four and combining through it. Jen Streiffer and Susan Bush combined and Bush at 17 showing the composure of a veteran - found Parlow's feet across the six as the Keeper came to close her. Streiffer had the golden goal in last year's final between the U.S. and Norway. In the center of midfield, Laurie Schwoy and Anita Rapp had a great duel second half. Both are top players in the air internationally. Schwoy's time was limited in this match, as well as the tournament, due to recovery from an injury. Both of Norway's goals came from their flank midfielders, Dagny Mellgren and Linda Orman. Their play exemplifies the style I discussed earlier. As they organize up one side they really intend to get a player in on the opposite side. As they play a ball forward quickly you cannot ball watch because that instant they will slip a player in back door for the redirect.

As the game went on, we gained momentum but were unable to get the equalizer in another down to the wire match between the USA and Norway. It is a familiar and not soon to fade rivalry between two of the world's most dominant countries in women's soccer. Look to see these players in the Women's World Cup in 1999 and as mainstays of their country's programs in the years to come.

We hope that this premier event for women at this age group will serve as a springboard for a sanctioned FlFA U-20 Women's World Championship in the future.

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Germany Tour - October, 1997
By Lauren Gregg

Germany, the 1997 European Champion, and the United States, the 1996 Olympic Champion, set the standard for the 1999 Women's World Cup as they faced off last week in a 1-1 split of the series, in Germany. The intensity, quality and emerging parity was captivating. In the first match, Germany defeated the United States 3-1. Three days later the United States repaid the loss, defeating Germany by a 3-0 margin.

In the first match, despite scoring in the first five minutes, the United States never really gained control of the match nor their style of play. This was our first international in four months and the absence of some veterans magnified our sloppy play. Germany appeared confident and played in. The United States typically uses a 3-4-3 system of play and Germany's usual system is a 3-5-2, so they dropped one of their defensive central midfielders, Fitchen, into a marking role for their zone. Defensively, Germany played with a covering personality, Jones, who at times was more like a traditional sweeper in the flow of the game. She was excellent and neutralized many of our attacks by her positioning, and she and her supporting cast in the defense were extremely comfortable on the ball. They possessed the ball well against our pressure and we spent considerable energy working to retain possession once we were behind in the match.

The most impressive quality of their team in the first game was their offensive transition. Their speed of play and penetrative movements, on and off the ball, resulted in many breakdowns of our defense. Even though we misplayed a few of their attacks, we were well aware of their ability to punish our mistakes. They capitalized on their opportunities and scored. Their first goal of the match came from poor marking on a throw-in. After getting behind our flank defender, Tina Wunderlich served a brilliant bent ball back post and a scheming run by Smizek finished with a crowd pleasing diving headed goal. Their second goal came off a corner kick. We miscleared a ball and Pia Wunderlich shot the ball into our goal area. Our keeper slipped on the wet surface (in pouring rain) and actually tipped the ball past our post player in position to clear the ball off the line. Germany's last goal, from Prinz, came off their transition.

Germany has a new look under the helm of Tina Theune-Meyer. In this first match the team showed considerable depth winning despite missing two of their key players, Meinert and Weigman. The players who filled this void did an excellent job. I attribute their depth and level of experience to the fact that they are in the middle of World Cup qualification and to the recent consolidation of the Bundesliga, in which an elite women's top division league of twelve teams was chosen from the original twenty team league.

The second match was a different story. The United States was back to form. We had revisited many aspects of our play from the first game. We wanted to see our mentality displayed - an intrinsic quality of our players and team that distinguishes us from our opponents. Our possession and ability to change the point needed to improve, we needed to finish our chances, and to make quicker decisions about our defensive shape.

In our patent style we were mobile offensively and hard on defense. Hamm and Milbrett stretched the German defense, and this factored into all three goals (Hamm, Milbrett, Hamm). Our midfield did an outstanding job distributing the ball for us. Tactically, our primary adjustment was to lower our defensive restraining line. This allowed our front runners to be better prepared to do what they do best - score goals - and it helped deter their dangerous offensive transition. The secure defensive shape by our backs and midfield was a critical factor in absorbing their counter attack style. Carla Overbeck's play and leadership helped anchor our defense (only two months after the birth of her son, Jackson).

The teams left with a renewed respect for each other. Germany faces Norway in early November for World Cup Qualification. The United States plays Sweden November 1st in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

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