September 2, 2000

USA 4 Brazil 0 match extras including post-game quotes by Heinrichs and Hamm

Post game quotes

Head Coach April Heinrichs
On the importance of the game:
"This was a feel good game. It is important to go the Olympics with confidence. We have to know that we can create chances and score ... We did just that. The game can sometimes be stubborn but there are other times that is it generous. Tonight was one of those (generous) games for us."

On life on the road over the last few months:
"It has been tough to be on the road ... We have been on the road for 3 of the last 4 months. It is like the NBA with all the travel. But, you have to be a professional and get results under these difficult conditions."

On the scoring slump over the last few games:
"We have been spoiled as a nation ... We (Americans) are used to the team scoring so many goals. The game is not always like that. It can be stubborn and other times it can be generous. Tonight it was generous for us."

On the Olympic Tournament:
"We have to be at our best every time. There is no easing into the Olympic tournament."

Mia Hamm
On the game:
"This is a team of personalities. If they focus on me, they will have trouble with the others. Parlow, Lilly, Foudy, Millbrett and all the others will step up and get results."

"We cannot control everything but what we can control is our effort. Tonight, Foudy and Fair played great. The midfield did not back down from any 50/50 ball. The defense played with a lot of patience; they did not get beat on any 1v1's tonight. The Brazilians are magic and fast on the ball, but our defense shut them down. The defense was solid all night."

On her performance:
"Two goals in a game? Any forward will take that any game."

On beating Brazil 4-0:
"When things click like they did tonight, you feel good. But Brazil is a good team. (In the Olympics) Brazil will be tough. When they wake up tomorrow, they are going to be great and they will be back to their game. No doubt, this game was a big confidence builder for us. In the Olympics, we are going to fight hard, but our preparation will be in vain if we do not get to the second round."

On the team's recent activity:
"The break was good (coming out of Europe). We really realized with the Norway and Germany tournaments that road trips can really take it out of you. When we got back into camp, we worked on the basics, like finishing. Over the last week, the effort was good. We talked about fatigue and how we needed to come back focused and rededicated."

On the main obstacle for the team's goal of bringing home the gold from Sydney:
"There is no one main obstacle ... they are all tough. Norway, China and Nigeria are all going to be tough. The main thing is to get points, with the final objective to get to the second round. It all starts with the first game."

On Cindy Parlow coming into the game:
"Cindy Parlow gives us a lift every time, but we miss Michelle. You cannot replace her. We are all just going to have to work harder to make up for her supreme effort. Tonight, the midfield won balls every time, nobody backed down. I am proud of the way that we played; the concentration level was great."