Team USA all business before Cup

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This article was published 04/06/2015 (4099 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

GOLD medallists in the last three Olympic Games and runner-up at the last Women’s World Cup in 2011, you’d think the high expectations for Team USA would be enough of a distraction as they look to compete in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup beginning later this week.

But there they were, midfielder Heather O’Reilly and defender Meghan Klingberg, along with head coach Jill Ellis in a media room at the Waverley Soccer Complex in Winnipeg, tackling questions not on the games at hand but on the state of FIFA, more specifically the recent pending resignation of president Sepp Blatter.

“I don’t think it directly impacts what we’re doing for the next month ahead of us,” said O’Reilly. “You know there’s a lot of talk about soccer right now. Perhaps maybe that will get people to watch this amazing tournament… We’re absolutely just focusing on our task at hand and hopefully, obviously positives come out of that situation.”

Ellis distanced herself from the whole situation, somewhat downplaying the role of soccer’s largest — and many would say most corrupt — organization.

“I see FIFA right now as the stadium that houses our game,” Ellis said. “It’s an organization — they organize it, they put it together, but in terms of what happens inside within the teams, with the players, and their passion, that should be the focal thing.”

If the recent FIFA bribery allegations weren’t enough to phase them, then what about the beef about playing on artificial turf? You know, the lawsuit against FIFA’s and Soccer Canada’s plan to use fake grass for the World Cup, which was spearheaded by a number of prominent players, many of whom suit up for the U.S.

“All of our preparation has been on turf — we’re ready,” said Ellis. “Actually, I think my team plays better on turf to be honest with you. We’ve prepared because we knew what the surface was going to be, so we’re feeling very comfortable on it and it’s not an issue.”

Alright, moving on. Surely, with two of the Americans’ games in the group stage being played in Winnipeg, the women will use their spare time to see the sights.

“Tied up,” said Ellis, eliciting a laugh from the crowd after a joke suggesting the only time she will be going out is for a trip to the local Tim Hortons. “We’re definitely here for the tournament and for winning.”

But there was some love for Winnipeg, as all three at the podium praised Winnipeggers for their warm welcome at the airport Tuesday night.

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“I think at this point Canadians are fans of soccer and they will embrace teams that come to their neighbourhoods and cheer and celebrate the tremendous sport that it is,” said Ellis.

Perhaps, but what may still linger for Canadians is the result of the Canada-U.S. semifinal at the 2012 Olympics when Canadian soccer fans felt a collective blow after a missed hand ball and a controversial call on goalie Erin McLeod led to a last-minute win for the Americans.

“Oh, I can’t wait to find out,” said Klingberg.

You, and an entire country.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @jeffkhamilton

Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

Jeff Hamilton joined the Free Press newsroom in 2015, reporting on the sports and investigative beats until he left the Free Press in July 2026.

Every piece of reporting Jeff produced was reviewed by an editing team before it was posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.