Olympics - Players to watch
Kara Lang - CANADA
The symbol of footballgirls all over Canada. Kara Lang has started for the national team since she was 15 years old.
She will once again be one of Canada’s most important players going into these Olympics.
Much depends on which position coach Eva Pellerud plays Lang. In her teenage years you would have seen Kara playing at the back and since thenshe has played most positions settling of the forward role.
She has developed into a good international forward filling her tall 5’10 frame. The World saw her fine performances for Canada during the 2003 World Cup semi-final. Her driving free-kick against Sweden to take the lead, in the semi-final showed maturity beyond her years.
Carli Llyod – USA
Carli Llyod has grown rapidly into the attacking force from the U.S midfield. Her rise to this position was fast and consistent performances have seen her as one of the first onto the U.S teamsheet.
Carli did not attend the big U.S universities like most of her team mates but her performances in the past 2 years have seen her add more and more parts to her game.
Carli has broken through the mst established midfield in the world with palyers such as Boxx, Hucles and Wagner, becoming America’s second dangerous player after fprward Abby Wambach.
She combines steady intelligent tackling and focused play that brought her into the team and has in the last 18 months added scoring. She is also strong with either foot with good movement off the ball.
Her Olympic 2008 campaign started off with a strong performance against Norway. This was followed up with a strong stunning goal against Japan. The future looks bright as Llyod is one of the faces used to promote the U.S league starting in 2009.
Birgit Prinz – GERMANY
The 3 time (2003, 2004, 2005) World Player of the year is showing no sign of slowing down.
Her record breaking performances in the 2007 World Cup established Prinz as the greatest forward of all time. As a forward Prinz combines huge strength with controlled speed running to goal. She has also lasted 3 different generations of German teams over the past 10 years playing a major part in each of them.
The all time World Cup leading scorer has intelligent movement off the ball, playing on a defenders shoulder like no other player in the game right now.
Unlike the votes cast by coaches from far flung places around the world. Prinz is considered the best player in the world simply because she is a winner and performs on the biggest of stages..consistently.
Prinz will be looking to add the Olympic trophy to her collection which includes every other senior trophy possible. The future will see Prinz become the face of the World Cup as it is in the largest female football market Germany. Her home country.
A win in the Olympiastadion in 2011 will surely crown Prinz as the greatest footballgirl ever.
Marta – BRAZIL
One of the best footballgirls to play the game, through her high level of talent and skill. The Brazilian has the talent to win these Olympics on her own. The girl from Alagoas, Brazil has produced some sublime skills since her move to Swedish club Umea Ik.
Playing as a deep lying forward or central forward in Beijin her ability to take any player one on one is matched by her passing ability to create chances for others. However on the big stage her pass selection comes often too late as defenders shut her down or leave her to dribble in undangerous areas.
Marta’s performance at the World Cup 2007 in the semi final against the American’s has become a tale of legend. Her solo goal becoming one of the best ever scored in the World Cup.
If Brazil do make this final it will be up to Marta to play as their biggest threat and not their weakness, leading this team and increasing the level of her team.
footballgirl.com