Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.
September 24, 2007

Team USA Takes a Rest as Women's World Cup Gears Up for Semifinals
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=199CC7F:A6F02AD83191E160EF29A488A83224619574F7DCC14957C0 Heavily favored US
team will face Brazil Thursday, in semifinal game The heavily favored
U.S. women's football (soccer) team is getting much needed rest ahead
of its Women's World Cup semifinal game with Brazil, VOA's Jim
Stevenson has more on this unexpected benefit.

The United States has had the longest travel schedule of the 16-nation
field at this year's Women's World Cup in China, opening with two
games in the central Chinese city of Chengdu.

The early match times also have not been favorable, as Team USA had to
play in sunny, humid conditions earlier in the day during the opening
round against North Korea and Sweden. Also, they had to endure
torrential downpours in Shanghai during their final first-round game
with Nigeria.

But because of the way the schedule fell for the later rounds, the
U.S. women received a gift for their hard work - an extra day of rest
Monday between the quarterfinal and semifinal games.







USA's Kate Markgraf keeps her eye on the ball during quarterfinal
match against England, 22 Sep 2007Veteran U.S. defender Kate Markgraf
says she and her teammates are thrilled.

"I do not know why the organizing committee would decide to let up on
us and actually give is an extra day," she joked. "An extra day's rest
matters at this point. So we are really happy. We feel like we are
getting a vacation right now."

So what did the U.S. women do with their precious extra day? They
spent it in Shanghai, watching movies at their hotel, playing the
classic Chinese tile game Mah-Jong, cribbage, and going shopping. On
Tuesday they make the short trip to Hangzhou to prepare for the
semifinal with Brazil on Thursday.


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