U.S. women have real shot at World Cup glory

On a steaming hot morning, the United States women's national team had ridden nearly an hour for a workout in the middle of New Jersey. Nobody in Somerset noticed the players' arrival earlier this month at a solitary field. Nobody on the team complained. That was the plan. They weren't there for autographs. A long workout, some quick interviews, back on the bus.

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"The World Cup has been our focus,'' said Heather O'Reilly, one of five New Jersey women on the team.

Whatever they've collectively been doing for the last four years, the Women's World Cup, beginning Sunday in Germany, will determine this group's legacy. You could argue this is a real tipping point. The U.S., which opens group play Tuesday against North Korea in Dresden, fell short in the last two World Cups. They no longer dominate their own CONCACAF region.(gold cup, soccer, gold cup 2011, womens world cup, gold cup final 2011 )

Obviously, winning in Germany would alter the story line completely. The U.S. pulled out a surprising gold medal at the 2008 Olympics on an overtime goal by one of the Jersey girls, Carli Lloyd of Delran. That was the last time full national teams got together for top competition. A reprise of that success will put the Americans back on top of the pile.
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