Ali Krieger, who will be 32 when the Olympics begin, becomes the oldest first-time U.S. Olympian for women’s soccer. That seems like an odd statistical anomaly- how did this happen for a defender who has 90 caps with the United States National Team?
Krieger was an alternate in 2008 for Beijing, and would have made the 2012 London team, but she suffered an ACL tear during the qualifying tournament. Despite the lack of Olympic experience, Ali Krieger is very accomplished internationally. Krieger and company routed Japan to achieve the third star on the USWNT jersey last summer, representing America’s third World Cup title. That’s more than any other nation.
JAZZ HANDS!!!!!! JAZZ HANDS!!!
Remember, the Women’s World Cup has only been existence since 1991, so the championship tally reads as follows:
USA 3, Germany 2, Japan 1 and Norway 1.
Ali Krieger was one of only four players for the United States to start and play every minute (600, in total) of 2011 World Cup. She is a Penn State grad, just like her USA teammate, backup goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.
Krieger was a starter in the back line and accrued major minutes for the ’15 team as well. The day after the the World Cup title game, ESPN the magazine released their annual body issue online and Ali Krieger was a part of it. links below:
https://twitter.com/DT3sBun/status/618067714444136448
The 18 player roster, to which Ali Krieger was named on Monday, includes 14 from last year’s World Cup roster and 11 Olympic debutantes.
“The last few camps capped a nine-month evaluation process and the players certainly made it a real challenge to narrow the roster down to 18,” said U.S. head coach Jill Ellis.
“We’ve got a great blend of players with experience at the Olympic Games and in major events along with the youthful energy of some players who did not play in the Women’s World Cup last summer. As a coach in the Olympic Games, you want to put together a group capable of reaching the top of the podium while also being mindful of getting players prepared for the next World Cup, and I think we’ve done that.”
USWNT 2016 Rio Olympic Profile/Feature Story Series
Julie Johnston
Carli Lloyd
Jill Ellis
Kelley O’Hara
Mallory Pugh
Crystal Dunn
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication.
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