Women's World Cup 2011: With a Birth in Quarters Already Set, US Will Go All Out

Things are going well for Team USA at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. I gathered as much after U.S. coach Pia Sundhage told the press on Monday.

We go for a win. Absolutely.

Anytime you see a quote like that it is a pretty sure bet that the team has played well enough that they already guaranteed themselves a spot in the next phase of play. In this case that phase would be a spot among the eight teams advancing to elimination play at the World Cup.

The U.S. has rolled to a 2-0 record in Group Stage play, and no matter what happens in the Group Stage closer against Sweden they are moving on. However, there is plenty of reason to take Sundhage at her word, and not just attribute the comments to typical coach cliche speak. 

The U.S. is going to be out for revenge in the game with Sweden. They are 3-0 against Sweden in World Cup play, but Sweden beat the U.S. this past January. That loss ended a two-year unbeaten streak for the Americans.

The game will also determine the winner of Group C. And the winner of Group C is likely to avoid a matchup with Brazil in the quartefinals match. To win the group the U.S. can either win or tie. So maybe the Americans would be happy with a tie? Don't count on it.

Team USA forward Amy Wambach:

I can safely say that there's not going to be one player or person or staff member from the United States that's going to say, 'We want a tie. We want to win this game because we want to keep the momentum going forward. Obviously, you have to be smart. We want to get some of those 90-minute players some rest if we can do that. But first and foremost, we want to make sure and secure the first place out of this group.

Look for this team to come out focused and attacking. This team is determined to prove they are the best every time they take the pitch, and this contest is going to be no different.

Keep it locked onto Bleacher Report's World Football Page for all the latest news and analysis.

?Richard Langford

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/742944-2011-fifa-womens-world-cup-tv-schedule-news-results-and-more/entry/104948-womens-world-cup-2011-with-a-birth-in-quarters-already-set-us-will-go-all-out

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