The FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 has placed women’s soccer in the forefront of the map. Twenty-four countries representing the best in the world have managed to inject a shot of adrenaline, enthusiasm and passion to the already most played sport in the world … soccer!
Amongst this amazing lineup of international talent, our very own Portland based Thorns FC had a chance to represent their country.
After what can only be a long and busy road for the US Women’s World Cup players, each of them has found their way back home. Some back to their home countries with some back to Providence Park to continue playing for Thorns FC.
OSN had the opportunity to have some 1:1 time with three of the Thorns FC plauers that made it back to Oregon.
Nadine Angeres, a German native, shared the encounters she had with other players in the league and even discussed with them some of the desires of other players who want to come and play to the US. “I told them I just accept they come to Portland if they are coming to the US.” Nadine, who is close to retirement, discussed that while her coach has persuaded her to stay active, she has made the decision and feels is the right decision for her to retire. Nadine is now concentrating on this Wednesday’s game against Seattle FC, which is extremely important to them as they need those three points to move forward.
After the pleasure of talking to Nadine, Christine Sinclair joined us and shared her own experience in the World Cup. From her perspective, the competition level was very high. When asked what was it like to play with familiar faces, she said, “We were playing in the biggest tournament of your career so you get competitive friend or not.”
Christine said that she did not watch the final game. “It still hurts, it still does. Proud for the Thorns players that were in the US team but yeah, you dream of being in that game so I did not watch it.”
With the World Cup behind, OSN had to ask Christine, “How do you make the transition from the World Cup to back at home at Providence Park?” She replied, “I think is easy, you know Paul gave a few us a little bit of time off and by the time our time off was done I was bored and ready to get back playing and going to compete in front of another group of amazing fans and you know this is our job this is what we live for. I am proud to be a Thorn and I want to do everything I can to help this team to win.”
From Tobin Heath’s point of view, this journey has been one of a kind and a very exhausting one as well. She shared they have been interviewed and traveled more than they could talk about. “The response ever since we came back has been huge. We did not know the magnitude of it until we came back to the US.”
When asked if they had ever dreamed of making it to the finals, Tobin replied, “It had been a feeling that we had felt before but we realized it wasn’t going to be given to us it had to be taken.”
As far as her thoughts about staying motivated after having been focused in the World Cup, her plan is to bring it back to Portland as well and just as strong. She is looking forward to being with the fans at Providence Park.
We can all agree that is great to have these amazing women back at Providence Park but more so, we will be able to see what impact that experience will have in the energy and technique they will play now.
The Thorns will be facing Seattle Reign FC back-to-back starting Wednesday, July 22nd here at Providence Park and Sunday, July 26th at Moda Mitch Stadium.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
