Thursday, February 28, 2008

Pizza, Celine and Football


The long days have begun at the Algarve Cup, but the players don't have much problem filling them. After a rousing morning training session, lunch was "on your own" today, and half the team went to their favorite Italian eatery on the "strip" by the hotel, you know, the one that serves the killer crepes. The very kind waitress, who we have seen for the past few years, informed the team that because they are "regulars," everyone on the U.S. team would get a 15% discount for the rest of the trip! The team scarfed down pizza and crepes and returned to the hotel very satisfied. Later that afternoon, a bunch of players got together in a room to play the American Idol video game. (Who knew they even had one?). Natasha Kai brought down the house with her rendition of Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" from the Titanic Soundtrack. Virtual Randy said "dawg, you really brought it tonight." Virtual Paula told Kai that, "I loved your voice. You are so special." And virtual Simon said, "Loved the performance, absolutely hated the song choice. It was all wrong." Later that evening, about a dozen players headed to the team's preferred soccer pub to watch the English Women's FA Premier League Cup Final live from London. Everton pulled off a stunning upset, downing juggernaut Arsenal, 1-0. It wasn't a great game, but exciting none the less as it was the Gunners first loss in two years. Tomorrow, the team has a light morning training and a tougher afternoon session. Still a week until the first match against China.

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