Last Practice of 2008

The U.S. team ran through its final training of 2008 today at Ford Field, spending just over an hour shaking out the legs and getting used to the fast pace of the artificial surface. It will be the USA's fourth match of the year on the fake stuff. In what has been a fantastic year for the entire U.S. Women's National Team programs, with the gold medal at the Olympics, the championship at the U-20 Women's World Cup and the second place finish at the U-17 WWC, U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage had one of the lightest pre-game trainings of what has been a challenging 2008 schedule that has taken the USA to six countries and 11 different states. In a meeting after lunch, Sundhage made a point of thanking her players and her staff for the wonderful year and fantastic journey that will continue in 2009 as she has signed a four-year deal to stay on as head coach of the WNT.