WOLFSBURG, Germany — Coach Pia Sundhage came into the first meeting with her new soccer team, pulled out her guitar and began playing the Bob Dylan classic, “The Times They Are A-Changin’.”
“Admit that the waters around you have grown, and accept it that soon you’ll be drenched to the bone,” she sang. “If your time to you is worth savin’ then you better start swimmin’ or you’ll sink like a stone. For the times they are a-changin’.”
With that, Sundhage let the Americans know she’d be a coach unlike any other they’d had.
That’s definitely been true — and it goes beyond Sundhage’s performing skills and foreign passport. She has built up Team USA players with constructive criticism rather than breaking them down by yelling and screaming.
“She was everything we needed,” said veteran U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo.
With a berth in the quarterfinals already secured, Team USA wraps up its Group C schedule today against Sundhage’s native Sweden at the Women’s World Cup.
Germany beats France
MOENCHENGLADBACH, Germany — Two-time defending champion Germany asserted itself Tuesday with a 4-2 victory over France and claimed the top slot in Group A at the Women’s World Cup.
“We showed class,” Germany coach Silvia Neid said. “Now we are really into this tournament. The players showed what they are made of.”
• England held off the threat of early elimination, beating Japan 2-0 in Augsburg, Germany. The win gave England the top slot in Group B.
• Goals from Hannah Wilkinson and Rebecca Smith earned New Zealand a 2-2 draw with Mexico in Sinsheim, Germany.
• Perpetua Nkwocha gave Nigeria a 1-0 win over Canada in Group A in Dresden, Germany.
