ACOG - News - IBM

(25 July 1996; Day 6)

Co-favorites Norway and USA Meet in Women's Football Semifinal

Sunday's semifinal women's Olympic football match between Norway and the United States may end up being the biggest game of this 1996 Olympic Games tournament. The gold medal co-favorites will meet in Athens, Ga., Sunday night (17:00) in the most important football game to be played at Sanford Stadium. We're talking the version of football that is better known in the USA as "soccer."

Both teams will bring identical 2-0-1 records into Sunday's semifinal contest. The determining factor in who may survive to play in the gold medal game on 1 August might just come down to whose star will shine the brightest. Both teams played Thursday without their offensive weapons -- Norway midfielder Heidi STOERE and USA's Mia HAMM. STOERE will not be playing Sunday, sidelined at least seven months with a damaged knee ligament suffered in Sunday's opener against Brazil. But teammate Linda MEDALEN has stepped in to guide Norway in STOERE's absence. MEDALEN has scored three goals in three preliminary matches and has gotten strong support from Marianne PETTERSEN. HAMM, who suffered an ankle sprain in Tuesday's 2-1 win over Sweden, is expected to return against Norway.

There will be more than just gold medal aspirations come Sunday. Come Sunday, world bragging rights to the best women's football team are on the line. Norway currently holds that title, winner of last year's women's World Cup. The United States, who won the inaugural women's world title in 1991, will be out to reclaim the honor and the notoriety of being the first women's Olympic football champions.

This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Mike Mead.


Return to Olympic News Menu

Select another day:
Pre July 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 August 1 2 3 4 Post


Olympic Factoid
An estimated 5.3 million visted Centennial Olympic Park between opening day - 13 July - and closing day - 4 August, making the park the most single most visited Olympic site during the Games.