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The United States has yet to face a team in the 2003 World Cup that is playing is well as it is.
That will change when the Americans face a very confident German team in the semifinals at PGE Park in Portland, Ore.
After winning all three games in the opening round by a combined 11-1 score, the United States needed only a goal by Abby Wambach in the 24th minute to beat Norway 1-0 on Wednesday.
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``Getting the goal against Norway and having it be the game-winner, that is
something I will never forget,'' Wambach said. ``It was the biggest goal of
my life.'' Ticketmaster
It was the second straight shutout for the Americans, who are two victories away from winning their third World Cup and becoming the first team to win back-to-back Cups. Norway is the only other team to win the Cup, accomplishing the feat in 1995.
The United States, 20-1-1 in four World Cup appearances, would face either Sweden or Canada in the championship game in Carson, California on Oct. 12 if it can get past Germany.
After the United States, which has faced a more difficult path to the semifinals, Germany clearly has been the tournament's second-best team through four matches. The Germans coasted to wins over Canada, Japan and Argentina in the opening round by a combined 13-2 score, and routed Russia 7-1 in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
The United States has beaten Germany in 12 of 17 previous matches, including a 3-2 come-from-behind victory in the 1999 World Cup quarterfinals.
``They are performing as well in 1999 and they are the top favorite to win the tournament,'' German coach Tina Theune-Meyer said. ``We have to play physically very robust against them.'' Ticketmaster
U.S. coach April Heinrichs will continue to use her big lineup -- featuring Wambach and Cindy Parlow up front -- in the semifinals in an effort to combat Germany's rugged style.
``Abby is obviously a force,'' Heinrichs said. ``She is somebody that they were keying in on to neutralize her presence, but certainly in the air she was dangerous all day long in terms of the goal that she scored and the balls that she flicked.''
Germany has several players enjoying outstanding World Cups -- particularly Birgit Prinz and Maren Meinert. Prinz leads the tournament with six goals and 15 points, and Meinert is the assists leader with six. Ticketmaster
Prinz, who scored twice Thursday against Russia, finished with the second-most votes behind Mia Hamm of the United States in voting for FIFA Women's Player of the Year in 2002.
Prinz is confident her team is capable of beating the defending World Cup champions.
``If I don't think we can beat America, I have no reason to be on the field,'' Prinz said.
HOW THEY GOT HERE: United States - 1st place, Group A. Germany - 1st place, Group C.
TEAM LEADERS: United States - Wambach, 3 goals; Hamm, 4 assists and 8 points. Germany - Prinz, 6 goals and 15 points; Meinert, 6 assists.
GOALKEEPERS: United States - Briana Scurry (4-0-0, 3 SO, 0.25 GAA); Silke Rottenberg (4-0-0, 1, 0.75).
ALL-TIME WORLD CUP RECORDS: United States - 20-1-1, 4 appearances. Germany - 13-5-2, 4 appearances.