Fox Sports and ESPN analysts recently chatted with us about the Women s World Cup, which comes to a dramatic end Sunday afternoon with the United States playing Japan in the final in Vancouver, Canada.
Inevitably, the conversation turned toward four players with Bay Area ties. Here are some snippets of our talk:
On Julie Johnston, the former Santa Clara University standout
She was great before the tournament, but if anything she is getting better. She is putting in a performance that is stamping as the future for the USA. She has to be in the the lineup because of her leadership, her toughness.
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- Fox s Tony DiCicco, coach of the 1999 World Cup team
She is extremely lucky to be playing next to Becky Sauerbrunn. Becky is organizing everybody. Julie is in a very similar role as me in 1999 where I could just play. It was easy to go and just have fun.
- ESPN s Kate Markgraf, defender on the 1999 U.S. team
On Alex Morgan, the Cal alum who was the breakout star in 2011
Alex is the best forward on the team. I thought maybe that goal against Colombia would get her going. She seemed a bit fatigued. But she s still making things happen. In the China game, her work rate was back.
She s feeling fitter and stronger and feeling as if her injury isn t affecting her as much. But it s hard to get into that rhythm again for scoring.
-Fox s Cat Whitehill, former U.S. national team player
Alex is capable of scoring every time she plays. She gives the U.S. attack something no other player does.
-DiCicco
On Kelley O Hara, former Stanford star who was 2009 college player of the year
Her speed of play really helped the team. She helped press the backline and help double team the Chinese attackers. She gets wide too. The U.S. has struggled with the width.
-Whitehill
Kelley O Hara gave the U.S. a better flank presence. When you get to the end line it really turns to defense. You can create seams with balls that are laid back.
-DiCicco
On Christen Press, Stanford graduate and 2010 college player of the year
Christen is struggling a little bit. She hasn t been able to put her stamp on it. But she hasn t had a bad World Cup.
-DiCicco
Christen is an amazing player. I had her as my breakout star. She is a smart, tactical player. I know a lot of people were really high on her. Unfortunately, she hasn t had her best tournament. That has got to be devastating to her. I would like to see her playing up front. She gets lost on the wing. She doesn t know if she should tuck in or get wide.
-Whitehill
You saw what you can get from Christen. You want her in front of goal. Every time you talk to a U.S. staffer, they say she is the purest finisher. She can strike with both feet. She s got to be an impact players even when she doesn t have the ball. When she can bring that consistency of really getting in line and turning players and taking them on she is going to get more minutes.
-Markgraf
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