The U.S. Women's National Team's 2-0 loss to Norway today marks the first time the women have lost a group match in a world championship, ever. The U.S. dug themselves in a hole early and were unable to dig themselves out.

Leni Larsen Kaurin opened the scoring for Norway in the second minute, heading the ball into an empty net. Hope Solo came off her line to challenge Kaurin and collided with Lori Chalupny who was defending the header. Stephanie Cox subbed in for Chalupny shortly after the collision in which she took a shot to the head. Chalupny is listed as day to day. She took significant time off in 2007 after a suffering a string of concussions. Hopefully her removal from the game was a precaution.

Norway's Melissa Wiik capitalized on an ill advised back pass from veteran defender Kate Markgraf moments later and in less than five minutes, the U.S. was down by two. After the match Markgraf took ownership of her uncharacteristic mistake.

"The second goal was totally my fault. I didn’t play the ball back hard enough to Hope (Solo) and I didn’t see the player either," she said.

The start of this match reminded me a bit of the 1999 World Cup quarter-final against Germany when the U.S. went down early on an own goal by Brandi Chastain. Chastain came back and scored the equalizer and the U.S. went on to win 3-2. I was hoping for a similar outcome today (and wouldn't it have been a great story for Markgraf to score the equalizer as her first goal), but it was not to be. The U.S. settled down and pretty much contained Norway for the rest of the match, but could not get anything going offensively.

Critics of Greg Ryan ball will not be impressed with the team's first significant match under Pia Sundhage. There were plenty of errant long balls and final passes to lament and we only saw glimpses of the beautiful possession soccer we were hoping for. Still, there were glimpses and I'm not ready to start the funeral march yet. While a Wambach-less offense at times seemed to lack passion and direction, the play of Heather O'Reilly was a bright spot as was Tobin Heath's when she subbed in late in the match.

A part of me is screaming that this result is an unprecedented disaster, but I'm going to write it off as Olympic jitters and assume this team will come back strong against Japan on Saturday. I hope I'm not in denial. Coach Sundhage and Captain Christie Rampone have to help the team put this rocky start behind them.

“We have a choice right now. You can imagine (what it can do to a team) to give up two early goals playing in your first game," said Sundhage. "What is very important is to keep our style and that is something we as coaches will emphasize. We can look at bad things, and we will adjust, but also look at good parts in the game where we created chances and where we kept possession and played pretty good soccer.”

The U.S. has two group games to win and the result today sets up a potential meeting with Germany or Brazil in the quarter-finals.

FG spoke with U.S. captain, Christie Rampone after the final practice before the U.S. takes on Norway in their opening group match.

Is the team prepared for Norway?

Yeah, we’re ready. We’ve had seven months of preparation and I think everyone’s definitely ready. The last couple days of practice, the energy has been good. We’ve been kind of waiting around and we are ready to go.

Has the team had time to tactically adjust to the loss of Abby?

I think so. The good thing about Pia is that we’ve changed our formation so much throughout the year and players have been playing in different positions. It’s made it easier to adjust.

Emotionally?

It was definitely tough when it happened. Abby was great in the way that she reacted to her injury and not being able to play. That definitely helped the team realize that we can do it. We’ve lost three players this year and each time we’ve bounced back. They’re big losses, three veteran players, but at the same time we have to move on and we have to do the best we can. It is really important with those three gone that everyone has to step up their role, leadership wise and on the field.

Any predications on who is going to step up and fill the gap?

Hopefully, each one of us by the time the tournament is over. We can’t ask for one player to play that role for Abby. I think we all have to be her. We all have to step up and be more vocal and play better. I think you are going to see everybody shine.

This is your first major event as captain. Are you enjoying the role?

I’m excited. It’s been fun. We’ve been here 12 days now and it’s easy with this team. The energy is good and everyone is excited. They’re just ready. I feel like we’re a family right now and everyone is behind each other so it’s making my role easier. I don’t have to do too much, just make sure everyone is in the right frame of mind and they’re focused and just making sure they believe we can do it.

Is it added pressure on you?

I don’t think any added pressure, just making sure everyone is ready and prepared. I have little individual talks with players to make sure they know I believe in them and the team believes in them. That’s the only way you win big tournaments. I’ve shared my experience of when we’ve won and it’s been when we’ve struggled a bit.

Have family and friends started arriving yet?

Tash’s family arrived today and there are lots of people coming in late tonight and tomorrow. We’re all excited for that.

When does Rylie get in?

Rylie comes in tomorrow. She gets into Beijing at 9:00 tonight and I’ll get to see her on game day.

How are the conditions?

I’m glad we came over early because it is definitely hot over here and humid. We’re losing a lot of weight in practice and we’ve got to get it back. We’re realizing how much we have to hydrate here to be prepared for the games. We’ve been losing a lot of weight. It is really hot.

Not being in Beijing and the Olympic Village does it feel like you’re at the Olympics?

Everywhere you go there are Olympic signs. Our hotel is kind of a mini-Olympic village for football. There are eight teams here so you’ve got some of the feel. It’s not quite the same as the Olympic Village but it’s good enough for the start.

How is it different from the World Cup?

For players, you grow up dreaming of being in the Olympics. You watch the sports. You cheer for the United States. The Olympic rings are everywhere so you are reminded every day of why you’re here; you’re playing for your country. That energy has really connected with this team. We understand the stage we’re going to be on and that we’re doing it for our country.

What would you say the mood of the team is right now?

I think excited. Excited and ready. We’re just ready go.

For someone who covers women’s soccer, I don’t write a lot about Abby Wambach. It’s not that I’m not a fan, but Abby gets her fair share of media coverage and I’m always on the look out for a story that isn’t being told. Since the old timers retired, chances are if there’s a story in the mainstream media about the team, it has something to do with Abby. I don’t always feel compelled to pile on.

Everyone is writing about Wambach’s Olympic ending injury that occurred in the first half of the match against Brazil and I have been so impressed with how she has handled the injury I do feel the need to get my two cents in.

At least publicly, she has not taken one second to whine about the circumstances that stole her Olympic hopes, including the seconds immediately after her leg snapped in two and she knew her Olympic dream was history. She didn’t take a well-deserved moment to wallow in the pain of the injury or her reality. Instead she put on a brave face for her teammates who still had a match to win.

“The most important thing at that moment was winning the game and showing my teammates by example that they have to lean on each other a little bit more to get that gold medal that we’ve been desperately training for over the months,” Wambach said on a conference call with the media today.

She’s taken what could be a “poor me” moment and used it as an opportunity to encourage her team to the gold medal podium in Beijing. She was thrilled that Natasha Kai “did what she told her to do” and scored the winning goal to beat Brazil while she was at the hospital. And, she made a point to call Lauren Cheney, her replacement on the Olympic roster, to make sure she was comfortable with how she made the team.

“I want you to go there and not feel bad about being selected in this type of way,” Wambach told Cheney. “It won’t do you any good or this team any good. Ultimately, it will not make the team perform better. What’s important is that the team going into this tournament is feeling that they can win this. At the end of the day, that’s what makes you stand at the top podium.”

I’m not sure Wambach could have handled this situation any more professionally or selflessly than she has. She’s been working hard to convince us that the team can win without her. I’m jumping on her bandwagon and still looking for U.S. to compete for gold.

Word from San Diego is that Abby Wambach suffered a broken tib-fib and will have surgery tomorrow. She is expected to be out for 12 weeks thus ending her Olympic dreams. Best guess is that Lauren Cheney will be making the trip Beijing, but that's not official.

U.S. coaches, team members and fans are collectively holding their breath while waiting for word on Abby Wambach's injury during the first half of the match against Brazil. She has been taken to a local hospital and early speculation is that she has a break below the knee.

The score held at 1-1. It was a fair result although I'd say Canada had a snitch better run of it. Here are a few select quotes from the post-game press conferences and mixed zone.

Even Pellerud, Head Coach Canada

"It was not the most exciting soccer from either team. The match was more solid than fantastic."

"The first half was a little dull but it picked up in the second."

Jorge Barcellos, Head Coach Brazil

"Goal for the Olympics is to win the gold."

On Marta

"She is able to solve problems that you can't even predict."

"She doesn't like to be treated as the best. She is a team player. Marta cannot play alone."

Christine Sinclair on the spirit of the match

"Brazil is not the cleanest of teams. Maybe we're not either ..."

Melissa Tancredi, who broke suffered a broke nose in the match, will "consult with U.S. player Carli Lloyd about face masks and is looking forward to having two matching black eyes with Carli."

Second-half sub Raquel back heeled a ball into an empty net after Canadian keeper Erin McLeod came out in an attempt to dispossess Erika who was holding the ball at close range. Her shot (if it was a shot) was deflected into the path of Raquel for the easy put in.

I had the privilege of meeting "Bitchy", BMO's resident hawk on the elevator on the way up to the press box. Bitchy has an important job at BMO Field. She keeps the seagulls off the pitch during the match. According to her trainer, she was named by the fans. And no, I am not making this up.

Canada is up 1-0 on a goal from Christine Sinclair. Started with a long goal kick from Erin McLeod before bouncing off a couple heads and into Sinclair's path. She finished it with authority.

Melissa Tancredi has come off the field with what looks to be a broken nose. She's been taken to the locker room. Brittany Timko is on the sidelines, ready to sub in.

Half-time and the score is 0-0. Can't say that there has been any real flow to the game. Canada has put together a couple of good chances. Melissa Tancredi created an opportunity through sheer will and hustle but did have the angle or any one to help finish.

Christine Sinclair cut back a beautiful ball from the endline, but Claire Rustad could not finish it.

Brazil had the one good chance from Maicon. Speedster Diana Matheson put the kabosh on a Brazil counter attack in the wanning minutes of the half, running down Pretinha who looked to have a clear path to the goal.

I'll check back later in the match.