The latest in our series of middle of the night interviews from China comes from Carli Lloyd.

Give us the low down on the tournament, starting with the rocky start against Norway through the semi-final win against Japan.

It’s been a very, very interesting year, especially losing some key players earlier in the year, Cat and Leslie, and then Abby. Our first game against Norway was our first without her. We didn’t know how it was going to be. We’d never played without her. We had to figure some things out.

I think it was actually a perfect start for us, going down two nothing and we just kept fighting, kept fighting and we’ve been getting better each minute we’re playing. We’re playing some great soccer and it’s awesome.

Compare this experience to your first big event with the full team, the 2007 Women’s World Cup.

You always have in your head, how you think things are going to turn out and that’s not necessarily how they end up turning out. Unfortunately it was a disappointing event for the team. For me personally, I started the first three games and didn’t the last three games, so it was tough. It was tough for everybody else, the way things ended.

This year, what Pia’s done with this team is indescribable. She’s brought us together. I’ve never felt as close to the team as I have this year.

What do you think about the match up with Brazil? Are you ready?

I think we are. We’re playing some great soccer. A lot of the media and people are doubting us, but that’s okay. We’re enjoying being the underdog this year. People should really watch closely. We don’t have one superstar on our team. We’re all getting our job done, even people on the bench. We’re finally turning over a new leaf and playing really quality football and that’s exciting. I think if we just worry about ourselves and don’t get caught up in “Oh, we’re playing Brazil,” then we’ll be all right.

Does the negative press bug you?

There are always going to people who say you were lucky even when you beat a team four to one, but that’s just life and it happens everywhere. It really fired some of us up like reading some of the quotes from Japan prior to the game. I think it really fired a lot of people up.

What has it been like hanging out in the Olympic Village?

It’s been unbelievable. This is my first Olympics. It’s all that you can imagine. We haven’t really gone to any events. We were focusing on the match yesterday, but today I’m just going to get out and experience it a little bit. It’s just so cool. It’s really hard to explain, but there are just tons of athletes, there’s a huge cafeteria, apartments… It’s just really, really cool.

Have you met anyone that you were really excited to meet?

Ronaldinho. I wanted to meet Messi, but that didn’t work, out. I got to meet James Blake and one of the gymnasts, Shawn Johnson. It’s been cool.

Photo by Brad Smith/isiphotos.com

I had the opportunity to speak with the breakout star of these Olympics, Angela Hucles, very early this morning (for me) while she was munching on McDonalds' french fries in the Olympic Village. I also spoke with Carli Lloyd, but you will have to wait until tomorrow for that one as it is almost 3 am and I can not be trusted to transcribe another interview without some sleep!

How does it feel being the United State’s leading scorer going into the Gold Medal match of the Olympics?

It feels great. I’ve been in a position where I can score some goals. Obviously that’s part of my responsibility as a forward and I’m just happy I can contribute in that way.

Which of your four Olympic goals is most memorable?

Having an Olympic goal is pretty incredible in and of itself. Coming from not scoring a whole lot to scoring in the Olympics … I like all of them.

You’ve been around for along time. You’ve made two World Cup teams, but didn’t get the opportunity to play. You won an Olympic Gold Medal in 2004, but saw limited minutes as a sub. Here we are in 2008, going into the Gold Medal match and you’ve played every minute and are the team’s leading scorer. Talk about that journey.

It’s been a journey, for sure. It’s been nice for me to be able to see both sides, all aspects of playing different roles for the team, coming off the bench, being a sub, maybe not playing and just rooting my teammates on. Obviously, it hasn’t all been easy but being able to actually play in the Olympics is something that I’ve always wanted to do. Part of that I have control over and part I don’t. For me to be able to compete in an Olympic game is an honor.

I’m just excited. We’re getting better in every single game that we’re playing. I think there have been some skeptics out there and it’s nice to win. Being in a Gold Medal game is only going to help the program and help get more soccer fans for our country and all over

For you personally, having been in the mix, but more on the fringe, did you see this coming for you?

Definitely not at all. I think what has helped me is that I’ve always had certain goals in mind for myself. I’ve tried to do the right things regardless of the situation. Fortunately, I’ve had Pia’s support this year with playing. It’s very helpful to have that kind of support from your head coach, I just tried to do the things I could do on my end to put myself in a position whenever I had that opportunity and that chance, I was going to be ready for it.

Talk about the tournament. The team got off to a rough start against Norway but has really been building and getting better each match.

Maybe that first game was the best thing that could have happened to us. It was a situation where we had enough time to rebound from the loss and put ourselves on the right track. I think we were able to learn a lot from that game as well as the other games and continue to build on how we’ve been playing. We’ve just been getting stronger throughout it and building more confidence and getting comfortable, all of us playing in a slightly different formation with different personnel. We’re continuing to get better and better and we’re peaking at the right time. We’re coming together at the right time instead of being burned out and losing it at the end. Even thought it was a rough start, it was probably the best thing that could have happened to us.

What are your thoughts on Brazil and the Gold Medal match on Thursday?

We’re excited. I’m personally excited. We expect a really tough, tough game, but I think we’re all prepared for that. We’re focusing on ourselves and what we can do well. When we do that, we have fun out there and that’s when we really play well.

After touring around China for the first four matches, you finally made it to the Olympic Village. What has that been like?

It’s great. I’m having my McDonalds right now. For me, one of the greatest parts of being part of the Olympics is you get to see so many different athletes from different countries. I love seeing the diversity around here and the different clothing and just being a part of the Olympic experience. We have different USA athletes coming up to us and out to the games and supporting us and we’re doing the same for them. That’s something that is very inspirational when you’re in an event like this.

* Image by Brad Smith/isiphotos.com

The player’s aren’t the only ones exhausted after a grueling 2-1-overtime victory for the United States over Canada in their Olympic Quarterfinal. Those of us who saw it through from the 6:00 am kickoff, the weather delay, full time and two overtimes, four plus hours worth in all, deserve at least a nap. That includes U.S. coach, Pia Sundhage.

“I feel like I am a player. I am exhausted and happy,” she said.

The match started on time in a heavy downpour reminiscent of the United State’s World Cup match against Nigeria in the middle of Typhoon Wipha. The match was halted in the 21st minute due to lightening, but not before Angela Hucles got the U.S. on the board in the 12th minute.

The break was fortuitous for the Canadians. The U.S. clearly had them on their heels and were playing some of the best soccer we’ve seen from them all tournament. The 139-minute stoppage killed the American’s momentum and allowed Canada time to regroup after a shaky start.

Canada didn’t waste any time after the match resumed. Christine Sinclair capitalized on a casual U.S. throw in, launching a rocket past an outstretched Hope Solo in the 30th minute.

Canada’s coach, Even Pellerud was forced to make an early sub, replacing goalkeeper Erin McLeod with Karina LeBlanc after McLeod was injured attempting to defend Hucles’ goal. LeBlanc played an outstanding match and kept Canada in it into the first overtime when Natasha Kai connected with a beautiful ball from Shannon Boxx for the game-winning header in the 102nd minute.

In what in hindsight appears to be a brilliant move, Sundhage waited until the beginning of the first overtime to sub Kai in for Amy Rodriguez. A fresh Kai was able to run circles around a clearly gassed Canadian side.

“I thought we did well at forward with A-Rod because of her speed and with Angela Hucles,” explained Sundhage. “We switched Carli Lloyd to a more attacking role in hopes that she would get some more shots. With all due respect for Canada, which is a good team, we were thinking about extra time and that 30 minutes. We got 30 minutes out of Tash so I thought that was good timing.”

The U.S. could have managed the waning minutes better. Instead of settling for possession and killing time, they pressed for a third goal, which made the last few minutes a bit nerve wracking for the fans.

The match marked an outstanding effort by U.S. midfielder Shannon Boxx, who was justly named Sierra Mist Player of the Match. Boxx also happened to be celebrating her 100th cap. Lori Chalupny was dangerous and never gave up on any ball despite taking quite a beating from Kara Lang and company. Christie Rampone and Kate Markgraf held the U.S. backline together well to contain Canada. Really, the match was a great team effort.

The U.S. enters their semi-final with Japan spreading the goals around. Angela Hucles is the leading scorer with two.

“The cool thing about this Olympics so far is that we’ve had so many different goal scorers,” said Heather O’Reilly after the match. “I think that is what’s making us special right now. We’ve had six different goal scorers for seven goals, so that’s a pretty cool stat and that’s what’s making us so unpredictable.”

The U.S. has managed this tournament well, getting better every match, a trend they hope continues through to the gold medal.

* Photo of U.S. goal scorer, Angela Hucles, by Brad Smith/isiphotos.com

Fourteen and a half hours to kick off and counting. I’ve seen the U.S. suit up against Canada more times than I can count, but I can’t remember when I’ve approached a U.S./Canada match with such anticipation. I can’t wait until the alarm rings at 5:45 am tomorrow and that is saying a lot for this non-morning person, especially in light of how this tournament started out for the Americans.

Much has been made in the press about the close contests that Canada has had with the U.S. in recent years, especially in significant or non-friendly matches. The U.S. barely eked out a 2-1 win in the 2006 CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup, which was the qualifying tournament for the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup. However, both teams had already qualified for the World Cup so the significance of that match is debatable. It was the same thing with the 2008 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament. It was decided in favor of the U.S. on penalty kicks, but both teams had already punched their tickets to Beijing.

Mixed in with the tight matches are some thrashings courtesy of the U.S., including 6-0 and 4-0 results this year.

The mixed bag of results makes it difficult to predict a winner. The Canadians have made it clear that they are not intimidated by their neighbors and feel like it is their time. Meanwhile, the U.S. is showing respect to an opponent that they have only lost to three times and not since 2001.

“They are great athletes and very tough,” said U.S. midfielder, Heather O’Reilly. “They are going to be one of the most aggressive and toughest teams in the tournament so that’s something that we need to match or beat.”

Maybe Canada is due and can capitalize on a depleted U.S. squad. However, the U.S. has never finished out of the medals at an Olympics or World Cup and they seem to be on upward swing after a disastrous start. And, if moving onto the medal round isn’t enough motivation for the U.S., Team Canada has been talking enough smack to provide some extra incentive for the U.S. to come out guns blazing.

The pit that settled in my stomach after Norway's goal in the second minute of Wednesday's clash dissipated in the opening moments of the USWNT's contest with Japan this morning. The U.S. came out fired up, yet composed, pinging the ball around the field nicely and putting Japan immediately on their heels. This was a team I recognized, unlike the one that took the field on Wednesday.

The midfield looked much stronger today and the team did a good job of getting the ball out wide to Heather O'Reilly and Lindsay Tarpley. It was another strong outing for O'Reilly, who was singled out for kudos, along with first time Olympic starter Amy Rodriguez, by coach Pia Sundhage.

"I am very happy about our performance today against a very technical, talented Japan team," said Sundhage. "Besides a great goal by Carli Lloyd, I am very happy about our tactics with a fast player up top, Amy Rodriguez, and the way Heather O'Reilly played on the right side. But the bottom line is that the team that won today."

Rodriguez will need to do a better job of finishing her chances going forward, but her combination of speed and savvy made for an overall impressive performance up top and I expect we will see more of her as a starter.

The match's only goal was a nice team effort. Tarpley won the ball and played Stephanie Lopez in. Lopez did well to run the ball down at the end line and get the cross off. For a split second it appeared that her effort was wasted as the ball sailed just over the head of Rodriguez. It skipped to the top of the box where Carli Lloyd cracked her half volley into the back of the net.

“It happened so quickly. It kind of came off of a cross, " said Lloyd. "Amy Rodriguez tried to go for it and it came over her head and my eyes lit up. I was at the top of the box and just made sure I hit a nice smooth stroke.”

The team defended well and Hope Solo came up with a couple of big saves to preserve the 1-0 result. The backline was active on offense as well. Christie Rampone had a chance early, Heather Mitts had two, and of course, Lopez notched the assist on Lloyd's goal.

It wasn't a perfect outing. There were too many long balls sent directly to Japan, Lopez and Mitts being early perpetrators. And, the U.S. should have finished more of the sweet chances they created. Still, it was a night and day performance from the Norway disaster and a good first step towards peaking during the knock out round.

If I were cutting the highlight video of this match besides the obvious goal, these are some moments I would be sure to include:

• Kate Markgraf pulling off a bicycle kick in an attempt to keep the ball in play on our attacking end.
• Hope Solo tipping Homare Sawa's shot just over the net for an awesome save.
• Heather Mitts' almost goal, well, both of them.
• In about the 80th minute, O'Reilly made a nice run, played a beautiful ball through to Rodriguez who shook off her defender. The shot was wide, but still the sequence is definitely highlight worthy.
• Christie Rampone could have her own highlight reel as she put on a master class in defending in the last 15 minutes of the match - snuffing out attacks, defending corners and generally making good decisions on when to possess and when to just clear it.

In closing I will say after shuffling through the match again to dig out some of my match highlights I'm even more impressed with Rodriguez than I was at first glance.

If the volume level coming from the team bus during my phone interview with Amy Rodriguez very early this morning is any indication, the U.S. Women's National Team has put their loss to Norway behind them. I heard singing, laughing, screaming, all of which sounded incredibly upbeat. Unfortunately, it was so noisy I've had difficulty transcribing my interview with Rodriguez off my recorder. So, here are some very brief highlights from our conversation:

This is Rodriguez's second trip to China. Her first was for the Four Nations Tournament early this year where she scored her first goal. She is hoping that means China is lucky for her. A theory she hopes to test beginning tomorrow against Japan.

She was excited to enter the Norway match and earn her first Olympic cap in spite of the pressure that comes with a two-goal deficit.

"Unfortunately it didn’t turn out how we would have liked but I was happy to be able to get out there and play," she said.

Rodriguez feels like the team has moved on from the loss and is ready for redemption against Japan. She couldn't offer any hints as to any changes we might see in the match tomorrow, as the team hadn't had their pre-match meeting yet, but felt confident they were ready.

"We’re going to come out on fire," she said. "I have a lot of faith in my team and myself and I think we are going to be able to pull through."

The team has been sticking pretty close to the hotel since the games began just relaxing and focusing on the job ahead of them.

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.