FIFA All-Stars
The Occasion
My most vivid memory of America has got to be the crowd. It was brilliant. Once the game started you forget about what’s around you, but walking out I thought ‘Oh my god’, am I good enough to play with these players?!.
Charmaine Hooper was class, her and Linda Medalen both stood out. And the American team. They were all superb!! Mia Hamm is incredible yet she didn’t stand out in that game. They actually looked tired whether they had been over-training I didn’t really know. The Swedish goalkeeper was arguably the best keeper in the world at that time and pulled off some fantastic saves.
All of the players were sound though, even considering the language barriers and I though all the decisions the coach from Sweden made were spot on. They had obviously done their homework and knew how we all played. I even got in a lift in the hotel with Kristine Lily and some other USA players and they knew who I was, it was amazing! I think they had just read the information on me in the programme but nevertheless that was a mad moment.
On the pitch we communicated using sign language and I was shouting in English at them ‘man on!’ and stuff, I don’t know if they understood me though!