2015 FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP PLAYER QUOTE SHEET
Portland Thorns FC goalkeeper Nadine Angerer:
On being back…
“[It feels] very good of course. I was away for a couple of weeks and when I came back it felt like being home again.”
On playing against Thorns players and getting back to being a team…
“It’s a funny situation of course but I think of course I was sad that we lost against America, of course, but in another way I was happy that neither one of my teammates scored on me, Alex or Tobin.:
On what she said to the Thorns players during the World Cup game against the U.S…
“During the game I had no time to talk to them but of course after the game I congratulated both of them and all the other players I know from the U.S. team. While I think they earned the win against us and I’m glad if we didn’t win the World Cup, that U.S. won the World Cup. Meanwhile it’s my second home so it’s good to be here.”
On the World Cup viewership levels…
“It was great through the whole tournament. It was great and I think the audience was good, especially when we played against the U.S. I think there were 55,000 people. It was very loud and a good atmosphere in the stadium. I think the whole World Cup was very well organized and everything was good.”
On if she felt support from Portland and the U.S….
“Absolutely, I could feel it. I met so many fans in Montreal where we played, U.S. fans, that said ‘we’re for the U.S. but we also want you to win and we are coming from Portland’ so I could feel the support absolutely.”
On if she spoke to her European teammates about playing in the NWSL…
“Of course. There were a lot of my teammates who were asking about the league, especially about Portland. I just tell them that I accept that they’re coming to Portland if they come to the U.S.”
On growing during World Cup and bringing that back to the Thorns…
“I don’t know I just tried to do my best. While it was a very high level I think there were some very fast games, very intense games so of course now I’m very good shape. I’m very well prepared and now I want to bring it into Thorns games.”
On her if she’ll play at Rio even after announcing her retirement…
“No. It was so cute because my teammates and coaches tried to persuade me to continue one more year but I think that’s the best feeling you can have that people want you to continue but I made a decision and for me this is a 100% decision. I’m glad I have three more months here in Portland and I want to say goodbye with a [NWSL] title of course.”
On how exciting it is to be back in Portland…
“It feels like I’m back at the World Cup. So much of the fan base is incredible. Wednesday’s game against Seattle is such an important game for the fans and for us as a club. We need the three points.”
On if practice schedule has changed with all the World Cup players…
“Yes, yesterday we were all together for the first time. Things were very high intense in practice because everyone wants to play and wants to perform well. I think everyone is very motivated.”
On how the success of the World Cup will impact women’s soccer globally…
“I think if you have such a big tournament with high TV ratings it’s spread out in the whole world and other countries can see what’s possible not only for women’s soccer but for other women’s sports.”
On if she was in contact with the Thorns while at the World Cup…
“Absolutely, I followed all the matches and was always in contact with [Thorns FC head coach] Paul [Riley]. I think the team played well we just didn’t score. I think there is so much potential. There are nine games left so 27 points still available and I think everything is possible especially with this team. I think we can win the [NWSL] title this year.”
Portland Thorns FC forward Christine Sinclair:
On if playing the World Cup in her home country exceeded her expectations…
“Absolutely. You have these ideas of what it’s going to be like but that first game against China I’ve never experienced anything quite like that. Then getting the chance to play a couple games in my hometown is something I’ll never forget.”
On hearing the crowd cheer for the Canadian National team…
“It’s a once in a lifetime chance to get to play a home World Cup and to have 50,000 fans cheering for you and rooting for your team. You know, we did alright and the crowd support was incredible and those are definely some of the highlights of the tournament for us.”
On what experiences she’ll take from the World Cup and apply to the Thorns…
“I think a bunch of us just came back from the World Cup. We were playing with and against the best players in the world at the biggest competition there is for our sport. So just bringing that leadership and confidence to this team and help turn around the season for the Thorns. Hopefully we can make a difference.”
On the experience playing against Thorns teammates at the World Cup…
“I mean obviously Jodie kind of killed us so that was bad, so thanks Jodes [laugh]. But no, you’re at the World Cup and you’re competing with your friends and against your friends. Obviously aside for the time you’re playing against each other you’re still friends messing people and wishing each other good luck.”
On if they’re competitive against each other…
“I think we’re pretty competitive no matter what. I think whether we know each other or not we’re playing in the biggest tournament of your career then you’re going to be competitive, friends or not.”
On if she was able to watch the World Cup final…
“Ya, I didn’t really watch the final. It still hurt. It still does. Obviously I’m proud and happy for the Thorns players that we’re on the U.S. team but you dream of being in that game so no I wasn’t able to watch that one.”
On how she will mentally transition from the World Cup back to the Thorns…
“I think it’s easy. Paul gave a few of us a little bit of time off and by the time our time off was done I was bored and ready to get back playing and wanting to compete in front of another group of amazing fans. This is our job. This is what we live for. I’m proud to be a Thorn and I want to do everything I can from here on out to help this team win.”
On if the World Cup will help give more credit to the Women’s game…
“I hope so. With the World Cup having expanded the numbers of teams a lot of people were a little concerned about that but every single team held their own. It was good to see some of the newcomers, in terms of the World stage, do well. It was great to see England be successful. Australia sort of came out of nowhere there. It’s only going to help the game globally and hopefully the World Cup was a good start.”
On if playing on a world stage motivates her more to win an NWSL Championship for the Thorns…
“I mean absolutely. You get those competitive juices flowing and no matter what team you’re playing for you want to win. Like I said, I’m so proud to be part of this organization and we need this team to be successful. The group of us that are newcomers coming in for the rest of the season, we’re going to do everything we can.”
Portland Thorns FC midfielder Tobin Heath:
On if she’s sick of talking to the press about the championship
“Ya, I guess so but I think it’s a good problem to have.”
On what the experience has been like…
“It’s been a whirlwind these last 1-2 weeks. It’s been pretty crazy traveling about just enjoying it and getting many congratulations from different places but it’s been fantastic. I think the response ever since we’ve gotten back has been huge. We really didn’t know the magnitude of it until we came back to the U.S.”
On what it meant to score a goal in the World Cup final…
“It was awesome. I think it kind of just fell right for me, in that way. I didn’t have to do much but just to score in a final was pretty special. I think it kind of took all the wind out of the sails that Japan had and I think it was that solid, ‘we’re going to win this game’.
On if there were expectations to jump up that much in the final…
“It’s funny because after the Germany game that’s when I was like, ‘we’re going to win this thing’ and I think it’s a feeling that we’ve had before but I think that we realized it’s not going to be given to us. We have to take it. Obviously Carli Lloyd was fantastic with those three goals. She basically won us the game in the first 15 minutes. In that way it was kind of a bizarre game because I’ve never been a part of that but we were all kind of looking around at each other saying, ‘just stay focused this is a long game. Obviously it went in a spell because Japan came back and they scored two goals so in that way I think not only was it destiny to win that game but I think we earned it.”
On if she’s ever been in a game like that…
“No. I can’t remember especially that big of a game in that way. So in a way it was kind of a weird final but it’s a lot better than going into an overtime being unsure of things.”
On if she’ll ever be a part of a group that special…
“I think that’s a good way of putting it, that we were hungry. I think our desire to win was the greatest characteristic we had. I don’t think necessarily that we were ever satisfied with our overall performance but I think the desire to win was just so great that we were able to accomplish what we did.”
On if it’s hard to get back into soccer mode…
“I don’t think it’s really the soccer motivation that’s hard I think it’s when you come from caring about something so deeply to then having to regroup and do the exact same thing again with another group. I think that’s the hardest thing because obviously I care tremendously about the group here, the team here and the success so I’m going to have to find a way to pull that out of me.”
On if it was great to see other teams do well in the World Cup for the women’s game…
“It’s fantastic. We’re seeing this evolution of women’s soccer that’s progressing so quickly and for the U.S. to be able to stay on the forefront of that is quite an achievement. I think that this tournament showed there’s not a huge discrepancy from the first team and the last so I think in that way Women’s soccer is at a really good point. I’m really proud of my teammates here and the success they’ve had with their teams. I thought Australia was fantastic throughout the whole tournament. You kind of felt like they were playing so well that it almost had to come to an end when it did. Obviously Jodie Taylor getting the bronze medal was fantastic and the way that she performed was awesome, especially coming off the injury she had. So in that way, ya, Nadine, [Christine Sinclair] and all those girls from Canada, I’m really proud of the Thorns and how they did.”
On if there will be an adjustment period with all the World Cup players after competing against each other…
“No there’s not really an adjustment period. We know each other really well and we have a huge respect for each other in that way. I think we all want what’s best for this club and organization. We need each other to be great and we know that.”
On if there is an advantage coming back after being on the World stage…
“I don’t think there is an advantage. If anything I think it’s a little bit of a disadvantage just because of all the responsibilities we we’ve had following it but also because it’s a long tournament and we’ve had a heck of a travel schedule. We went coast to coast in Canada and it’s long and tiresome so if anything I think with the length we went in the tournament it’s probably a disadvantage but the experience you can always bring to the football field so in that way it’s good
On if managing her rest will be key in the coming weeks…
“I guess. We will see what’s ahead.”
On staying motivated coming back to the Thorns after a long tournament…
“I think we’re going to have to figure that out. I think it’s something that you care about deeply. I feel like all my focus and energy went into the World Cup team and now coming to Portland I have to be able to bring that same thing, just being able to find that in myself. I know that my teammates will help me out. We’re extremely deep and we’ve got awesome players here so in that way I think I’m going to have to find that motivation and energy from the people around me.”
On her expectations for the game against Seattle and the fan support…
“The fans never disappoint here. It’s a very special place to play, we all know that. In that way I think we’ll have a really awesome home coming and the fact that it’s against Seattle who are our biggest rivals and who are doing pretty well right now, I think will be great for us. Hopefully we can get some momentum going in the season and just get off to a good feeling. We have Seattle back to back which is huge and that’s quite the test coming back. I think we’re up to it and I think we’re going to see fans at a whole other level which is crazy because every time they bring it.”
