Fresh from her first start in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup and a Group D topping win over Nigeria, U.S. Women’s National Team and Thorns FC midfielder Tobin Heath checked in with PortlandThornsFC.com just before the team took off for Edmonton and their game next Monday against Colombia (5pm PT, FOX Sports 1).
Heath talked about the progression from the second group stage game against Sweden and then Nigeria, getting to play, and the amazing U.S.—and Thorns FC—support she witnessed in Vancouver, B.C.
Brian Costello:
First off: Congratulations. You won the Group of Death, which was no small feat. How are you feeling at this point?
Tobin Heath:
“It’s great. Everybody’s, I think, really feels accomplished to finish top of this group that is really, really talented. And I think it’s great preparation, obviously, going into these games now that are super-important. And we’ve learned a lot. I think we’ve grown a lot and I think our best football is still in front of us.”
BC:
The USWNT played two games since we last talked. The first was obviously Sweden, which was against a former U.S. coach who you know really well in Pia Sundhage. With a 0-0 result, that didn’t necessarily end the way everybody wanted but you still come out with a point and sets you up well for the next game against Nigeria, which was also not an easy game. But excitingly for you, I would imagine, you get to start. Alex Morgan gets to start as well. The team gets the 1-0 win. What do you think was the differences between the Sweden game and the game yesterday against Nigeria?
TH:
“It’s difficult to really explain the differences, because Sweden and Nigeria are both two completely different teams. I think our game against Sweden it was a very tight matchup tactically. We both were playing very similarly, so I think it was a very combative match and I think both sides showed really great organization and it was hard to break down that. But obviously coming away with that point was huge for us, just to keep the momentum in the group and going into the Nigeria game it was very clear what we needed to do, and I thought we have a very mature performance. And obviously came away being on top of the group.”
BC:
With you starting, what was the game plan and what did Jill Ellis really want to see out of you? Because it was a different lineup obviously, and, as you say, tactically different than Sweden, but what was the aim going in at the beginning with Nigeria, and how do you feel it came went?
TH:
“We knew that Nigeria was going to come at us with everything they had because they were fighting for their lives. So in that way we knew that they were going to come at us fast and strong, and they’re a very good team in general. You saw with their two games before, they’re just really, really a hard team to play against because they’re really unpredictable and their movement is kind of unorthodox in many ways. Luckily we had those two [group stage] games that we had watched and seen of them before, so we had that information to take in of how they were going to play. Obviously for us, we wanted to control the match and kind of knock that wind out of their sails and [be aggressive], and we knew set pieces was one of their weaknesses. So we knew that was an area that we could exploit, and that’s exactly what we did.”
- WORLD CUP: Paul Riley previews the knockout stage
BC:
You talk about watching those games. I guess from a fan perspective, one of the exciting things at the group stage is there’s so many games over a short period of time, multiple games a day. Do you get to watch? I know you’re watching the games to obviously to study your opponents, but do you also watch the games as a fan? Do you get into this part of the tournament in that way at all, or is it still very much business-mode and focused on your task?
TH:
“Absolutely. I’m a huge fan, and we all watch as many games as you can. We’re always talking about it. I’m a huge fan the game and tournament, and it’s really so exciting to see the results and to watch the performances. And I think I need get some time yet to try to check out the other games for the other teams.”
BC:
I saw a lot of posts on Twitter, on Instagram, from a lot of the players about Vancouver both as a city – which I’ve been to and it’s a fantastic city – but also about the huge support there from the Americans coming up to watch the game. What can you say about that environment and that city?
TH:
“It’s the best. The city, it’s beautiful. Obviously, it’s super-close to the northwest of the U.S. so I think the majority of our fans from there came up and gave their support. It isn’t like this everywhere throughout the tournament. I think we’re fortunate because this is as close to home as it gets for us. That helps out incredibly.”
BC:
I know there were some Thorns scarves in the audience that you could see during the broadcast. Did you see any Thorns fans out there that day?
TH:
“Yeah, I saw a bunch of Thorns jerseys, which was pretty sweet, and to be expected because Thorns fans are the best in the world.”
