No Olympics for Abby Wambach

Abby Wambach is the U.S. Women's National Soccer team's leading scorer. On July 16, 2008, The U.S. Women's National team defeated long time rival Brazil in front of a sell-out crowd. The match was a warm-up friendly. Wambach broke her leg in the 31^st minute of the match after a nasty collision with Andreia Rosa, a Brazilian defender. The two players collided after both going for the ball. Rosa continued on with the play while Wambach immediately called for medical help over at the sidelines. Play stopped for 5 minutes as they attended to Wambach and placed an aircast over her ankle and then took her away on a stretcher. The entire crowd was silenced! Everyone could feel the pain the U.S. team was feeling as Wambach cried for help.

Wambach was taken to the hospital where they confirmed a fracture of her fibula and tibia. She will have to have immediate surgery to place a titanium rod in her leg. It is reported that she will be out for 12 weeks. This means, no 2008 Olympics for Abby Wambach. Wambach was hoping to score her 100^th goal sometime before or during the Olympics. She would have become the 9^th female player to reach 100 goals, the fifth American. She is a leader and the heart of the U.S. National team. Many players feel that she needs to be on the field. Her presence is known and she produces. Wambach was looking to play a huge role in this year's Olmypics.

Many feel that was it for the U.S. team for the Olympics. Wambach plays a huge role for this team and we will definitely be feeling the loss of not having her on the field. In turn, this may cause the U.S. team to go out with more of a reason to win. I think they may be able to pull it off.