æIf they offer me the commissionerÆs position, IÆll take itÆ
In his job as acting WUSA commissioner, Tony DiCicco attended the Sydney Olympics to observe future WUSA players. The former U.S. national team coach may return to coaching, in the new womenÆs league slated to start in April, if he doesnÆt get the permanent commissionerÆs job.
SOCCER AMERICA: What were your impressions of the Olympics?
TONY DICICCO: The soccer competition was very balanced. Having the [U.S.] men do so well was a great bonus. They played some great soccer. Everything went well except ù the [U.S. womenÆs] players should be proud of what they accomplished, but they wanted the gold medal.
SA: What did you think of the U.S. womenÆs performance?
TD: IÆm always concerned when you see in the first game the U.S. was outstanding, the second game they were good, the third and fourth games they were down. The last game, they played well in the first half. ItÆs like Brazil in æ98. It was a sign of a team thatÆs over their peak based on their travel schedule for the year.
SA: Was the United States the best team in the tournament?
TD: I think they were clearly the best team in the tournament. April Heinrichs did a great job preparing the team, with a very challenging schedule. I donÆt think China was the same team as last year. I donÆt think Brazil was the same team. Nigeria was a bit better. Norway was the same, tactically. Germany was a bit better.
SA: Before the Olympics, you predicted this would be Mia HammÆs best performance in a world championship. Was it?
TD: I think she had a very good final. She got the winner in the semifinal. I know that Mia wasnÆt totally satisfied, but I think she had a very good tournament. The only thing she would rather have done was score a goal in the final ù and almost did it. It took a great save from [Norway goalkeeper Bente] Nordby to deny her. She got two assists and made the first goal. You or I couldÆve scored that.
SA: What impressed you about Nigeria and Germany?
TD: Germany had very good run. They looked sharp, beat Brazil twice. I thought they were the next best team in the tournament, thought they would be in the final. They outplayed Norway and didnÆt score and gave up the own goal.
A key player for Norway this year was Nordby. When they won [the World Cup] in æ95, she was very good, and this time when they won she was very good.
æGermany was the best they have ever beenÆ
SA: Why was Germany better at the Olympics than at World Cup æ99?
TD: The Germans play their last club game at the end of May. Traditionally, they never got their national teams together in early June. Last summer, they were playing in a tournament, the World Cup, June 19 or 20. That was not a really long preparation time. This year was different. They finished their season and had the rest of their summer to prepare for the Olympics.
They were the best they have ever been. They were still a very good team last year, a better team this year. Norway survived them.
SA: And Nigeria?
TD: Mercy [Akide] continues to impress me. She has tremendous athleticism. Florence [Omagbemi] is a very good player. I talked to her coach here at Milligan College. He feels sheÆs very tactical, and thatÆs not as easy to see unless you work with her day in and day out.
Patience Avre and others, theyÆre a team once they start now to get more organized. It happened the last two Olympics in the menÆs side, with Nigeria in æ96, Cameroon in 2000. The African teams will continue to evolve on the womenÆs side and become strong teams.
SA: Who was the best player in the Olympics?
TD: Birgit Prinz for Germany had a great start. She was very good in the bronze-medal game also. [Tiffeny] Milbrett also has to be in there. I would rate [Julie] Foudy as high as any midfielder in the tournament. And then I think Nordby came up with some great saves in the final. She made some excellent saves to get by China, made some excellent saves to get by Germany and made some excellent saves when they won the gold medal.
I only saw China the one game against the USA. Obviously, Sun Wen is still one of the best out there.
æThey should just use the best refereesÆ
SA: What did you think of the refereeing in the Olympics?
TD: Good question. I was a little disappointed with [Sonia] Denoncourt in the last game. I thought she let [NorwayÆs Gro] Espeseth get too violent pushing the players. I think she overall did a good job. I thought that Espeseth played a very good game, and it was a very good move for their coach to put her in the middle of the defense. One of my criticisms of him was to play her at right back all the time.
She was coming from behind, tackling very fiercely from behind, got a yellow card but didnÆt stop. Her and [Cindy] Parlow went after it late in game. It was borderline violent.
The Brazil game was also pretty physical. But when youÆre in the Olympics or the World Cup, the games are going to be tough.
SA: Should Denoncourt have called the Norway goal back for an intentional handball?
TD: I havenÆt seen [any replays]. I was there live. I thought it was a handball when I saw it. They didnÆt show it at the stadium. But like the goal we scored against Brazil, there probably shouldÆve been a foul against Milbrett, allowing Hamm to score. Would I have liked her to call it? Sure, but you canÆt put it down to the refereeing.
SA: Should World Cups and Olympics just use the best referees, even if they are men?
TD: Of course. They should just use the best referees. But having said that, I think the level of the womenÆs officials is getting better and better. Last year, I was very concerned with [all womenÆs officials in the WomenÆs World Cup]. It was better than I expected. It was about what I expected this time.
SA: Will men, women or a combination of both referee in the WUSA?
TD: WeÆre going to meet with [U.S. Soccer director of membership services] Julie Ilacqua and [U.S. Soccer director of officials] Esse Baharmast and talk about it. We want the best officials. We certainly want the best female officials and the best men, I would think. I think it would be both.
SA: WhatÆs your response to some players saying earlier this year that April gives them more freedom than you did?
TD: I think I heard I ômicromanaged.ö IÆm very comfortable with my record. It speaks for itself. IÆm sure April is comfortable with her style.
Some players may want more freedom, and some may not want it. I know that some players werenÆt happy with me and know that some players werenÆt happy with April. IÆm comfortable with my coaching style. The players all knew when I made a mistake I acknowledged it. They knew I invested as much in improving my coaching as they invested in improving their playing. Am I concerned with players not liking my coaching style? I canÆt worry about it.
SA: When you left the U.S. job, you said you wanted to spend more time with your family. Does your current position as the WUSA acting commissioner give you more time to spend with your family?
TD: ThereÆs challenges associated with that. ThereÆs no comparison between the amount of travel with the national team. IÆve done some travel with the WUSA, but really this trip to Australia is the only long trip IÆve been away all year. The national team probably had five of those [this year]. ThereÆs certainly some travel associated with the WUSA. ItÆs something my wife and I are monitoring now.
Having said that, I was hired at some level to be over there and watch teams in the Olympics. I had dinner with Michelle Akers over there. We were sitting there thinking, HereÆs the team and weÆre out here on the outside.
SA: Do you want the permanent commissionerÆs job or do you want to coach in the WUSA?
TD: IÆd love to do both. I canÆt do both, but both are attractive positions. IÆve been serving as commissioner, and IÆve been involved in a lot of things, from combines, to signing players, to preseason, to drafts, to affiliation agreements. IÆm into these many projects. IÆm enjoying them. But no oneÆs out on the field yet. If they offer me the commissionerÆs position, IÆll take it. ThatÆs kind of what IÆve said all along.
SA: Would you want to coach in Boston, since you live in Connecticut?
TD: The teamÆs closest to home have some advantage, because of where we live, about 100 miles from Boston and 100 miles from New York. It makes the most sense for my family. I know Boston is close to naming a coach, and New York is interviewing a bunch of good people, some outstanding people.
by Soccer America associate editor Dean Caparaz