U.S. head coach April Heinrichs … On China: “China is a team that is remarkably skilled on an individual basis. Collectively, they are well organized defensively, and I’m guessing they may start the same lineup as they did last summer at the Women’s World Cup. And that’s one of their strengths — that they have the same players.” On Chinese star Sun Wen, who played against the USA in the Pacific Cup but missed the match in Germany due to injury: “Without Sun Wen, they tend to play a little bit longer balls, a little more direct. With her, they play more possession more to feet and allow her to be a personality player for them.” U.S. co-captain Julie Foudy … On mixing with the other American athletes prior to departing for Opening Ceremonies: “There is a period when we were all waiting for the buses in the village and all the Americans were walking around in the street. In ’96, it was like ‘Who’s that? Who’s that?” but this year it was like a reunion. We got to know so many more of the athletes after the Olympics, so it was great to see everyone again. The swimmers, the basketball players, the softball players, everyone.” On the cost-benefit of attending the Opening Ceremonies: “Being the United States, we are one of the last to enter the stadium, so we sat there waiting in the SuperDome for three hours. One of the things that we talked about as a team was that if we were going to go, we made an oath that we had to be professional about resting and sitting down. There’s a tendency to want to wander around and meet people, but the team was real good in making sure we were off our feet. It wasn’t so bad at all and I think we gained so much emotionally by being involved. There is such a great sense of camaraderie and that’s what I love about the Olympics. You are walking together and cheering each other on. There’s nothing like it. I’m so glad we went.” On getting a taste of the Olympic atmosphere in Sydney: “Here in Melbourne, we’re not around any other Americans athletes. But in Sydney, everyone was coming up to us and telling us they watched the Norway game and giving us congratulations. It was a great feeling.” On China’s motivation for this match after losing in the ’96 Olympic Final and ’99 Women’s World Cup final: “There’s a lot of motivation for the them for sure. You can see it even more this year after World Cup. They probably had a few lectures on the physical side of the game, which we traditionally have dominated. They are just a different team now, physically. They are scrapping and fighting for balls and playing more of a Norwegian combative style. They will be very motivated, like ourselves, so it will be a great battle.”