Soccer Watch

One weekend into the FIFA Women's World Cup ...

The U.S. team took care of business on Sunday in their opening game, a comprehensive 3-1 win over a very good Swedish side -- lots of scoring chances, entertaining, physical play, and three sparkling assists from Mia Hamm. The bad news: Veteran Brandi Chastain, perhaps the best defender in the world, went out with a broken foot that may sideline her for the rest of the tourney, and the U.S. promptly surrendered their first goal in more than 61/2 games. Smothering team D will see them through the rest of this group play, but they may need her leadership and physical presence against the strikers waiting in the wings for the knockout rounds.

Looking ahead: Sweden was probably the Americans' biggest challenge of the first round; barring a meltdown, the U.S. will win Group A, and likely face the survivor of France-Brazil in next Wednesday's quarterfinal.

Around the groups: Not a single upset (or draw) in the opening weekend; all second games are this Wednesday and Thursday, with the third and final games of the group-play round robin coming up Saturday and Sunday. Here are the opening results:

GROUP A

USA 3, Sweden 1

N. Korea 3, Nigeria 0

GROUP B

Norway 2, France 0

Brazil 3, S. Korea 0

GROUP C

Germany 4, Canada 1

Japan 6, Argentina 0

GROUP D

China 1, Ghana 0

Russia 2, Australia 1

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On the Tube

Apologies for last week's omission of Galavision (TW76) and TeleFutura (TW75, broadcast 51), and thanks to reader Ray Garcia for bringing it to my attention. Indeed, the Spanish-language nets are airing every game of the tourney, unlike ABC/ESPN, which has 18 of the 32. So, here's the new and improved schedule:

Thu., Sept. 25

Sweden vs. N. Korea 3:30pm (E2, G)

USA vs. Nigeria 6:25pm (E2, G)

China vs. Australia 9pm (E2), 11pm* (G)

Ghana vs. Russia 1am* (G)

Sat., Sept. 27

S. Korea vs. Norway 11:30am (G)

France vs. Brazil 11:30am (TF)

Canada vs. Japan 2:15pm (G)

Argentina vs. Germany 2:15pm (E2, TF)

Sun., Sept. 28

Sweden vs. Nigeria Noon (E, TF)

N. Korea vs. USA 2:30pm (ABC, TF)

Ghana vs. Australia 7pm (G)

Russia vs. China 9:45pm (E2, G)

Wed., Oct. 1

Quarterfinal B1 vs. A2 3:30pm (E2, G)

Quarterfinal A1 vs. B2 6:25pm (E2, TF)

Thu., Oct. 2

Quarterfinal C1 vs. D2 6:25pm (E2, TF)

Quarterfinal D1 vs. C2 9:25pm (E2, TF)

Sun., Oct. 5

Semifinal Match 6:30pm (E2, TF)

Semifinal Match 9:25pm (E2, TF)

Sat., Oct. 11

Third Place Match 2pm (E2, TF)

Sun., Oct. 12

Final Match 11:30am (ABC, TF)

E: ESPN, E2: ESPN2, G: Galavision, TF: TeleFutura, *: tape