Pia Sundhage, head coach of the US women's football team, said?in?Qinhuangdao?on Monday that her team would play differently against different group opponents in the Olympic Games.
"I wouldn't put (which group opponent was) the strongest, I would put differently," she said. "For me it's not stronger or weaker, they are just different."
The only obvious target for the Athens Olympic football champion in this tournament is to defend their title.
"I am very familiar with Norway's style, as I have been Sweden for so long," Pia said, referring to their first opponent Norway. "It is a team that is well organized ... We worked on to deal with their counterattacks."
The team's captain, Christie Rampone, also shrugged off pressure from being a title defender. "I don't think there is any added pressure," she said. "I feel that energy of the team is very, very good right now, and we are looking forward to the first game."
The US is going to play against Norway on Wednesday. They will later face Japan and New Zealand in the group matches.
The Olympic football tournament is scheduled from August6, two days before the official beginning, to August 23.
(Xinhua News Agency August 5, 2008)