SINSHEIM, Germany (AFP) - Plenty of things have gone wrong in Abby Wambach's international career, but a winners medal at the women's World Cup would more than make up for any disappointments.
Twice, the United States' star forward has had to accept finishing third at a World Cup.
And when the US won the gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she was recovering with a broken leg.
Now Wambach hopes to finally win that elusive world title before she ends her career - and her rivals know all about her.
"Abby Wambach is like a baby elephant in the box," Germany goalkeeper Nadine Angerer told SID, an AFP subsidiary.
"Give her some hockey equipment and she could be a ice hockey goalkeeper."
The 157-capped American is set to star in Saturday's Group C match with Colombia and showed her importance to the US team in their first Group C match.
Wambach may not have scored a goal in their 2-0 win over North Korea, but she tirelessly pushed her team forward and set up chance after chance including the opening goal and picked up the player of the match reward.
"She is especially important for our young players," said US coach Pia Sundhage.
Wambach, who has scored 46 of her 118 goals for the US with her head, has high expectations for Germany 2011—especially after past pitfalls.
Three years ago, she broke her leg shortly before the 2008 Olympics and was unable to play as the US took the title in Beijing.
Wambach has taken a valuable lesson from that experience.
"You get a better feeling for the importance of things when you can?t do what you would like to do to," said the 31-year-old New Yorker.
Wambach has proven that she is a leader on the pitch, as well as off it.
After American football icon Mia Hamm criticised the US team and said the German team was better, Wambach lashed out in defence.
"She can have her opinion. But we are strong and will still prove that in this tournament," said Wambach.
Having earned her first cap against the Germans in 2001, Wambach knows beating the tournament hosts will not be easy.
"If we want to beat the Germans, we will need a bit of luck and good organization," said Wambach.
One thing is certain, she definitely doesn?t want leave Germany without a winner's medal.
"Personally I would be very disappointed with a career without a World Cup title," said Wambach.
Twice, the United States' star forward has had to accept finishing third at a World Cup.
And when the US won the gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she was recovering with a broken leg.
Now Wambach hopes to finally win that elusive world title before she ends her career - and her rivals know all about her.
"Abby Wambach is like a baby elephant in the box," Germany goalkeeper Nadine Angerer told SID, an AFP subsidiary.
"Give her some hockey equipment and she could be a ice hockey goalkeeper."
The 157-capped American is set to star in Saturday's Group C match with Colombia and showed her importance to the US team in their first Group C match.
Wambach may not have scored a goal in their 2-0 win over North Korea, but she tirelessly pushed her team forward and set up chance after chance including the opening goal and picked up the player of the match reward.
"She is especially important for our young players," said US coach Pia Sundhage.
Wambach, who has scored 46 of her 118 goals for the US with her head, has high expectations for Germany 2011—especially after past pitfalls.
Three years ago, she broke her leg shortly before the 2008 Olympics and was unable to play as the US took the title in Beijing.
Wambach has taken a valuable lesson from that experience.
"You get a better feeling for the importance of things when you can?t do what you would like to do to," said the 31-year-old New Yorker.
Wambach has proven that she is a leader on the pitch, as well as off it.
After American football icon Mia Hamm criticised the US team and said the German team was better, Wambach lashed out in defence.
"She can have her opinion. But we are strong and will still prove that in this tournament," said Wambach.
Having earned her first cap against the Germans in 2001, Wambach knows beating the tournament hosts will not be easy.
"If we want to beat the Germans, we will need a bit of luck and good organization," said Wambach.
One thing is certain, she definitely doesn?t want leave Germany without a winner's medal.
"Personally I would be very disappointed with a career without a World Cup title," said Wambach.
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