CARSON, Calif. - The U.S. women vow they won't treat Saturday's World Cup third-place game as a consolation prize.
They consider it the beginning of their buildup to the next big goal, the 2004 Olympics.
"We have to finish the World Cup, and it is not the game we wanted to be playing in," Kristine Lilly said Thursday of the match against Canada. "But we want to show we are still a great team.
"For what the sport has done for us, and the World Cup is such a great event, you can't disrespect it. We still have a lot to show. I feel we haven't played our best soccer yet. We'll be ready for the game against Canada."
That game comes one day before Germany and Sweden play for the championship. The Germans eliminated the defending champion Americans in the semifinals. Sweden rallied to beat Canada to get to the final, winning its fourth successive match after an opening loss to the United States.
Still, the U.S. women insist they will approach the bronze-medal match the way they would the final. The last time they were in such a position, in the 1995 World Cup, the Americans beat China 2-0 for third place.
Co-captain Julie Foudy called a win Saturday "the first step" toward the Athens Games.
And the defeat to Germany will not be forgotten.
"It is something uniquely motivating when you feel and experience that loss," Foudy said. "You remember it every day in training, and it drives you. You use it every day and it drives you for the next 10 months. There's got to be a positive that comes out of it."
Of the past three World Cups the Americans won in '91 and '99 in addition to third place in '95. After '95 they won the '96 Olympics and the '99 world championship.
The players, most of whom will be on the roster for Athens, have no doubt they will return to the top of the sport sooner rather than later.
"In hindsight, why this team may have faltered I don't know, but the fact is we didn't do it," World Cup rookie Abby Wambach said. "You focus on how we can do it for the next time, and you always still believe you can do it. I believe we can do it.
"You always can find something to tweak in a game that hopefully will prepare you even better for the next event."
As is the U.S. women's style, they forced the issue with an attacking mode throughout the World Cup. Only against Germany could they not convert opportunities into goals.
So the Canadians can expect a full offensive assault from the Americans. There will be no backing down, and there will be no letdown, the U.S. players promise.
That means veterans such as Lilly, Foudy, Mia Hamm and Joy Fawcett figure to be on the field Saturday. For some, perhaps all, it could be their last World Cup appearance.
So Wambach is certain there will be no letdown.
"For our sense of pride, the Canada game is really important for us," she said. "What makes great teams is when you have a sense of failure, how quickly can you return to the top?"
WORLD CUP ALL-STARS: Birgit Prinz, who has a tournament-high seven goals, was one of five Germans selected to the event's all-star team. Prinz was joined by goalkeeper Silke Rottenberg, defender Sandra Minnert and midfielders Bettina Wiegmann and Maren Meinert. American defender Joy Fawcett and midfielder Shannon Boxx also made the team. Sweden had midfielder Malin Mostrom and forward Victoria Svensson, China had Wang Liping and Canada had Charmaine Hooper on the team.
MLS: New England Revolution forward Taylor Twellman has a stress fracture in his left foot and will miss the rest of the season. It was the second serious injury this season for Twellman, who in August suffered a concussion and multiple facial fractures and missed three games.
