Arias Ready For World Cup Challenge
7/1/2011 8:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
July 1, 2011
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COLLEGE PARK, MD. - When former University of Maryland women's soccer player Nataly Arias earned a spot on the Colombian National Team she knew she would take the pitch against the US National Team in the group stage of the 2011 Women's World Cup.
"Growing up a US National Team fan, and having made the National Pool as a youth player, it is thrilling to have the USA in our group," said Arias. "In order to be the best, you have to play and beat the best; therefore, we welcome the challenge and look forward to playing the USA and are preparing for that tough task ahead.
Most of all, for me, it will be an honor to represent Colombia and be on the same field as the USA - one of the best women's team in the world. As many people have stated, we are in 'the group of death' and we believe that to be true as well. Needless to say, our group is extremely strong boasting the #1, #4, and #6 ranked teams in the world respectively. Colombian players have accepted the challenge and are very excited to compete in such a strong group. We will approach every game as a final, and I believe that philosophy will help us be successful. We are there to compete, and we will do so in every game."
Arias and the Colombians will face the US team on Saturday, July 2, at noon at Sinsheim, Germany. The match will be televised live on ESPN and streamed live on the internet on ESPN3.com.
Arias played all 90 minutes in Colombia's opening 1-0 loss to Sweden on June 26. Colombia will finish group stage play on July 7 vs. North Korea at 2:45 p.m. EDT in Bochum, Germany.
