Pia Sundhage didn't care that many of the boys she grew up playing soccer with in Sweden didn't think she belonged out there with them, kicking the ball. She loved the game, and she joined in, proving herself to be incredibly adept.

Now, Sundhage (pronounced Soond-hahg-eh) wades into a similar sort of challenge, becoming the first foreigner to coach the vaunted U.S. women's national team.

It is to the U.S. Soccer Federation's credit that it has swallowed its pride about running ...

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