Final Day in Europe!!

Today was a very full day.

Got up for an early breakfast then headed out to jump on a water taxi and tour through the canals of Copenhagen. We saw incredible sights - everything from historic buildings to contemporary scandinavian architecture. After the tour, went to the Palace and watched the changing of the guards, pretty incredible. The girls had fun taking pictures. On the way to the Palace we encountered a Zumba class being offered along the canal. We were invited to join so 17 girls and a couple brave (ready crazy) parents and coach danced along. SOOOO much fun!!

After the palace we had another canal tour and oohed and aahed at this beautiful city.

We had lunch, icecream (again) then went shopping on Stroget, a famous shopping area in Copenhagen.

After shopping a large group went to Tivoli GArdens for rides, enjoying the botanicals, and beer (moms and dads). A nice walk home to the hotel capped off the evening and here we sit blogging, packing and trying to figure out how to get our clothes and purchases to lose weight to meet the 50 pound limit!!!

We'll leave early tomorrow morning and arrive in time for commute traffic!
Thanks again for supporting the girls on this incredible journey!!!!

Emily reflecting on the Championship!

Finally the victory is ours. We have been waiting for this day the whole tournament where we would stand up on that stage and hold the trophy high with triumph. Nothing compares to this feeling. The feeling that we are the best, that we are excellent. The feeling that we have represented the United States of America well both on and off the field. We are now riding in the bus on our way to Copenhagen with smiles on our faces. As I sit here with my thoughts, I think about the days to come and although there are few, we still look forward to them as if we have months left.

Thoughts from Kristen Chan

Denmark has really been amazing. The host families in Kolding made me feel at home. Regan and I lived on a farm for a few days, and we got to drive tractors. I think I ate more bread than ever before. I got to visit a beautiful castle, and even tried on dresses. Denmark is just so beautiful, and this was such a great experience. After our victory at the Football Festival, we are off to Copenhagen. And soon after, we will head home. I’m kind of sad, but I will remember this trip forever! 

The morning of the final day at the Danish Football Festival.
Half the team is sick, all the team is tired...
They were up late last night and had to get up to be at the field at 7:30 fed and ready to play.
Their nerves were at their highest as they knew they were facing a hungry team from Hungary who were all 100% focused on soccer and the win.

With 4 wins we were going into the game in first place. Hungary had one loss so we needed to either win or tie to take the championship. It was nervewracking on the sidelines as the game started pretty rough with the girls looking a bit flatfooted; Hungary was able to take an early lead. At 1/2 time, Pedro gave the girls a pretty strong talking too - pretty sure he could be heard throughout Denmark... perhaps you heard him too?

The girls came out in the 2nd half ready to fight. It was a battle playing a team that played well and VERY agressively. The Lamo girls were able to hold Hungary to a tie ultimately clinching the Championship.

SO, We celebrated at a ceremony with gold medals and a VERY LARGE trophy that will require an extra ticket in first class to get home (we're hoping we can fit Annie in the cup so we can avoid extra charges!).

After the Awards Ceremony we quickly packed, cleaned, showered (thank goodness! ) then took a 4 hour bus journey to Copenhagen for our last days.

It began raining the minute we boarded the bus and stopped just as we arrived in Copenhagen.
Last night we enjoyed a celebratory dinner for 30 at The First Lady restaurant - to our surprise, they charged $2/glass of tap water...


Was hoping to add some photos but having some connection issues. Will send out a few when were' back stateside...

Rachels Blog

Thoughts from Rachel from earlier in the week. 

This past week in Denmark has been a once in a life time experience for my teammates and I. Kicking off the week with a stay at a host family’s house, Jordan and I had an amazing time. The family we stayed with was so inviting and they made sure we felt completely at home. A delicious breakfast was always waiting for us in the morning; and I was extremely grateful for not only that, but everything else this amazing family did for us. Unfortunately we had to leave on Tuesday from the house, but I had no idea what was to come regarding the rest of the Denmark part of the trip. 

The past couple of days in Aarhus have been really great. From where we left off...

On Wednesday 7/26 the girls played their 4th game at the Denmark Football Festival. They played tough against a Swedish team (I think...the languages are starting to blur a bit!)  and were successful winning their game with a score of 3-0.

After the game, some of the team went into town to explore Aarhus, do some shopping, see the city, and get some MORE ice cream (an every day occurence).

Today, 7/27, another great victory... the game was early and their opponents started the day by blasting music outside the girls rooms - very loud... Nonetheless, they were again victorious with a a win at 8-2 - it was important that they score alot to ensure a strong goal differential which could be a consideration in determining the champion of the tournament. They go into tomorrows game in first place, playing the 2nd place team - They have very high hopes of clinching the championship!

After todays game a group headed into charming Den Gamle By or "Old Town" - a part of Aarhus, similar to Colonial Williamsburg - buildings from another era - 1700's and 1800s and people in period costume. Fascinating!!

short but so sweet!

We awoke to a great Breakfast this morning and went off early to our first game against the local Denmark team at 9am.  They were expected to be a very competitive team and the game started off rough but we were successful in the end with a 5-2 win!!  Per the coaches request, the girls were to take it easy between games as more than half of the team is suffering from an interesting head/stomach/nasal cold.

5:30pm game against Norway brought us to another success!  6-2!! go girls!........ Tomorrow we face off with the only other undefeated team in the elite program, another Norway team!

topped off the evening with some lighthearted fun in the courtyard then off to an early slumber

wish us lots of luck!

We miss you all

Football Festival Opening Ceremony

Just a quick update to the evening...

The girls attended the Football Festivals Opening Ceremony and although it was not as big as the Gothia Cup, it was warm and welcoming to all the teams around the globe.  I wanted to share a few photos from the evening!

Lauren, Mali and Jane getting ready to represent the Team

The team at the Ceremonies

Our master of ceremonies

Our girls walking in when announcing USA!

The place went wild!

The girls first to go down to dance after the ceremonies

The boys could not resist

Team photo

First Day in Aarhus

It's early evening here in Denmark and we have safely arrived in Aarhus the Football Festival 2012!!  We were welcomed by Anders who is a local here in Aarhus and he was able to get us registered in our dorms and showed us the grounds.  We've already sat down to a delicious dinner and the girls are now getting ready for a fun filled evening of the Football Festival Opening Ceremonies!  Lamorinda is the only USA team in the tournament and have been asked to say a few words at the opening ceremony about what this tournament means to them.  Mali, Jane and Lauren have volunteered to represent Lamorinda and the USA!

Streets of Kolding

Cheese Truck

The queens boat in Kolding

Our girls are famous!

The Dorms

We are staying at a Sports University where Denmark Athletes ages 16 and up, come to study their sport and become more proficient at the game.  I was able to get some photos of Kolding on our last walk around downtown and a couple fun one's of when we arrived.  While on the tour, the girls were interviewed by the local news station and will be part of the introduction to the Football Festival this evening!

here is the link to the Football Festival Activities
http://www.football-festival.com/

Adventures of Kolding

After the adventures of the wonderful family brunch yesterday morning, the girls broke up into groups with their host families and went on wonderful adventures all over the city.  Some of the girls visited what was once the Queen of Denmark's castle while others visited the oldest town in Denmark for a tour of the city and a ghost tour after the dinner festivities!  We heard Regan and Kristen went back with their host family and drove a tractor on the family farm while Emily and Courtney sailed the sea only to embark on an island and roast hot dogs for a fun lunch.  While each family did something different, each was fed a healthy Danish meal and always finished up with ICE, or as we call it in America, ice cream.  The girls insist the ice cream is better here in Denmark.

Today we were off to the West coast to visit a beach.  Although it was windy, some of the girls went for a swim and had a nice picnic lunch packed by their families.  Once we were through playing at the beach, both the Danish Team and Lamorinda packed up for the coastal town and shopped for lots of Danish goodies and more ICE!

We arrived at the sports facility in Kolding at 5pm where our wonderful hosts treated the girls to a friendly game of soccer and a wonderful bbq of ribs and sausage!  The facilities were spectacular!  perfectly groomed fields, game room with ping pong as well as a fully equipt kitchen with candy beer and sodas for all!  They even washed the girls uniforms after the game!

We are all back to our perspective homes heading to bed and wishing our friends and families a good day and good night.

Love to you all! 

We say goodbye to Sweden and Hello to Denmark!

Hi there family and friends,

German boys at the Ferry Terminal

Exploring the Ferry

Goodbye Sweden

Keeping busy on the Ferry, go Carly

Planning our next move on board

Brunch with the Kolding Families

 After enjoying our last day in Gothenberg and a long journey across the sea, we have finally settled into Kolding Denmark!  We boarded the express ferry Sweden thinking it would be much like those that we take across the bay to San Francisco but what we found was a massive ship, much like a cruise ship.  In addition to slot machines, there was a wonderful buffet, a dog lounge, disco, shopping center and a massive game room containing pool, ping pong and giant chess boards.  The girls filled their time easily and the 3 hour ride went by very quickly.

We arrived in Denmark and caught a 3 hour charter bus ride to Kolding, only to arrive at 1:30 am.  The same Kolding families that our Lamorinda families hosted last summer were standing outside waving American flags and holding signs of the girls names so they knew which family they would be staying with.  In bed by 2:30am and up again at 9:30am, the families met up to a wonderful family brunch at Sten and his wife's home (Director of the Kolding Q club).  His home was beautiful and the families are so warm and welcoming.  The girls were thrilled to learn that pastries with butter, cheese and chocolate bars is a local favorite for breakfast in Kolding!