During the World Cup I will be giving away my NIKE National Team game-worn shirts. I will autograph, and authenticate it with game and date, making it truly one of a kind. Don't worry, I promise to wash it before I send it to you!

To win the actual shirt I wear in our opening game against Denmark all you have to do is go to: http://www.aboutsoccer.com/michelle_feedback.htm and ask me a question. This question could be about soccer, my career, or my personal life. The winner will be the person, who in my opinion, submits the best question. I will take into account your age so that everybody has a chance to win.

WE'RE ALMOST THERE!

Kicking off on June 19 and continuing through July 10, we will be competing with 15 other nations in an attempt to the win 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup Championship. The World Cup is held every four years, and an anticipated one billion people worldwide will watch this event, making it the largest ever women's sporting event in history. Phew, one billion people, no pressure!

If you're unable to watch us live, here are our games being televised live this month. Please check your TV listings for broadcast times in your area.

Teams Date, 1999 Kickoff Network

USA v DENMARK Sat., June 19 3:00 p.m. ABC

USA v NIGERIA Thurs., June 24 8:30 p.m. ESPN

USA v KOREA Sun., June 27 7:00 p.m. espn2

A LITTLE PREP TALK!

A lot of people ask me how I prepare for a game. (Don't forget if you want to ask me a question go to: http://www.aboutsoccer.com/michelle_feedback.htm Hey, you may even win one of my game shirts.)

To help us prepare for the World Cup, we have been playing a series of exhibition games in the "Nike Road to Pasadena" which has taken us to nine cities. The USA-Canada game at Civic Stadium on Sunday, June 6, in Portland, OR is our "Send-Off" and the final game of the Nike Road before our opening World Cup game.

In addition to exhibition games we have been training in the outrageous 90 degree Florida heat. Coach Tony DiCicco, and the rest of the staff, have been relentless in our sessions. It is crunch time now and our last stretch of time to layer in and deepen the fitness that will hopefully give us the edge when we need it most.

One of my objectives is to become faster and more explosive so I focus my training on that kind of fitness. I do a lot sprint work - 20-, 40-, 60-, 100- yard sprints which takes about an hour and a half to do. I had a shooting coach, who'd have me out on the field for an hour hitting balls every day.

A lot of the times the best training is nothing fancy; it's very basic. The great players do the basic, simple things perfectly every time and under the most pressure. It just takes a desire to be your best on every touch. And that's what I suggest. You don't have to spend two or three hours. You can spend a half hour a day and you'll make a big difference in your game.

Before each game I get together with Steve Slain, our strength coach, and say a little prayer and then I pray again just before the game during the National Anthem.

Something inside makes me want to be the best player in the world and part of the best team in the world. In 1991, the U.S. Women's Team became the best and I was named one of the best players in the world. To sacrifice so much to realize a dream was incredible. And that is what is motivating our team for the Women's World Cup--to be the best again. It's an incredible feeling to know that you have done everything you can, your dream came true, and that you're the best you can be.

LINEUPS

For Women's soccer the World Cup is a relatively new program. Unlike baseball's World Series, other nations are actually invited to articipate making it truly a World event. The 16 teams are divided into four groups of four.

We are in Group A and will face Korea DPR, Nigeria and Denmark. We have never faced Korea DPR or Nigeria, but have a 6-3-1 career record against the Danes, including a 5-0 victory in the semifinals of the 1998 Goodwill Games last summer.

Denmark are an improved team with several World Cup and Olympic veterans mixed with some talented and athletic young players. Watch out for strikers Gitte Krogh (20 international goals) and Lene Jensen with Birgit Christensen, a veteran of the 1996 Olympics and 1995 Women's World Cup, adds stability to the defense. An experienced midfield, including Olympic veterans Anne Nielsen and Christina Petersen (I'll be watching them myself!).

DPR Korea were the surprise of the XIth Asian Cup, coming from virtual obscurity to earn a berth in their first Women's World Cup by finishing second in the tournament. Kim Kum Sil scored the historic goal to defeat Japan and had six scores in the tournament to lead her team. DPR Korea proved to be a side with both physical toughness and polished skill in its refusal to roll over to perennial Asian champion China, and may prove to be a first-round opponent that many favorites might want to avoid in the summer of '99.

Nigeria earned its Women's World Cup berth with a 6-0 victory over neighboring rival Cameroon in the semifinals of the qualifying tournament. While Nigeria's first two Women's World Cups produced five losses and a tie, the Falcons have high hopes of advancing to the second round for the first time.

The other groups are: Group B: Germany, Brazil, Mexico,and Italy. Group C consists of Norway, Japan, Canada, and Russia. Finally Group D with China PR, Australia, Ghana and Sweden.

As a team, we are determined to play at the Pasadena's Rose Bowl in the championship game and win the Women's World Cup for the U.S.

FOOTNOTES

Who shares your birthday this month? The following teammates celebrate birthdays in June: Goalie Tracy Ducar (18th) and Defender Christie Pearce (24th).