Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press, via Associated Press  From left, Carli Lloyd Abby Wambach, Megan Rapinoe and Kelley O'Hara, during an Olympics qualifying match on Sunday.  But first comes the urgent matter of actually qualifying for the Olympics.  On Friday in Vancouver, British Columbia, the United States will face Costa Rica in the semifinals of the regional qualifying tournament, and Canada will face Mexico in the other semifinal. Both regional finalists will qualify for the 12-team field at the Summer Games, while the semifinal losers will stay home.  The United States has won three of the four Olympic soccer tournaments held for women (1996, 2004, 2008) and has taken the silver medal once (2000). It seems highly unlikely the Americans will fail to reach London, especially since they have never lost an Olympic qualifying match, winning 11 games and tying one. Their overall record against Costa Rica is 7-0-0, with a yawning goal differential of 34-0.  Employing an attacking 4-2-3-1 formation in this tournament, the United States has buzzsawed through three group opponents by a combined margin of 31-0, defeating the Dominican Republic, 14-0; Guatemala, 13-0; and Mexico, 4-0.  The first two victories came against severely overmatched opponents. But Tuesday’s win over Mexico — provided by a hat trick from midfielder Carli Lloyd — carried a special significance and a reminder that Friday’s match against Costa Rica cannot be taken for granted, however remote the chance for defeat.  When the United States last faced Mexico in a qualifying tournament, it was for the 2011 World Cup. The Americans lost in Cancún and were forced to win a two-stage playoff against Italy to claim the final spot in last summer’s tournament in Germany, where they finished second to Japan. The Olympic tournament does not offer the consolation of a playoff. It is either win Friday or create a shocking absence from the women’s competition in London.  “It’s definitely something that’s been talked about,” said defender Christie Rampone, the American captain. “There’s a lot of emotion still running from the World Cup and past qualification.”  Germany, a two-time World Cup champion, has already failed to qualify for London. The further absence of the United States, the world’s top-ranked team, would severely devalue the Olympic tournament.  From a public relations sense, it would be embarrassing for the Americans not to participate. The struggling Women’s Professional Soccer league could use the Olympic buzz, which would evaporate if the United States does not qualify (though national team players would be more available to participate).  And the future of Coach Pia Sundhage would be left uncertain. Her contract expires this year, and she has expressed a desire to return at some point to her native Sweden.  “It would be devastating not to make it into the Olympics,” Rampone said.  Since the United States won the 2008 Beijing Olympics relying on its defense, fitness and athleticism, Sundhage has sought to integrate a style featuring more ball possession, creativity and attacking forcefulness. This style did not permeate last summer’s World Cup, but while losing to Japan in the final — twice blowing leads and collapsing during penalty kicks — the Americans played their most attractive game of the tournament.  At the Olympic qualifying tournament, Sundhage has favored the 4-2-3-1 over the 4-4-2. It is far too early to determine whether this will become an effective style over the long haul. But goals have been plentiful, with Wambach alone up top, the playmaker Lauren Cheney behind her, Heather O’Reilly on the right wing and Amy Rodriguez or Megan Rapinoe on the left, with Lloyd and Shannon Boxx as holding midfielders.  The formation has suited Cheney’s skills of passing off the dribble and holding the ball under pressure. Having moved to a central position after playing on the flank at the World Cup, Cheney had a goal and four assists in the dismantling of the Dominican Republic.  “We’re not as predictable going forward,” Rampone said. “In the past, our athleticism and our quickness made us predictable, easier to defend. Now we’ve got so many runs coming from behind, coming out wide, we have a lot more of an attacking presence.”  In goal, Solo has a strained thigh muscle and is questionable for Friday. Otherwise, the only setback for the Americans was a torn knee ligament by defender Ali Krieger, who seems likely to miss the Olympics should they qualify. Against Mexico, Rachel Buehler moved to right back and Becky Sauerbrunn started in central defense alongside Rampone, with Amy LePeilbet at left back.  “It’s win and go on, or lose and go home,” Rampone said. “We know how to handle it now. We have only one different player from the World Cup” — forward Sydney Leroux, who scored five goals against Guatemala — “so we have the same experience and emotion, and we’re making sure we capitalize on it.”
The United States womenâs soccer team could provide a riveting story line at the 2012 London Olympics, but it must first defeat Costa Rica in the qualifying tournament.