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For me, I just set little goals for myself and stay on that kind of track and surround myself with positive people along with my teammates. I just kind of have my goals and my dreams, and this is something that we've all been working for our entire lives, so it is kind of easy to wake up and want to better myself every day towards that goal.
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It is cliched, but you have to beat the best to be the best.
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People ask me, 'What were you thinking during that game-winning penalty kick in the 2011 World Cup?' I was actually thinking absolutely nothing. I just walked up there and was so inspired by my teammates who rocked all their PKs; they just killed it. I figured I might as well do the same, or they might have my neck.
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I was No. 11 because my mom played basketball in college and was always No. 22. I just cut it in half, and I kept that. I've been No. 11 most of my life, and in college, I was No. 22.
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Anything that I can do individually to help our team is what I want to do.
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Injuries give you perspective. They teach you to cherish the moments that I might have taken for granted before.
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I'm grateful that I got a good education and to have all the people I have around me.
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When we're traveling for games, I always go down and have breakfast with the team - that's a must.
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Personally, I always try to focus on the little things in my game. As a defender and attacking outside back, I continuously work on completing passes, not being too predictable going forward into the attack, good services into the box, good positioning and footwork.
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Football helped me build confidence on and off the field and taught me to grow through moments of success and disappointment.
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I love my legs because they make me powerful and they make me feel strong. They've held up ever since I was young and have helped me get where I am today and be this successful.
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My dad has been my coach since I was seven years old - from 7 to 18 is when he coached my club team - and so it was always in the family. He introduced me to soccer at a young age and also kind of molded me into a good player at a young age, too. Which then I grew to love the game and be as passionate as he was.
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I do believe that everything happens for a reason.
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I can only control myself, my actions, my work ethic, and my attitude.
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As an athlete in my sport, you always want to go to an Olympics.
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In order for me to perform the best I can out on the field, I have to fuel my body with the proper nutrients to be able to do all the running. I'm running four or five miles every game, so it's a lot. Even at halftime, I take electrolytes and have half a peanut-butter-and-jelly or whatever is sitting there just to keep my engine running.
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I once thought I would never be able to kick a ball again.
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Being a World Cup winner was a dream come true.
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I have to remember I am a defender first and do my job there first and foremost.
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I'm the type of player that doesn't like to play on full stomach.
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It's really difficult when you don't see much of a team and you're not familiar with how they play.
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It doesn't matter: any weight, shape or form or however your body is, you want to be proud of it.
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On game days, I'm pretty boring: I like to rest and watch TV with my legs up so I'm not on my feet too much before the match.
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The World Cup focus is football. Team U.S.A. is more than football.