One of the U.S.'s most experienced defenders, Rachel Buehler, '07, is one of three Stanford women on the U.S. Olympic team. She scored her first World Cup goal in the 2011 game against North Korea. A three-year captain for the Cardinal, she was an All-Pac-10 Conference First-Team selection and recipient of the prestigious NCAA Top VIII Award. She joined the Women's Professional Soccer League in 2009. This is her second Olympics appearance. Buehler plays with Team USA against France on July 25.
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One of your group matches is at Old Trafford, which is hallowed ground for many soccer fans as home to Machester United. The final venue, Wembley Stadium, is equally special as the home to the English team. Does that add to the Olympic experience for you? Or are you too focused on the game to really notice?
It definitely is an honor to play in Old Trafford and possibly Wembley. They have such amazing history and it will make for cool stories to tell my children [someday]. That said, when it comes down to game time, I really do not pay too much attention to where we are playing. It is still the same game.
Your third game is against North Korea, who you scored against in the last World Cup. Does the political tension between America and a country like Korea come onto the field?
We will face North Korea just as we would face any other opponent. They are a good team and we have a lot of respect for their talent on the field. All we really think about is the game at hand.
You also play France, a team that has come from nowhere in recent years to become a power, a sign of the growing global appeal of women’s soccer. How has the international game changed since you’ve been following it? What teams are on the ascent?
The growth of international women's soccer has been incredible. All around the world, counties are steadily improving. Teams are more athletic, technical and tactical, and it has been interesting to see different countries really adopt their own unique styles and strengths. In the past few years Japan has emerged as a huge powerhouse. France has also done incredibly well. And I think there is a strong future for some of the African nations.
Last year you got a controversial—and very rare—red card in the World Cup in a game against Brazil. How often does that get mentioned? Have you ever brought it up with your opponent in the tackle, Brazilian superstar Marta?
It rarely gets mentioned amongst the team because it is in the past and so much else happened in that game. Fans do bring it up sometimes, and I've really felt a lot of support from them.
As a veteran of the World Cup and the Olympics, how do the events compare? Does one mean more to you?
Both events are amazing. Being a soccer player, the World Cup is incredibly special to our sport. The men's World Cup is the most watched sporting event in the world. There is something really unique, however, about the Olympic spirit. In the Olympics you feel such strong patriotism. You are surrounded by athletes from all around the world in all different sports, and each is trying to do his or her best to represent their country. It is very powerful!
