U.S. forward Abby Wambach is in the starting lineup for Wednesday night's game against Sweden despite missing two days of practice.
Wambach has chronic tendinitis in her right Achilles and sat out the practices as a precaution after playing 90 minutes in each of the Americans' first two games. Third on the United States' all-time scoring list with 118 goals, Wambach said Monday that she expected to play against Sweden.
The nagging injury kept her out of the Four Nations tournament in January. The Americans lost the opener of the tournament to Sweden, one of three losses in a five-month span after going unbeaten for more than two years. It also was the Americans' first loss to Sweden in almost seven years.
The U.S. needs only a draw against Sweden to win Group C and avoid Brazil in the quarterfinals.
