Portland, OR (My Sportsbook) - The United States' semifinal loss to Germany last Sunday proved to be a changing of the guard in more ways than one.

For the first time in the history of the FIFA Women's World Cup, the eventual champion won't be Norway or the U.S. And in the emotional wake of the defeat, international soccer's godmothers waved good-bye to the grandest of footballing stages.

But while tears may have fallen from the swollen eyes of the game's icon Mia Hamm, in addition to her beloved teammates Julie Foudy, Joy Fawcett and Kristine Lilly, many an American fan can take solace that their legacy will be left in very capable hands.

With Hamm having already announced that USA '03 would be her last go-round at the World Cup, it could be suggested that Lilly, Foudy, Fawcett and Brandi Chastain, who watched from the sidelines with a broken foot, would follow suit.

But perhaps more than ever, U.S. Soccer can rest assured that the next generation of caretakers are a skilled, embattled and experience bunch. Players who didn't grow up in obscurity, but rather in the shadows of bright stadium lights and pressure.

Those who saw even but a glimpse of the 2003 Women's World Cup no doubt witnessed the gatecrashing skill and will of Abby Wambach, one of the Americans' 'biggins'. The near 5-11 striker scored three goals through the quarterfinal round and will no doubt carry the weight of the U.S. attack for years to come with great poise and zeal.

"She is courageous, strong in the air. She snaps a great header on the frame. In terms of some of our taller players, she is very skilful and has nice deceptive moves," U.S. head coach April Heinrichs said in praise of Wambach.

Defender Cat Reddick, the only collegian on the U.S. squad, took her duties in replacing Chastain in the American rearguard very seriously. Successful in shutting down attacking opponents until she ran into German Birgit Prinz and Maren Meinert, the Alabama native even managed to score a pair of goals from her back-line position.

"They are better than we were at their age," 32-year-old Foudy, the U.S. skipper, said of her younger teammates. "We got thrown on the national team when we were 15 or 16. They've played in World Championships before. They've played in pressure games and that's important when you step on the field with the full national team if you've already done that with a youth team. I think they're all going to be excellent."

Meanwhile, Aly Wagner, just 22, has already been tabbed the next Mia Hamm, a label she has taken with a grain of salt, and some humor.

"Yeah, I've heard that, but what does that mean anyway?" asked Wagner, the team's number-10. "Basically, I just want to be the biggest proponent that I can be for women's soccer, and with that I'm just going to try to play the best soccer possible. Those are the only expectations I have for myself."

Lilly, the world's most capped player with 260 appearances for the U.S. movement, agrees that the team's next generation of players won't disappoint.

"I think the U.S. is strong at all levels, look at the U-19 team. And things like that allow the younger players to step up with more confidence. There is definitely life after us," Lilly said.

But while the team has been keen to look into the future following the most crushing blow they have had since losing to Norway in the semifinals at the 1995 World Cup, Wambach pauses for a moment to recollect what the American 'old guard' has meant to the women's game.

"I think the reason why this team has had so much success is because of the standard set by the veteran players and it runs through the newcomers," Wambach said. "Without that model or without that tradition then I really believe this team would be nothing."

She's right. Two World Cup titles (1991 and 1999), in addition to the gold medal at the 1996 Olympics, speak for themselves.