After watching the U.S. women's soccer team qualify for the gold medal game, we started saying how neat it would be to attend that game. I just happened to look on the official Olympic website, and I found TICKETS to the women's gold medal soccer game!!! They were not cheap, but we had to do it! After all, Eric is the son of Al Trost, one of St. Louis' all-time best soccer players who is in the National Soccer Hall of Fame and played on the U.S. Olympic Team in 1972!
I was so excited! I spent the next day painting U.S.A. signs with the kids. I got out all of our red, white and blue apparel. Eric and I hardly slept the night before. We were excited and anxious about the timing of the drive with traffic, parking, kids, etc. But it all worked out just perfectly! We picked up Eric from work at 2:00 (remember we only have one car), drove about two hours, had minimal traffic and parked right across from the stadium with two hours to spare! We were about 6 miles from downtown London, so we did not see the Tower Bridge, Lodon Eye or Big Ben this time. I included a LOT of pictures and several videos to show how many people were there and give a feel for what it was like for us. It was an exciting evening that I will never forget!
Driving into London...lots of Olympic signs on buildings
A typical London neighborhood
Walking into Wembley Stadium. Getting pictures with the 2012 logo in the background
Crowds were not too bad since we were 2 hours early.
Bobby Moore: An English football (soccer) player who captained the only English team to ever win the World Cup in 1966 against Germany.
The Olympic rings on display on a building across the street
Wembley Stadium was the nicest, cleanest stadium in which I have ever been.
The staff were all so friendly and helpful. I was very impressed.
The crowds were starting to make their way to the stadium.
Yep, we got to our seats early!
Amelia picked up every feather from the girls wearing red boas behind us.
She had her pockets full of feathers by the end of the night.
We're ready to cheer on the U.S. Team!
Beautiful Wembley Stadium
The Jumbotron
One of the youngest U.S.A. fans in attendance, I'm sure!
This was her first soccer game...an Olympic one! Not bad for 5 months old.
Dylan had to tell me every flag! We looked up a few of them on my phone, but he knew most of them!
I painted their faces in the parking lot before we came into the stadium.
VIDEO: Pre-Game Music
The U.S. coaches
The U.S. Team warming up
VIDEO: U.S. warming up
Hope Solo warming up. It was amazing how many times she dove to the ground just in warm ups!
Both teams warming up. The stadium was filling up quickly.
VIDEO: Around the stadium
VIDEO: First play of the game!!!
Game time! Notice all of the camera right behind the purple Olympic wall.
Look at the crowd now!
VIDEO: Hope Solo's Save!
Yes, that says 80,203 people!
They did the "wave" several times, and the kids loved it!
VIDEO: 2 to Nothing!
Dylan loved watching the Jumbotron right behind us.
VIDEO: More Game Action and LOUDNESS
VIDEO: Excitement in the air!
VIDEO: Halftime
There were LOTS of U.S.A. fans! Some even painted their bellies...
It did not matter who you sat next to...everyone was happy and cheering.
Notice all of the camera men and women
Look at all of the cameras set up behind the goals.
VIDEO: U.S.A. WINS THE GOLD!!!!
VIDEO: Eric's view of the gold medal celebration!
Our gold medal poster was a hit with the fans around us!
Setting up for the medal ceremony
Some of the MANY U.S.A. fans
Cora was OUT on my lap! It was past her bedtime.
VIDEO: Players entering for medal ceremony. This is a long video.
VIDEO: Medal Ceremony
Team U.S.A. receiving their gold medals
VIDEO: National Anthem
Cora woke up again just in time to celebrate!
Gold: U.S.A Silver: Japan Bronze: Canada
What a night to remember!
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