Washington, D.C. (My Sportsbook) - If history writes the script, The United States' Women's World Cup opener against Sweden promises to be a thriller.

The match, set to be staged at popular U.S. venue RFK Stadium, could either provide the Americans a springboard to the quarterfinals, or bury then in the 'Group of Death' table. With a handful of weathered U.S. veterans gearing up for their fourth FIFA World Cup, many don't expect it to be the latter.

Despite Sweden owning a 2-10-5 all-time mark against the States, the two sides' most recent battle ended in a 1-1 draw back in March during Algarve Cup action. The Scandinavians, out to prove they can prosper among the world's best women's footballing countries, will need to hit the ground at RFK running if they plan on dissecting the Americans -- traditionally one of most determined, if not the most skilled, sides in World Cup history.

The Swedes will also need to edit some World Cup history of their own, losing all three of their previous tournament openers -- including the '95 battle on home soil against Brazil.

But U.S. head coach April Heinrichs feels the Swedes are fielding their best team ever for an international-level competition -- led by striking stalwart Hanna Ljungberg. Ljungberg has netted 11 goals in 2003 as Sweden has gone unbeaten (7-0-5) in 12 outings.

"Stopping Hanna is like trying to man-mark Mia Hamm," Heinrichs said. "But it would be a mistake to key in on Ljungberg or say all you have to do is stop Ljungberg."

Sweden boss Marika Domanski Lyfors believes her squad, however, is more than a one-woman show, and it is this balance that will help them prevail through to the latter rounds.

"It's hard to compare teams, but we have a very good, balanced team," Domanski Lyfors said. "I think Hanna is very important, but other players have had very good years since 1999. With the other players, I think that makes us better this year."

One of these 'other' players is Victoria Svensson, Ljungberg's strike partner in the Swedish attack. Svensson has scored 22 goals in 19 matches in her women's domestic league this season. She has combined with Ljungberg to net 82 international goals -- 33 of which are hers -- in one of the most effective attacking partnerships in the world.

But make no mistake, the Americans -- seeking their third World Cup title in four tries -- will be energized not only by their home-field advantage, but by the fact they would love to go out on top with the core of team set to retire from the national team in the next year.

For Hamm, Fawcett, Chastain, Lilly and Foudy, 2003 will probably be their last hoorah. But it is these same players, who have made up the patchwork of the U.S. team for well more than a decade, who have the skill, guile and tact to vault the Americans to the top of the world, yet again.

Hamm, who is as fierce and confident as ever on the ball, will look to break through to the give the U.S. the early advantage along with Tiffeny Milbrett, the small but firey forward who proves to be most fearsome when playing alongside Hamm.

Backing them up are Lilly and Foudy, with Fawcett, Kate Sobrero and Chastain in the back. Though Heinrichs may employ a few different systems against the Swedes, it is these same names -- along with a few new ones such as Aly Wagner, Abby Wambach, Shannon Boxx and Kylie Bivens -- that should be giving Sweden fits come Sunday.

Experience will count for a lot in this enticing match-up, as 10 of the U.S. players have earned more than 100 caps in their international careers. If will, no doubt, be a tough get, but the Americans are more likely to come out on top against the Swedes.

Heinrichs said her woman are well prepared for their first World Cup test.

"There's nothing we're concerned about that we haven't addressed, we haven't reviewed or we haven't been through before," she said. "The last two weeks we've done a lot of reviewing for the tournament."