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Secret to U.S. women’s soccer team’s success? Intense internal competition

Although the women’s national team will line up against Colombia for the second time in five days Friday, the U.S. won’t really be playing against the Colombians.

The Americans are so good and so deep, on most days the only ones who can beat them are themselves. And that internal competition couldn’t be more fierce.

“We hold our own standards. Every single game and every single training session,” defender Ali Krieger said. “It’s really important that we focus on ourselves and we set this high standard for each other.”

How high?