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U.S. star Wambach to miss Olympics with broken leg

By Sports Network -- The Sports Network

United States women's national team forward Abby Wambach will miss the Olympic Games after breaking her leg in a friendly against Brazil on Wednesday.

Wambach, who has scored 99 goals for the U.S., fractured the tibia and fibula in a collision with a Brazilian player in the 33rd minute of Wednesday night's game in San Diego, Calif.

The U.S. star will have surgery Friday and will likely be sidelined 12 weeks, which rules her out of next month's Olympics in China.

"Obviously, its devastating, but above everything else, I'm only one player, and you can never win a championship with just one player," Wambach said from the emergency room at Sharp Memorial Hospital.

The United States could struggle to find a replacement for Wambach, who leads the team in scoring this year with 13 goals and 10 assists.

"I put my heart and soul into this game every day," she said, "but sometimes accidents happen."

The U.S. defeated Brazil, 1-0, to improve to 21-0-1 this year. The Americans open the Olympics against Norway on Aug. 6.