The USWNT won its eighth Algarve Cup title with a 4-2 triumph over Iceland. However, for the first time in the tournament, they had to come from behind to do so.
Carli Lloyd opened the scoring just eight minutes in, dribbling to her left and then hitting a laser of a shot back across to the upper right hand part of the net from over 20 yards out.
But just when it appeared that the United States might be settling in, Iceland struck for two quick goals just past the midway point of the first half. Nearly back-to-back, Katrin Omarsdóttir and Hallbera Gisladóttir scored and the United States found themselves down 2-1.
The United States was able to draw even in the closing seconds of the half. Megan Rapinoe got the ball outside right and hit a low cross that Lauren Cheney volleyed into the net from just inside the six-yard box.
Ten minutes into the second half, it was again Rapinoe, this time down the left side that sent the ball into the middle. After Amy Rodriguez dummied it, Shannon Boxx got off a hard shot that Icelandic goalkeeper Gudbjorg Gunnarsdóttir was able to stop. However, Heather O'Reilly pounced on the rebound and knocked it home for a 3-2 lead.
Alex Morgan finished the scoring in the late stages of the match, outbattling two Icelandic defenders for the ball and hitting a sliding shot into the net for the final margin of 4-2.
The United States outshot Iceland by a 24-8 margin for the match. Next up for the USWNT will be England in an international friendly scheduled to be played on April 2 at Leyton Orient.
3rd Place: Japan 2, Sweden 1
Japan completed a fairly successful run, defeating Sweden 2-1 in the 3rd place match. Japan's only blemish in the tournament was a 2-1 loss to eventual champions, the United States.
Things looked promising early on for the Swedes, as Therese Sjögran scored the game's first goal in the 14th minute of play. But just as in the match against Iceland, Sweden was unable to hold their lead.
Megumi Kamionobe and Nahomi Kawasumi scored in the 21st and 32nd minutes respectively, giving Japan a 2-1 lead before intermission, a score that would stand up as the final.
The game wasn't without milestones for Sweden, as Therese Sjögran played in her 167th match for the national team, which now stands as the all-time best for Sweden. Sara Larsson competed in her 100th match for Sweden.
5th Place: Norway 0, Denmark 0 (Norway 5-4 in penalty kicks)
Norway took 5th place over Denmark at Algarve. After playing to a scoreless draw, Norway took the penalty kick decison by a margin of 5-4, with Lindy Wiik getting the deciding goal.
Goalkeepers Ingrid Hjelmseth for Norway and Tina Viskær for Denmark kept the opponent off the scoreboard.
An injury forced Norway to play the last 20 minutes a player down after coach Eli Landsem had used up all of his substitutions.
7th Place: China 2, Wales 1
China got out to a 2-0 lead with a goal in each half and held on for the 2-1 win over Wales. Chinese striker You Jia scored just three minutes into the match. Gu Yasha tallied a goal in the 53rd minute.
Wales bounced back with a goal by Helen Lander in the 57th minute and had a chance to tie the match in the closing minutes, but Emma Jones' penalty attempt was stopped by Zhang Yanru, which preserved the victory for the Chinese.
9th Place: Portugal 2, Finland 1
The host team won the 9th place match by a 2-1 margin over Finland. Portugal took a 1-0 first half lead on another goal by Edite Fernandes. Fernandes deftly dribbled past a defender a hit a low shot that Finnish goalkeeper Minna Meriluoto attempted to kick save, only to have the ball deflect behind her into the net.
It stayed that way until Essi Sainio tied the match in the 75th minute on a deflection. The tie lasted only a moment as Carla Couto notched the game winner in the 76th minute.
11th Place: Chile 1, Romania 1 (Chile 6-5 in penalty kicks)
Chile avenged an earlier loss to Romania, winning by 6-5 in penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
After a scoreless first half, Chile struck first on a goal by Rocio Soto in the 68th minute. 15-year old Alexandra Lunca scored the tying goal in the 87th minute. But Chile was able to take the match on penalties for the victory.
Showing posts with label Algarve Cup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Algarve Cup. Show all posts
March 9, 2011
US Wins Algarve Cup Championship
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Labels: Algarve Cup, Chile, China WNT, Denmark WNT, Finland, Iceland WNT, Japan WNT, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, USWNT, Wales
Labels: Algarve Cup, Chile, China WNT, Denmark WNT, Finland, Iceland WNT, Japan WNT, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, USWNT, Wales
March 7, 2011
US Defeats Finland; Will Meet Iceland in Algarve Final
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Labels: Algarve Cup, Chile, China WNT, Denmark WNT, Finland, Iceland WNT, Japan WNT, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, USWNT, Wales
Labels: Algarve Cup, Chile, China WNT, Denmark WNT, Finland, Iceland WNT, Japan WNT, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, USWNT, Wales
The USWNT made it three straight in group play, shutting out Finland by a 4-0 margin. The US, which already had Group A clinched, will now meet Group B winner Iceland in Wednesday's final.
Coach Pia Sundhage showed little tendency for change, sending eight starters out for the third straight match. Tobin Heath got her first start at Algarve in the midfield and Sundhage went with the forward tandem of Alex Morgan and Lauren Cheney for the first time in the tournament.
The US opened the scoring in just the eighth minute. A Carli Lloyd corner kick found Shannon Boxx, who was just able to get over the Finnish defender to head it solidly on frame. Goalkeeper Minna Meriluoto couldn't quite react quick enough and it was 1-0.
Just a few minutes later, it was Lloyd scoring one herself. After a turnover in the midfield by Finland, Tobin Heath was able to outmanoeuvre two defenders in the box and send the ball square to Lloyd, who buried it in the left side of the net from 15 yards out.
Alex Morgan got on the board right before intermission. She did a wonderful job of chesting down Ali Krieger's long distance serve into the penalty area and then finished with the outside of her left foot from six yards out, just beyond Meriluoto's reach. Morgan added another in the second half, knocking in her own rebound following a Meriluoto save and some shabby clearing by the Finnish defense.
The US outshot Finland by 24-1 margin and goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart was rarely tested. They will return to the Algarve Cup final, which they won last year over Germany. This year's opponent will be Iceland.
Iceland 1, Denmark 0
Iceland made it a perfect run through Group B with a 1-0 shutout victory over Denmark. It marks the first time that Iceland has reached the championship match of the event.
After a scoreless first half, it looked as though Denmark would strike first. They were awarded a penalty, but Line Røddik Hansen's shot was stopped by Iceland's keeper, Thóra Helgadóttir. After that, Denmark hit the bar off of a corner kick, but still could not score. Iceland's counterattack produced a goal by Dóra Larúsdóttir.
Japan 1, Norway 0
Yuki Nagasato's second half goal led Japan to a 1-0 win over Norway. Ayumi Kaihori got the shutout for Japan.
Japan's victory in the battle for 2nd place in Group A means they will play Sweden in the match for 3rd/4th place on Wednesday. Norway will meet Denmark in the 5th/6th place match.
Sweden 1, China 0
Lotta Schelin's goal pushed Sweden into second place in Group C, as Sweden defeated China 1-0. There was some dispute as to whether Schelin was offside for the goal, but the goal was not called back. Schelin had come in as a second half substitution for Jessica Landström.
For Sweden, the victory avenged a loss to China earlier this year at the Four Nations Tournament. Hedvig Lindahl posted the shutout for Sweden.
Portugal 1, Romania 1
A late goal thwarted Portugal's chances to win Group C, as they played to a 1-1 tie with Romania.
Edite Fernandes put Portugal in front 1-0 late in the first half. But Stefania Vatafu evened the match in the final 10 minutes, forcing the draw. Andreea Corduneanu received a second yellow card late in the proceedings, but it was too late for Portugal to take advantage. Plaudits were given to Neide Simões for her play in goal for the Portuguese.
Portugal finished Group C play with a win and two draws, but were nosed out in the standings by Wales, a team they defeated on the tournament's opening day.
Wales 2, Chile 1
Wales won their second straight match and captured Group C with a 2-1 win over Chile. Jessica Fishlock's brace, one goal in each half, sparked Wales to the victory. Chile got a goal from Daniela Zamora in the 74th minute to pull to within one goal, but were unable to score further.
Final Standings
Group A: USA 3-0-0, 9 pts; Japan 2-1-0, 6 pts; Norway 1-2-0, 3 pts; Finland 0-3-0, 0 pts.
Group B: Iceland 3-0-0, 9 pts; Sweden 2-1-0, 6 pts; Denmark 1-2-0, 3 pts; China 0-3-0, o pts.
Group C: Wales 2-1-0, 6 pts; Portugal 1-0-2, 5 pts; Romania 1-1-1, 4 pts; Chile 0-2-1, 1 pts.
Wednesday's Final Round:
Championship: USA vs. Iceland
3rd/4th Place: Japan vs. Sweden
5th/6th Place: Norway vs. Denmark
7th/8th Place: Wales vs. China
9th/10th Place: Finland vs. Portugal
11th/12th Place: Romania vs. Chile
Coach Pia Sundhage showed little tendency for change, sending eight starters out for the third straight match. Tobin Heath got her first start at Algarve in the midfield and Sundhage went with the forward tandem of Alex Morgan and Lauren Cheney for the first time in the tournament.
The US opened the scoring in just the eighth minute. A Carli Lloyd corner kick found Shannon Boxx, who was just able to get over the Finnish defender to head it solidly on frame. Goalkeeper Minna Meriluoto couldn't quite react quick enough and it was 1-0.
Just a few minutes later, it was Lloyd scoring one herself. After a turnover in the midfield by Finland, Tobin Heath was able to outmanoeuvre two defenders in the box and send the ball square to Lloyd, who buried it in the left side of the net from 15 yards out.
Alex Morgan got on the board right before intermission. She did a wonderful job of chesting down Ali Krieger's long distance serve into the penalty area and then finished with the outside of her left foot from six yards out, just beyond Meriluoto's reach. Morgan added another in the second half, knocking in her own rebound following a Meriluoto save and some shabby clearing by the Finnish defense.
The US outshot Finland by 24-1 margin and goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart was rarely tested. They will return to the Algarve Cup final, which they won last year over Germany. This year's opponent will be Iceland.
Iceland 1, Denmark 0
Iceland made it a perfect run through Group B with a 1-0 shutout victory over Denmark. It marks the first time that Iceland has reached the championship match of the event.
After a scoreless first half, it looked as though Denmark would strike first. They were awarded a penalty, but Line Røddik Hansen's shot was stopped by Iceland's keeper, Thóra Helgadóttir. After that, Denmark hit the bar off of a corner kick, but still could not score. Iceland's counterattack produced a goal by Dóra Larúsdóttir.
Japan 1, Norway 0
Yuki Nagasato's second half goal led Japan to a 1-0 win over Norway. Ayumi Kaihori got the shutout for Japan.
Japan's victory in the battle for 2nd place in Group A means they will play Sweden in the match for 3rd/4th place on Wednesday. Norway will meet Denmark in the 5th/6th place match.
Sweden 1, China 0
Lotta Schelin's goal pushed Sweden into second place in Group C, as Sweden defeated China 1-0. There was some dispute as to whether Schelin was offside for the goal, but the goal was not called back. Schelin had come in as a second half substitution for Jessica Landström.
For Sweden, the victory avenged a loss to China earlier this year at the Four Nations Tournament. Hedvig Lindahl posted the shutout for Sweden.
Portugal 1, Romania 1
A late goal thwarted Portugal's chances to win Group C, as they played to a 1-1 tie with Romania.
Edite Fernandes put Portugal in front 1-0 late in the first half. But Stefania Vatafu evened the match in the final 10 minutes, forcing the draw. Andreea Corduneanu received a second yellow card late in the proceedings, but it was too late for Portugal to take advantage. Plaudits were given to Neide Simões for her play in goal for the Portuguese.
Portugal finished Group C play with a win and two draws, but were nosed out in the standings by Wales, a team they defeated on the tournament's opening day.
Wales 2, Chile 1
Wales won their second straight match and captured Group C with a 2-1 win over Chile. Jessica Fishlock's brace, one goal in each half, sparked Wales to the victory. Chile got a goal from Daniela Zamora in the 74th minute to pull to within one goal, but were unable to score further.
Final Standings
Group A: USA 3-0-0, 9 pts; Japan 2-1-0, 6 pts; Norway 1-2-0, 3 pts; Finland 0-3-0, 0 pts.
Group B: Iceland 3-0-0, 9 pts; Sweden 2-1-0, 6 pts; Denmark 1-2-0, 3 pts; China 0-3-0, o pts.
Group C: Wales 2-1-0, 6 pts; Portugal 1-0-2, 5 pts; Romania 1-1-1, 4 pts; Chile 0-2-1, 1 pts.
Wednesday's Final Round:
Championship: USA vs. Iceland
3rd/4th Place: Japan vs. Sweden
5th/6th Place: Norway vs. Denmark
7th/8th Place: Wales vs. China
9th/10th Place: Finland vs. Portugal
11th/12th Place: Romania vs. Chile
March 4, 2011
US Gains Final after 2-0 Win over Norway
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Labels: Algarve Cup, Chile, China WNT, Denmark WNT, Finland, Iceland WNT, Japan WNT, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, USWNT, Wales
Labels: Algarve Cup, Chile, China WNT, Denmark WNT, Finland, Iceland WNT, Japan WNT, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, USWNT, Wales
The United States has secured a berth in the Algarve Cup final by defeating Norway 2-0 on Friday. Lindsay Tarpley and Carli Lloyd scored the goals for the United States. The United States have clinched Group A because they have defeated both teams that could catch them in the standings.
Pia Sundhage started virtually the same lineup on Friday as she did two days ago, with the exception being Tarpley at forward instead of Lauren Cheney.
Tarpley opened the scoring in the 33rd minute as Rachel Buehler started the play with a long pass over the Norwegian defense from the back. Amy Rodriguez, who timed her run perfectly, got behind two defenders. With Nora Berge bearing down from behind and goalkeeper Ingrid Hjelmseth coming out, Rodriguez was able to win the ball and tap it back to Tarpley. Tarpley was able to left-foot the ball into the open net while falling backwards from nine yards out.
Lloyd's goal came after the break in the 63rd minute. Megan Rapinoe was able to get the ball to Lloyd in the middle, about 40 yards from the net. Lloyd dribbled first right and then back left to give herself space. She then released a low shot along the ground from 25 yards out that appeared to catch Hjelmseth leaning the wrong way. The ball went just inside the right post to make it 2-0.
The United States outshot Norway 17-5 and held the edge in shots on goal by a 7-2 margin. Nicole Barnhart gained the shutout in goal.
The US will face Finland on Monday in the final group stage match, but it will have little meaning on the final standings. They will then face the Group B winner on Wednesday. Iceland leads Group B with two wins and will be the opponent if they win or tie. They will face Denmark, who could also win Group B with a win, as could Sweden depending on goal differential.
Japan 5, Finland 0
Japan scorched Finland with five goals on Friday, easily winning their second match of the Algarve Cup. They evened their record after losing their opener to the United States.
Shinobu Ohno and Nahomi Kawasumi scored first half goals to give Japan a 2-0 lead at the half. FFC Turbine Potsdam forward Yuki Nagasato pushed the lead to 3-0 in the opening minutes of the 2nd half. Second half substitution, Mami Yamaguchi, completed the scoring with a late brace. Ayumi Kaihori earned the shutout.
Japan will now face off against Norway on Monday, in a match that will decide second position in Group A. Finland will finish in fourth place in Group A.
Iceland 2, China 1
For the second straight match, Iceland was able to earn a 2-1 victory, this time over China. And for the second time, it was a come-from-behind victory. Margrét Vidarsdóttir was again one of the heroes, scoring both goals for Iceland.
China was able to take the early lead on a goal by Ma Jun in the 21st minute of the match. But Vidarsdóttir was able to tie the match just six minutes later, as she was able to get the ball past Chinese keeper Huang Luna, who was making her debut. Vidarsdóttir gave Iceland the lead early in the second half with her second goal.
Iceland will now face Denmark on Monday, with a chance to secure a place in Wednesday's final with a tie or win.
Sweden 3, Denmark 1
Sweden was once again able to get the best of Denmark with a 3-1 victory on Friday. Jessica Landstróm scored twice and Josefine Oqvist was able to score her second goal in as many games.
Landstróm opened the scoring in the eighth minute of the match, with the ball apparently going off of her hip into the goal. Kristine Pedersen answered for Denmark just two minutes later. The match went into halftime tied.
Oqvist scored in the 53rd minute, followed by Landstróm's second of the match in the 60th minute as Sweden played a strong second half to earn the victory. Sweden will now face China on Monday, a team they lost to earlier this year at the Four Nations Tournament.
Portugal 0, Chile 0
The host team, Portugal, played to a scoreless draw against Chile. Neide Simões posted the shutout for Portugal, while Christiane Endler had a stellar match in earning the shutout for Chile.
Portugal can now win Group C with a victory against Romania on Monday or a tie combined with a Welsh tie or loss to Chile.
Wales 2, Romania 1
Wales was able to come from behind to defeat Romania 2-1 on Friday. They were able to bounce back after an opening match loss to the host team.
Cosmina Dusa once again scored giving Romania a 1-0 lead in the opening half. Wales came back strong as Jessica Fishlock tied the match and then assisted on Helen Lander's game winner a few minutes later.
Wales now has a chance to win Group C with a victory over Chile and a Portugal tie or loss against Romania.
Pia Sundhage started virtually the same lineup on Friday as she did two days ago, with the exception being Tarpley at forward instead of Lauren Cheney.
Tarpley opened the scoring in the 33rd minute as Rachel Buehler started the play with a long pass over the Norwegian defense from the back. Amy Rodriguez, who timed her run perfectly, got behind two defenders. With Nora Berge bearing down from behind and goalkeeper Ingrid Hjelmseth coming out, Rodriguez was able to win the ball and tap it back to Tarpley. Tarpley was able to left-foot the ball into the open net while falling backwards from nine yards out.
Lloyd's goal came after the break in the 63rd minute. Megan Rapinoe was able to get the ball to Lloyd in the middle, about 40 yards from the net. Lloyd dribbled first right and then back left to give herself space. She then released a low shot along the ground from 25 yards out that appeared to catch Hjelmseth leaning the wrong way. The ball went just inside the right post to make it 2-0.
The United States outshot Norway 17-5 and held the edge in shots on goal by a 7-2 margin. Nicole Barnhart gained the shutout in goal.
The US will face Finland on Monday in the final group stage match, but it will have little meaning on the final standings. They will then face the Group B winner on Wednesday. Iceland leads Group B with two wins and will be the opponent if they win or tie. They will face Denmark, who could also win Group B with a win, as could Sweden depending on goal differential.
Japan 5, Finland 0
Japan scorched Finland with five goals on Friday, easily winning their second match of the Algarve Cup. They evened their record after losing their opener to the United States.
Shinobu Ohno and Nahomi Kawasumi scored first half goals to give Japan a 2-0 lead at the half. FFC Turbine Potsdam forward Yuki Nagasato pushed the lead to 3-0 in the opening minutes of the 2nd half. Second half substitution, Mami Yamaguchi, completed the scoring with a late brace. Ayumi Kaihori earned the shutout.
Japan will now face off against Norway on Monday, in a match that will decide second position in Group A. Finland will finish in fourth place in Group A.
Iceland 2, China 1
For the second straight match, Iceland was able to earn a 2-1 victory, this time over China. And for the second time, it was a come-from-behind victory. Margrét Vidarsdóttir was again one of the heroes, scoring both goals for Iceland.
China was able to take the early lead on a goal by Ma Jun in the 21st minute of the match. But Vidarsdóttir was able to tie the match just six minutes later, as she was able to get the ball past Chinese keeper Huang Luna, who was making her debut. Vidarsdóttir gave Iceland the lead early in the second half with her second goal.
Iceland will now face Denmark on Monday, with a chance to secure a place in Wednesday's final with a tie or win.
Sweden 3, Denmark 1
Sweden was once again able to get the best of Denmark with a 3-1 victory on Friday. Jessica Landstróm scored twice and Josefine Oqvist was able to score her second goal in as many games.
Landstróm opened the scoring in the eighth minute of the match, with the ball apparently going off of her hip into the goal. Kristine Pedersen answered for Denmark just two minutes later. The match went into halftime tied.
Oqvist scored in the 53rd minute, followed by Landstróm's second of the match in the 60th minute as Sweden played a strong second half to earn the victory. Sweden will now face China on Monday, a team they lost to earlier this year at the Four Nations Tournament.
Portugal 0, Chile 0
The host team, Portugal, played to a scoreless draw against Chile. Neide Simões posted the shutout for Portugal, while Christiane Endler had a stellar match in earning the shutout for Chile.
Portugal can now win Group C with a victory against Romania on Monday or a tie combined with a Welsh tie or loss to Chile.
Wales 2, Romania 1
Wales was able to come from behind to defeat Romania 2-1 on Friday. They were able to bounce back after an opening match loss to the host team.
Cosmina Dusa once again scored giving Romania a 1-0 lead in the opening half. Wales came back strong as Jessica Fishlock tied the match and then assisted on Helen Lander's game winner a few minutes later.
Wales now has a chance to win Group C with a victory over Chile and a Portugal tie or loss against Romania.
March 3, 2011
USWNT Open Algarve Cup with Victory
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Labels: Algarve Cup, Chile, China WNT, Denmark WNT, Finland, Iceland WNT, Japan WNT, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, USWNT, Wales
Labels: Algarve Cup, Chile, China WNT, Denmark WNT, Finland, Iceland WNT, Japan WNT, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, USWNT, Wales
The United States started the 2011 Algarve Cup on a high note, defeating Japan by a 2-1 margin. The US scored two early goals and made them stand up. The match between two of the world's top five teams was one of six matches played at the Algarve Cup in Portugal on Wednesday.
The US opened the scoring just seven minutes into the match. Nicole Barnhart sent a long free kick from the back which Lauren Cheney headed forward to Amy Rodriguez. From about 20 yards out and with her back to the goal, Rodriguez turned left (her right) and drilled a perfect shot into the right side of the goal.
Just a few minutes later, the US struck again. Cheney laid the ball off to Rodriguez about 40 yards from the goal. Rodriguez sent the ball wide to Heather O'Reilly on the right side. O'Reilly dribbled at the defender into the box, then cut wide. She then sent a low cross from just inside the right side of the penalty to area to Megan Rapinoe, who touched the ball into the net from about eight yards out amid several Japanese defenders.
Aya Miyama got Japan on the board in the 29th minute. After O'Reilly had taken down Yuki Nagasato, the Japanese were awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area. Miyama struck it perfectly into the corner of the goal, cutting the lead in half.
Both teams had several other first half chances, but there was no more scoring in the match. Japan pressed hard for the tie late in the match, but were unable to solve the US defense.
Norway 2, Finland 1
The 2-1 score seemed to be the order of the day as Norway won the other Group A match over Finland by the same score.
Laura Kalmari opened the scoring in the 28th minute of the match, assisted by Tuija Hyyrynen. The lead lasted just a minute, as Norway answered quickly. Elise Thorsnes tied the match at one and then ten minutes later set up Isabell Hervlovsen for what proved to be the game winning goal. As in the US/Japan match, there was no second half scoring.
Iceland 2, Sweden 1
In yet another 2-1 match, Sweden was upset by Iceland, making it three losses already this year for the world's fourth ranked team.
Sweden seemed to be on track, scoring the game's first goal in just the 2nd minute of the match. Josefine Öqvist did the honors and the Swedes looked to be on their way to victory. But, in spite of several chances, they were unable to increase their lead, leaving the door open for Iceland.
Iceland tied the match in the 38th minute as an uncharacteristic error by Sweden's back line handed Margret Lara Vidarsdóttir a great opportunity. She took advantage of the mistake to tie the match at one, which was the halftime score.
Iceland took the lead just 10 minutes into the second half. Hedvig Lindahl stopped a free kick from 30 yards out, but was unable to control the rebound and Iceland's captain, Katrín Jónsdóttir knocked it home. Iceland was able to hold off Sweden for the rest of the match to seal the victory. It marks the first time that Iceland have ever defeated Sweden in international competition.
Denmark 1, China 0
Denmark took advantage of a deflected own goal to defeat China 1-0 in their Algarve Cup opener. The lone goal was scored when Zhang Yanru appeared to have Theresa Nielsen's shot covered, but the ball deflected off of Wang Dongni and rolled past the Chinese goalkeeper to put Denmark up 1-0 in the 20th minute.
Portugal 3, Wales 1
The host Portuguese opened the tournament with a 3-1 victory over Wales. Carla Couto's brace led Portugal to the victory.
Couto and Edita Fernandes gave Portugal an early 2-0 lead, before Loren Dykes scored late in the first half to cut the lead to one. Couto scored her second of the match in the 56th minute to finish the scoring.
Romania 2, Chile 0
Cosmina Dusa's brace sparked Romania to a 2-0 victory over Chile. The 20-year old striker continues to impress after she scored five goals in UEFA World Cup qualifying. Mirela Ganea posted the shutout for the victors.
The US opened the scoring just seven minutes into the match. Nicole Barnhart sent a long free kick from the back which Lauren Cheney headed forward to Amy Rodriguez. From about 20 yards out and with her back to the goal, Rodriguez turned left (her right) and drilled a perfect shot into the right side of the goal.
Just a few minutes later, the US struck again. Cheney laid the ball off to Rodriguez about 40 yards from the goal. Rodriguez sent the ball wide to Heather O'Reilly on the right side. O'Reilly dribbled at the defender into the box, then cut wide. She then sent a low cross from just inside the right side of the penalty to area to Megan Rapinoe, who touched the ball into the net from about eight yards out amid several Japanese defenders.
Aya Miyama got Japan on the board in the 29th minute. After O'Reilly had taken down Yuki Nagasato, the Japanese were awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area. Miyama struck it perfectly into the corner of the goal, cutting the lead in half.
Both teams had several other first half chances, but there was no more scoring in the match. Japan pressed hard for the tie late in the match, but were unable to solve the US defense.
Norway 2, Finland 1
The 2-1 score seemed to be the order of the day as Norway won the other Group A match over Finland by the same score.
Laura Kalmari opened the scoring in the 28th minute of the match, assisted by Tuija Hyyrynen. The lead lasted just a minute, as Norway answered quickly. Elise Thorsnes tied the match at one and then ten minutes later set up Isabell Hervlovsen for what proved to be the game winning goal. As in the US/Japan match, there was no second half scoring.
Iceland 2, Sweden 1
In yet another 2-1 match, Sweden was upset by Iceland, making it three losses already this year for the world's fourth ranked team.
Sweden seemed to be on track, scoring the game's first goal in just the 2nd minute of the match. Josefine Öqvist did the honors and the Swedes looked to be on their way to victory. But, in spite of several chances, they were unable to increase their lead, leaving the door open for Iceland.
Iceland tied the match in the 38th minute as an uncharacteristic error by Sweden's back line handed Margret Lara Vidarsdóttir a great opportunity. She took advantage of the mistake to tie the match at one, which was the halftime score.
Iceland took the lead just 10 minutes into the second half. Hedvig Lindahl stopped a free kick from 30 yards out, but was unable to control the rebound and Iceland's captain, Katrín Jónsdóttir knocked it home. Iceland was able to hold off Sweden for the rest of the match to seal the victory. It marks the first time that Iceland have ever defeated Sweden in international competition.
Denmark 1, China 0
Denmark took advantage of a deflected own goal to defeat China 1-0 in their Algarve Cup opener. The lone goal was scored when Zhang Yanru appeared to have Theresa Nielsen's shot covered, but the ball deflected off of Wang Dongni and rolled past the Chinese goalkeeper to put Denmark up 1-0 in the 20th minute.
Portugal 3, Wales 1
The host Portuguese opened the tournament with a 3-1 victory over Wales. Carla Couto's brace led Portugal to the victory.
Couto and Edita Fernandes gave Portugal an early 2-0 lead, before Loren Dykes scored late in the first half to cut the lead to one. Couto scored her second of the match in the 56th minute to finish the scoring.
Romania 2, Chile 0
Cosmina Dusa's brace sparked Romania to a 2-0 victory over Chile. The 20-year old striker continues to impress after she scored five goals in UEFA World Cup qualifying. Mirela Ganea posted the shutout for the victors.
March 1, 2011
Algarve Cup Schedule
March 2, 2011
Group A - Norway vs. Finland, Japan vs. USA
Group B - Sweden vs. Iceland, China vs. Denmark
Group C - Portugal vs. Wales, Romania vs. Chile
March 4, 2011
Group A - Japan vs. Finland, USA vs. Norway
Group B - Iceland vs. China, Denmark vs. Sweden
Group C - Portugal vs. Chile, Wales vs. Romania
March 7, 2011
Group A - Norway vs. Japan, Finland vs. USA
Group B - China vs. Sweden, Denmark vs. Iceland
Group C - Portugal vs. Romania, Wales vs. Chile
March 9, 2011
Playoff Round.
Group A - Norway vs. Finland, Japan vs. USA
Group B - Sweden vs. Iceland, China vs. Denmark
Group C - Portugal vs. Wales, Romania vs. Chile
March 4, 2011
Group A - Japan vs. Finland, USA vs. Norway
Group B - Iceland vs. China, Denmark vs. Sweden
Group C - Portugal vs. Chile, Wales vs. Romania
March 7, 2011
Group A - Norway vs. Japan, Finland vs. USA
Group B - China vs. Sweden, Denmark vs. Iceland
Group C - Portugal vs. Romania, Wales vs. Chile
March 9, 2011
Playoff Round.
Algarve Cup - Group C Preview
Group C at Algarve is composed of four teams ranked from 37th to 47th in the world. This tournament offers these teams an opportunity to get four competitive matches under their belts and lets their coaches evaluate young talent.
None of these teams qualified for the World Cup. The closest was Chile, who finished third in Conmebol qualifying, just out qualification. Portugal, Wales, and Romania had varying success at the group stage of UEFA qualifying, but none seriously challenged for a spot. But with four fairly evenly matched teams and all with several young players on their rosters, this could be an entertaining group to watch.
Chile
Coach: Marta Tejedor
World Rank: #46
World Cup: Failed to qualify after finishing third in the Conmebol qualifying tournament.
Latest Results:
Conmebol Second Stage Playoff Round: Tied Colombia 1-1, Tied Argentina 0-0, Lost to Brazil 1-3.
Conmebol Group Stage: Defeated Ecuador 2-1, Lost to Argentina 1-2, Defeated Bolivia 3-0, Defeated Peru 3-1.
Cyprus Cup Roster:
Goalkeepers: Christiane Endler, Natalia Campos.
Defenders: Javiera Guajardo, Camila Saez, Nicole Cornejo, Carla Guerrero.
Midfielders: Francisca Lara (D/MF), Karen Araya, Yanara Aedo, Rocio Soto, Maria Mardones, Daniela Fuenzalida, Valentina Lefort.
Forwards: Maria Jose Rojas, Nathalie Quezada, Daniela Zamora, Yessenia Huenteo, Janet Salgado.
Chile is bringing a very young team to the Algarve Cup. At least seven players competed in the 2008 U-20 World Cup and four were members of the U-17 World Cup team from 2010. Chile just missed qualifying for the World Cup, finishing closely behind Colombia.
The top three offensive threats for Chile are probably Francisca Lara, Karen Araya, and Janet Salgado. Lara and Araya scored three goals each during Chile’s qualification run, Salgado added two. Araya is just 20 years old.
Christiane Endler is Chile’s top goalkeeper. Two defenders from the U-17 team will be in Portugal, Camila Saez and Nicole Cornejo. Chile is a team with a tremendous upside and the Algarve Cup should be a great experience for them.
Portugal
Coach: Mónica Jorge
World Rank: #39
World Cup: Failed to qualify after finishing 3rd in UEFA Group 7.
Latest Results:
UEFA WC Qualifying (since July, 2010): Defeated Armenia 3-0
Algarve Cup Roster:
Goalkeepers: Neide Simões, Jamila Marreiros.
Defenders: Ines Borges, Carole Costa, Kim Brandão, Sõnia Matias, Ana Borges.
Midfielders: Silvia Rebelo, Ana Cristina Leite, Elsa Ventura, Dolores Silva, Sofia Vieira, Melissa Antunes, Noémia Figueiredo, Mónica Goncalves.
Forwards: Carolina Mendes, Lissette Brandão, Claudia Neto, Carla Couto, Edita Fernandes.
The host Portuguese squad enters Algarve Cup play following a 3rd place finish in the group stage of UEFA World Cup qualifying. They probably accomplished about what was expected of them, losing both matches to Italy and Finland and winning both matches against Armenia and Slovenia.
Probably the most well known player to American fans is Kim Brandão, a defender who played college soccer for Rutgers and has played for several teams in the W-League, including the 2010 Buffalo Flash championship team. Edita Fernandes is one of the team’s most accomplished players with 90 caps. She scored five goals in qualifying at forward.
Other players to watch are defender Ana Borges, midfielders Sofia Vieira, Dolores Silva, and Mónica Goncalves, and forward Carla Couto. Neide Simóes is the Portuguese goalkeeper. She posted three shutouts in qualifying and held Finland to just one goal in another match.
The home team is sure to be a fan favorite at Algarve and they are in a group with teams of nearly similar stature, which should make for some interesting matches.
Romania
Coach: Maria Delicoiu
World Rank: #37
World Cup: Failed to qualify after finishing 4th in UEFA Group 4.
Latest Results:
UEFA WC Qualifying (since July, 2010): Lost to Hungary 2-3, Lost to Ukraine 1-3.
Algarve Cup Roster:
Goalkeepers: Mirela Ganea, Roxana Oprea.
Defenders: Olivia Oprea, Elena Iuliana Pavel, Corina Olar, Teodora Dragoescu, Maria Ficzai, Monika Sinka, Tunde Mate, Ruxandra Elena Neagu.
Midfielders: Raluca Sarghe, Melisa Alexandra Iusan, Cosmina Dusa, Laura Roxana Rus, Andrea Herczeg, Stefania Iulia Vatafu, Georgiana Birtoiu, Ana Maria Stanciu.
Forwards: Florentina Spanu, Andreea Laiu, Zsuzsanna Sinka.
Romania also brings a young team to Algarve. They have four players under 20 years old and none over the age of 26. They finished a distant fourth in their group for World Cup qualifying.
Romania’s number one offensive player has to be midfielder/forward Cosmina Dusa. The 20-year old has been somewhat of a sensation in Romanian club soccer for CFF Olimpia Cluj, scoring a mind blowing amount of goals. Dusa scored five goals for the Romania in World Cup qualifying matches.
Florentina Spanu and Andreea Laiu are two of Romania’s top forwards. The midfield includes three 23-year olds in Raluca Sarghe, Melisa Iusan, and Laura Rus. Two of Romania’s most experienced players head the defense, Teodora Dragoescu and Corina Olar. Mirela Ganea is their goalkeeper.
This is another young squad looking to make progress and gain experience at Algarve. They are certainly worth a look, especially to see young Dusa.
Wales
Coach: Jarmo Matikainen
World Rank: #47
World Cup: Failed to qualify after finishing 4th in UEFA Group 8.
Latest Results:
UEFA WC Qualifying: Lost to Sweden 1-5, Defeated Azerbaijan 15-0.
Friendlies: Lost to Scotland 2-4, Defeated Bulgaria 8-1.
Algarve Cup Roster:
Goalkeepers: Rhian Nokes, Gemma Border.
Defenders: Sally Wade, Emma Jones, Nia Jones, Kerrie Manley, Jasmin Dutton, Kylie Davies.
Midfielders: Katie Daley, Josie Green, Michelle Green, Sophie Ingle, Sarah Adams, Jessica Fishlock.
Forwards: Loren Dykes, Laura-May Walkley, Gwennan Harries, Helen Lander, Emma Plewa, Cheryl Foster.
Wales won three of their eight World Cup qualifying matches, the most impressive of which was probably a 2-0 victory over the Czech Republic. They enter this tournament without one of their experienced veterans, midfielder Jayne Ludlow, who is injured. Many of Wales top players play club soccer in England.
Gwennan Harries and Helen Lander combined for 15 goals in qualifying, although it must be said that nine of those came in a lopsided 15-0 victory over Azerbaijan. Still, it gives Wales two young forwards to build around. Harries plays for Everton in England. 56-cap veteran Cheryl Foster is another forward. Jessica Fishlock is a top offensive threat in the midfield.
Emma Jones is Wales’ most experienced defender. Rhian Nokes started six of Wales’ eight qualifying matches and is their number one goalkeeper.
Coach Jarmo Matikainen sees this as an opportunity for his team to play several matches together and build as a team.
None of these teams qualified for the World Cup. The closest was Chile, who finished third in Conmebol qualifying, just out qualification. Portugal, Wales, and Romania had varying success at the group stage of UEFA qualifying, but none seriously challenged for a spot. But with four fairly evenly matched teams and all with several young players on their rosters, this could be an entertaining group to watch.
Chile
Coach: Marta Tejedor
World Rank: #46
World Cup: Failed to qualify after finishing third in the Conmebol qualifying tournament.
Latest Results:
Conmebol Second Stage Playoff Round: Tied Colombia 1-1, Tied Argentina 0-0, Lost to Brazil 1-3.
Conmebol Group Stage: Defeated Ecuador 2-1, Lost to Argentina 1-2, Defeated Bolivia 3-0, Defeated Peru 3-1.
Cyprus Cup Roster:
Goalkeepers: Christiane Endler, Natalia Campos.
Defenders: Javiera Guajardo, Camila Saez, Nicole Cornejo, Carla Guerrero.
Midfielders: Francisca Lara (D/MF), Karen Araya, Yanara Aedo, Rocio Soto, Maria Mardones, Daniela Fuenzalida, Valentina Lefort.
Forwards: Maria Jose Rojas, Nathalie Quezada, Daniela Zamora, Yessenia Huenteo, Janet Salgado.
Chile is bringing a very young team to the Algarve Cup. At least seven players competed in the 2008 U-20 World Cup and four were members of the U-17 World Cup team from 2010. Chile just missed qualifying for the World Cup, finishing closely behind Colombia.
The top three offensive threats for Chile are probably Francisca Lara, Karen Araya, and Janet Salgado. Lara and Araya scored three goals each during Chile’s qualification run, Salgado added two. Araya is just 20 years old.
Christiane Endler is Chile’s top goalkeeper. Two defenders from the U-17 team will be in Portugal, Camila Saez and Nicole Cornejo. Chile is a team with a tremendous upside and the Algarve Cup should be a great experience for them.
Portugal
Coach: Mónica Jorge
World Rank: #39
World Cup: Failed to qualify after finishing 3rd in UEFA Group 7.
Latest Results:
UEFA WC Qualifying (since July, 2010): Defeated Armenia 3-0
Algarve Cup Roster:
Goalkeepers: Neide Simões, Jamila Marreiros.
Defenders: Ines Borges, Carole Costa, Kim Brandão, Sõnia Matias, Ana Borges.
Midfielders: Silvia Rebelo, Ana Cristina Leite, Elsa Ventura, Dolores Silva, Sofia Vieira, Melissa Antunes, Noémia Figueiredo, Mónica Goncalves.
Forwards: Carolina Mendes, Lissette Brandão, Claudia Neto, Carla Couto, Edita Fernandes.
The host Portuguese squad enters Algarve Cup play following a 3rd place finish in the group stage of UEFA World Cup qualifying. They probably accomplished about what was expected of them, losing both matches to Italy and Finland and winning both matches against Armenia and Slovenia.
Probably the most well known player to American fans is Kim Brandão, a defender who played college soccer for Rutgers and has played for several teams in the W-League, including the 2010 Buffalo Flash championship team. Edita Fernandes is one of the team’s most accomplished players with 90 caps. She scored five goals in qualifying at forward.
Other players to watch are defender Ana Borges, midfielders Sofia Vieira, Dolores Silva, and Mónica Goncalves, and forward Carla Couto. Neide Simóes is the Portuguese goalkeeper. She posted three shutouts in qualifying and held Finland to just one goal in another match.
The home team is sure to be a fan favorite at Algarve and they are in a group with teams of nearly similar stature, which should make for some interesting matches.
Romania
Coach: Maria Delicoiu
World Rank: #37
World Cup: Failed to qualify after finishing 4th in UEFA Group 4.
Latest Results:
UEFA WC Qualifying (since July, 2010): Lost to Hungary 2-3, Lost to Ukraine 1-3.
Algarve Cup Roster:
Goalkeepers: Mirela Ganea, Roxana Oprea.
Defenders: Olivia Oprea, Elena Iuliana Pavel, Corina Olar, Teodora Dragoescu, Maria Ficzai, Monika Sinka, Tunde Mate, Ruxandra Elena Neagu.
Midfielders: Raluca Sarghe, Melisa Alexandra Iusan, Cosmina Dusa, Laura Roxana Rus, Andrea Herczeg, Stefania Iulia Vatafu, Georgiana Birtoiu, Ana Maria Stanciu.
Forwards: Florentina Spanu, Andreea Laiu, Zsuzsanna Sinka.
Romania also brings a young team to Algarve. They have four players under 20 years old and none over the age of 26. They finished a distant fourth in their group for World Cup qualifying.
Romania’s number one offensive player has to be midfielder/forward Cosmina Dusa. The 20-year old has been somewhat of a sensation in Romanian club soccer for CFF Olimpia Cluj, scoring a mind blowing amount of goals. Dusa scored five goals for the Romania in World Cup qualifying matches.
Florentina Spanu and Andreea Laiu are two of Romania’s top forwards. The midfield includes three 23-year olds in Raluca Sarghe, Melisa Iusan, and Laura Rus. Two of Romania’s most experienced players head the defense, Teodora Dragoescu and Corina Olar. Mirela Ganea is their goalkeeper.
This is another young squad looking to make progress and gain experience at Algarve. They are certainly worth a look, especially to see young Dusa.
Wales
Coach: Jarmo Matikainen
World Rank: #47
World Cup: Failed to qualify after finishing 4th in UEFA Group 8.
Latest Results:
UEFA WC Qualifying: Lost to Sweden 1-5, Defeated Azerbaijan 15-0.
Friendlies: Lost to Scotland 2-4, Defeated Bulgaria 8-1.
Algarve Cup Roster:
Goalkeepers: Rhian Nokes, Gemma Border.
Defenders: Sally Wade, Emma Jones, Nia Jones, Kerrie Manley, Jasmin Dutton, Kylie Davies.
Midfielders: Katie Daley, Josie Green, Michelle Green, Sophie Ingle, Sarah Adams, Jessica Fishlock.
Forwards: Loren Dykes, Laura-May Walkley, Gwennan Harries, Helen Lander, Emma Plewa, Cheryl Foster.
Wales won three of their eight World Cup qualifying matches, the most impressive of which was probably a 2-0 victory over the Czech Republic. They enter this tournament without one of their experienced veterans, midfielder Jayne Ludlow, who is injured. Many of Wales top players play club soccer in England.
Gwennan Harries and Helen Lander combined for 15 goals in qualifying, although it must be said that nine of those came in a lopsided 15-0 victory over Azerbaijan. Still, it gives Wales two young forwards to build around. Harries plays for Everton in England. 56-cap veteran Cheryl Foster is another forward. Jessica Fishlock is a top offensive threat in the midfield.
Emma Jones is Wales’ most experienced defender. Rhian Nokes started six of Wales’ eight qualifying matches and is their number one goalkeeper.
Coach Jarmo Matikainen sees this as an opportunity for his team to play several matches together and build as a team.
February 28, 2011
Algarve Cup - Group B Preview
Group B of the 2011 Algarve Cup features Sweden, China, Denmark, and Iceland. While all of those teams are strong sides, only Sweden qualified for the 2011 World Cup. Perhaps not so surprising, they bring the most veteran Group B team to Portugal.
Interestingly, Sweden and Denmark met last September in a critical two-match playoff for a World Cup berth. After winning the first leg 2-1, Sweden fell behind 2-0 to Denmark in the return match. Sweden rallied to take the berth, while Denmark went on to lose a further playoff match and did not make it.
With a young, rebounding China team and an always competitive team from Iceland, Group B should provide us with some interesting soccer.
China
Coach: Shang Ruihua
World Rank: #13
World Cup: Failed to qualify after losing the 3rd place match to Japan 0-2 at the Asian Cup.
Latest Results:
Four Nations Tournament: Lost to Canada 2-3, Defeated Sweden 2-1 , Lost to USA 0-2.
Friendlies: Lost to USA 1-2, Tied USA 1-1.
Algarve Cup Preliminary Training Roster:
Goalkeepers: Zhang Yanru, Huang Luna, Zhang Yue.
Additional Players: Zhou Gaoping (D), Li Danyang (D), Wang Dongni (D), Xuwen Jia (MF), Sun Ling (MF), Pang Fengyue (MF), Bi Yan (MF), Wang Lingling (MF), Qu Shanshan (MF), Gu Yasha (MF), Zhang Na (MF), Ma Jun (F), You Jia (F), Ma Xiaoxu (F), Li Lin (F), Wang Hang (F), Wu Min, Zhou Feifei, Gong Yuan Lu.
The Chinese team failed to qualify for the World Cup after finishing 4th at the Asian Cup last year and followed that with a 4th place finish at the Asian Games. They did score a 2-1 upset over Sweden at the Four Nations Tournament which they hosted. They also nearly defeated the United States last fall, settling for a 1-1 tie after the US scored a late goal.
Han Duan, Chinese second all-time leading scorer with 100 goals, will reportedly not be at Algarve. You Jia was one of the stars of the Four Nations Tournament, scoring twice against Canada and another against Sweden. Bi Yan is among China’s all-time leaders in caps.
Zhou Gaoping is one of China’s top young defenders. Zhang Yanru is China’s number one goalkeeper, but 20-year old Zhang Yue has been getting more looks and appears to be an emerging keeper on the Chinese team.
The Chinese roster for this tournament is a young one. They will be attempting to rebound from last year’s disappointment to return to the prominence of the 1999 team that finished runner-up at the World Cup.
Denmark
Coach: Kenneth Heiner-Møller
World Rank: #14
World Cup: Failed to qualify after winning UEFA Group 3, losing to Sweden by 3-4 aggregate, then losing to Switzerland by 1-3 aggregate.
Latest Results:
UEFA WC Playoff Rounds: Lost to Sweden 1-2, Tied Sweden 2-2 (extra time), Lost to Denmark 1-3, Tied Denmark 0-0.
UEFA WC Qualifying (since July, 2010): Tied Scotland 0-0.
Algarve Cup Roster:
Goalkeepers: Heidi Elgaard Johansen, Tine Cederkvist Viskær.
Defenders: Christina Øyangen Ørntoft, Janni Amth Jensen, Katrine Pedersen, Line Røddik Hansen, Line Sigvardsen Jensen, Mette Vestergaard Jensen.
Midfielders: Katrine Korsgaard, Katrine Veje, Sif Rykær, Sine Hovesen, Theresa Nielsen.
Forwards: Julie Rydahl Bukh, Kristine Pedersen, Lisa Overgaard Munk, Merete Greisen, Nadia Nadim, Pemille Mosegaard Harder, Sanne Troelsgaard Nielsen.
Denmark edged Scotland in group play, but fell short against both Sweden and Switzerland and failed to qualify for the 2011 World Cup. In addition, a long-time presence on the team has retired. Cathrine Paaske-Sørensen announced her retirement in November after 121 caps for the national team.
Talented Johanna Rasmussen scored 10 goals in qualifying matches and is probably Denmark’s most accomplished offensive player, but she is not listed on Denmark’s Algarve roster. The forwards that Denmark is bringing to Portugal are relatively inexperienced, with the exception of Julie Rydahl Bukh who is a ten year veteran of the team.
Katrine Pedersen leads the defense and has 170 caps to her credit for Denmark. Heidi Johansen and Tine Cederkvist Viskær share the goalkeeping duties.
The team that Denmark sends to Algarve will include three players that have never capped for them and ten other players that have received their first cap in just the last three years. While the roster includes several veterans, they are looking to build toward the future at Algarve.
Iceland
Coach: Sigurður Ragnar Eyjólfsson
World Rank: #17
World Cup: Failed to qualify after finishing 2nd to France in UEFA Group 1.
Latest Results:
UEFA WD Qualifying (since July, 2010): Defeated Estonia 5-0.
Algarve Cup Roster:
Goalkeepers: Þóra Björg Helgadóttir, Guðbjörg Gunnarsdóttir.
Defenders: Katrín Jónsdóttir, Ólína Guðbjörg Viðarsdóttir, Sif Atladóttir, Málfriður Erna Sigurðardóttir, Hallbera Guðny Gísladóttir, Thelma Björk Einarsdóttir.
Midfielders: Edda Garðarsdóttir, Dóra María Lárusdóttir, Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir, Katrín Ómarsdóttir, Rakel Hönnudóttir, Guðny Björk Óðinsdóttir, Greta Mjöll Samúelsdóttir, Dagny Brynjarsdóttir, Þórunn Helga Jónsdóttir.
Forwards: Margrét Lára Viðarsdóttir, Fanndís Friðriksdóttir, Kristín Yr Bjarnadóttir.
In spite of developing several talented players over the years, Iceland could not solve the French team in qualifying, falling short in their bid for the 2011 World Cup.
Iceland has several good offensive players. Their three top scorers in qualifying were Margrét Lára Viðarsdóttir, Katrín Jónsdóttir, and Hólmfriður Magnúsdóttir. Magnúsdottir is not going to be at Algarve, but Vidarsdóttir and Jónsdóttir will be. Viðarsdóttir scored ten goals in just nine matches in UEFA group stage play, a remarkable total.
Jónsdóttir is very experienced, with 102 international caps to her credit. Ólina Viðarsdóttir and Sif Atladóttir are also among Iceland’s best defenders. Þóra Helgadóttir is their number one goalkeeper and she shut out every opponent, with the exception of France, in qualifying.
Iceland has never made it to the World Cup, but they always seem to be knocking on the door. In the 2009 Euros, they drew an extremely tough Group B and lost to Germany, France, and Norway. If they are going to make strides toward future championships, they will need to start beating some of the top teams.
Sweden
Coach: Thomas Dennerby
World Rank: #4
World Cup: Qualified by winning UEFA Group 8 and then defeating Denmark 4-3 aggregate in a playoff.
Latest Results:
UEFA WC Qualifying Playoff: Defeated Denmark 2-1, Tied Denmark 2-2 (in extra time).
UEFA WC Qualifying (since July, 2010): Defeated Czech Republic 1-0, Defeated Wales 5-1.
Friendlies: Tied United States 1-1, Lost to United States 0-3.
Algarve Cup Roster:
Goalkeepers: Kristin Hammarström, Hedvig Lindahl, Carola Söberg.
Defenders: Sara Larssen, Lina Nilsson, Charlotte Rohlin, Stina Segerström, Linda Sembrandt, Annica Svensson, Sara Thunebro.
Midfielders & Forwards: Johanna Almgren, Kosovare Asllani, Lisa Dahlkvist, Madelaine Edlund, Nilla Fischer, Linda Forsberg, Antonia Göransson, Marie Hammarström, Jessica Landström, Lotta Schelin, Caroline Seger, Therese Sjögran, Josefine Öqvist.
Sweden is in the World Cup and is certainly a side that could win it. Several of Sweden’s players will be familiar to WPS fans. At least six of the players that Sweden will be sending to Algarve have spent time or will play in WPS and that only scratches the surface of the talent that this team has.
Therese Sjögran, a veteran of 163 international caps, will play for Sky Blue next year. The great veteran will lead the Swedes to Portugal. One player that has not played in WPS, not that many teams haven’t tried to sign her, is Lotta Schelin. Schelin is one the best offensive players in the game today. Jessica Landström, who played for Sky Blue and is now playing in Germany, is another talented offensive player. Kosovare Asllani has a lot of talent, but can be enigmatic at times.
Caroline Seger, now a member of the WNY Flash in the US, is a top notch midfielder in her own right. The Swedes have a very experienced defense with players like Stina Segerström, Charlotte Rohlin, and Sara Thunebro. Hedvig Lindahl is Sweden’s number one keeper.
With so much talent and experience, following Sweden can be a bit maddening. At the Four Nations tournament, they defeated the United States, but then fell to Canada and China. After sweeping through the group stage of UEFA World Cup qualifying, they needed a Rohlin goal in the 73rd minute in the second leg playoff match against Denmark to force overtime. Rohlin then scored in overtime to lift Sweden into the World Cup. If Sweden could get a bit more consistency, they will challenge for the World Cup in 2011.
Interestingly, Sweden and Denmark met last September in a critical two-match playoff for a World Cup berth. After winning the first leg 2-1, Sweden fell behind 2-0 to Denmark in the return match. Sweden rallied to take the berth, while Denmark went on to lose a further playoff match and did not make it.
With a young, rebounding China team and an always competitive team from Iceland, Group B should provide us with some interesting soccer.
China
Coach: Shang Ruihua
World Rank: #13
World Cup: Failed to qualify after losing the 3rd place match to Japan 0-2 at the Asian Cup.
Latest Results:
Four Nations Tournament: Lost to Canada 2-3, Defeated Sweden 2-1 , Lost to USA 0-2.
Friendlies: Lost to USA 1-2, Tied USA 1-1.
Algarve Cup Preliminary Training Roster:
Goalkeepers: Zhang Yanru, Huang Luna, Zhang Yue.
Additional Players: Zhou Gaoping (D), Li Danyang (D), Wang Dongni (D), Xuwen Jia (MF), Sun Ling (MF), Pang Fengyue (MF), Bi Yan (MF), Wang Lingling (MF), Qu Shanshan (MF), Gu Yasha (MF), Zhang Na (MF), Ma Jun (F), You Jia (F), Ma Xiaoxu (F), Li Lin (F), Wang Hang (F), Wu Min, Zhou Feifei, Gong Yuan Lu.
The Chinese team failed to qualify for the World Cup after finishing 4th at the Asian Cup last year and followed that with a 4th place finish at the Asian Games. They did score a 2-1 upset over Sweden at the Four Nations Tournament which they hosted. They also nearly defeated the United States last fall, settling for a 1-1 tie after the US scored a late goal.
Han Duan, Chinese second all-time leading scorer with 100 goals, will reportedly not be at Algarve. You Jia was one of the stars of the Four Nations Tournament, scoring twice against Canada and another against Sweden. Bi Yan is among China’s all-time leaders in caps.
Zhou Gaoping is one of China’s top young defenders. Zhang Yanru is China’s number one goalkeeper, but 20-year old Zhang Yue has been getting more looks and appears to be an emerging keeper on the Chinese team.
The Chinese roster for this tournament is a young one. They will be attempting to rebound from last year’s disappointment to return to the prominence of the 1999 team that finished runner-up at the World Cup.
Denmark
Coach: Kenneth Heiner-Møller
World Rank: #14
World Cup: Failed to qualify after winning UEFA Group 3, losing to Sweden by 3-4 aggregate, then losing to Switzerland by 1-3 aggregate.
Latest Results:
UEFA WC Playoff Rounds: Lost to Sweden 1-2, Tied Sweden 2-2 (extra time), Lost to Denmark 1-3, Tied Denmark 0-0.
UEFA WC Qualifying (since July, 2010): Tied Scotland 0-0.
Algarve Cup Roster:
Goalkeepers: Heidi Elgaard Johansen, Tine Cederkvist Viskær.
Defenders: Christina Øyangen Ørntoft, Janni Amth Jensen, Katrine Pedersen, Line Røddik Hansen, Line Sigvardsen Jensen, Mette Vestergaard Jensen.
Midfielders: Katrine Korsgaard, Katrine Veje, Sif Rykær, Sine Hovesen, Theresa Nielsen.
Forwards: Julie Rydahl Bukh, Kristine Pedersen, Lisa Overgaard Munk, Merete Greisen, Nadia Nadim, Pemille Mosegaard Harder, Sanne Troelsgaard Nielsen.
Denmark edged Scotland in group play, but fell short against both Sweden and Switzerland and failed to qualify for the 2011 World Cup. In addition, a long-time presence on the team has retired. Cathrine Paaske-Sørensen announced her retirement in November after 121 caps for the national team.
Talented Johanna Rasmussen scored 10 goals in qualifying matches and is probably Denmark’s most accomplished offensive player, but she is not listed on Denmark’s Algarve roster. The forwards that Denmark is bringing to Portugal are relatively inexperienced, with the exception of Julie Rydahl Bukh who is a ten year veteran of the team.
Katrine Pedersen leads the defense and has 170 caps to her credit for Denmark. Heidi Johansen and Tine Cederkvist Viskær share the goalkeeping duties.
The team that Denmark sends to Algarve will include three players that have never capped for them and ten other players that have received their first cap in just the last three years. While the roster includes several veterans, they are looking to build toward the future at Algarve.
Iceland
Coach: Sigurður Ragnar Eyjólfsson
World Rank: #17
World Cup: Failed to qualify after finishing 2nd to France in UEFA Group 1.
Latest Results:
UEFA WD Qualifying (since July, 2010): Defeated Estonia 5-0.
Algarve Cup Roster:
Goalkeepers: Þóra Björg Helgadóttir, Guðbjörg Gunnarsdóttir.
Defenders: Katrín Jónsdóttir, Ólína Guðbjörg Viðarsdóttir, Sif Atladóttir, Málfriður Erna Sigurðardóttir, Hallbera Guðny Gísladóttir, Thelma Björk Einarsdóttir.
Midfielders: Edda Garðarsdóttir, Dóra María Lárusdóttir, Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir, Katrín Ómarsdóttir, Rakel Hönnudóttir, Guðny Björk Óðinsdóttir, Greta Mjöll Samúelsdóttir, Dagny Brynjarsdóttir, Þórunn Helga Jónsdóttir.
Forwards: Margrét Lára Viðarsdóttir, Fanndís Friðriksdóttir, Kristín Yr Bjarnadóttir.
In spite of developing several talented players over the years, Iceland could not solve the French team in qualifying, falling short in their bid for the 2011 World Cup.
Iceland has several good offensive players. Their three top scorers in qualifying were Margrét Lára Viðarsdóttir, Katrín Jónsdóttir, and Hólmfriður Magnúsdóttir. Magnúsdottir is not going to be at Algarve, but Vidarsdóttir and Jónsdóttir will be. Viðarsdóttir scored ten goals in just nine matches in UEFA group stage play, a remarkable total.
Jónsdóttir is very experienced, with 102 international caps to her credit. Ólina Viðarsdóttir and Sif Atladóttir are also among Iceland’s best defenders. Þóra Helgadóttir is their number one goalkeeper and she shut out every opponent, with the exception of France, in qualifying.
Iceland has never made it to the World Cup, but they always seem to be knocking on the door. In the 2009 Euros, they drew an extremely tough Group B and lost to Germany, France, and Norway. If they are going to make strides toward future championships, they will need to start beating some of the top teams.
Sweden
Coach: Thomas Dennerby
World Rank: #4
World Cup: Qualified by winning UEFA Group 8 and then defeating Denmark 4-3 aggregate in a playoff.
Latest Results:
UEFA WC Qualifying Playoff: Defeated Denmark 2-1, Tied Denmark 2-2 (in extra time).
UEFA WC Qualifying (since July, 2010): Defeated Czech Republic 1-0, Defeated Wales 5-1.
Friendlies: Tied United States 1-1, Lost to United States 0-3.
Algarve Cup Roster:
Goalkeepers: Kristin Hammarström, Hedvig Lindahl, Carola Söberg.
Defenders: Sara Larssen, Lina Nilsson, Charlotte Rohlin, Stina Segerström, Linda Sembrandt, Annica Svensson, Sara Thunebro.
Midfielders & Forwards: Johanna Almgren, Kosovare Asllani, Lisa Dahlkvist, Madelaine Edlund, Nilla Fischer, Linda Forsberg, Antonia Göransson, Marie Hammarström, Jessica Landström, Lotta Schelin, Caroline Seger, Therese Sjögran, Josefine Öqvist.
Sweden is in the World Cup and is certainly a side that could win it. Several of Sweden’s players will be familiar to WPS fans. At least six of the players that Sweden will be sending to Algarve have spent time or will play in WPS and that only scratches the surface of the talent that this team has.
Therese Sjögran, a veteran of 163 international caps, will play for Sky Blue next year. The great veteran will lead the Swedes to Portugal. One player that has not played in WPS, not that many teams haven’t tried to sign her, is Lotta Schelin. Schelin is one the best offensive players in the game today. Jessica Landström, who played for Sky Blue and is now playing in Germany, is another talented offensive player. Kosovare Asllani has a lot of talent, but can be enigmatic at times.
Caroline Seger, now a member of the WNY Flash in the US, is a top notch midfielder in her own right. The Swedes have a very experienced defense with players like Stina Segerström, Charlotte Rohlin, and Sara Thunebro. Hedvig Lindahl is Sweden’s number one keeper.
With so much talent and experience, following Sweden can be a bit maddening. At the Four Nations tournament, they defeated the United States, but then fell to Canada and China. After sweeping through the group stage of UEFA World Cup qualifying, they needed a Rohlin goal in the 73rd minute in the second leg playoff match against Denmark to force overtime. Rohlin then scored in overtime to lift Sweden into the World Cup. If Sweden could get a bit more consistency, they will challenge for the World Cup in 2011.
February 25, 2011
Algarve Cup - Group A Preview
The Algarve Cup has been an annual stop for the United States, Sweden, and several other northern European countries. The tournament generally offers top competition in a somewhat relaxed setting. Missing from this year's tournament is the 2010 runner-up, Germany. Taking their place in the first two groups is Japan.
Of course, the importance of this year's competition is that it is a World Cup year, meaning that some roster spots for June may be won or lost based on play at Algarve. This year's field features four World Cup teams, the United States, Sweden, Norway, and Japan. Also in Portugal are four other teams that came close, but fell just short of qualifying. They are Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and China.
On paper, Group A is the toughest, with three of the world's top seven teams, plus a strong side from Finland. Here is a preview of Group A:
Finland
Coach: Andrée Jeglertz
World Rank: #16
World Cup: Failed to qualify after finishing 2nd in UEFA Group 7 behind Italy.
Latest Results:
Friendies: Defeated Russia 5-4.
UEFA WC Qualifying (Since July, 2010): Lost to Italy 1-3, Defeated Slovenia 4-1.
Algarve Cup Roster:
Goalkeepers: Minna Meriluoto, Tinja-Riikka Korpela, Katja Kankaanpää.
Defenders: Tuija Hyyrynen, Susanna Lehtinen, Maija Saari, Tiina Salmén, Petra Vaelma, Katri Nokso-Koivisto, Elina Syrjälä.
Midfielders & Forwards: Laura Österberg Kalmari, Pernilla Nordlund, Essi Sainio, Jaana Lyytikäinen, Emmi Alanen, Annika Kukkonen, Annika Sjölund, Marianna Tolvanen, Linda Sällström, Leena Puranen, Anna-Kaisa Rantanen.
The Finnish team certainly had to be disappointed at missing the World Cup. They were in good position to advance out of the group stage, but lost an important match to Italy at home by a 3-1 margin.
Finland's best play in several top leagues around the world, including Sweden and Germany. One name on the roster will stand out to American soccer fans. Laura Kalmari played the 2010 season with Sky Blue FC, scoring five goals. She was also Finland's leading scorer in World Cup qualifying matches with seven goals. She has 40 career goals as a national team player.
While Kalmari is probably Finland's biggest scoring threat, they have other offensive options. Linda Sällstrom, who plays club soccer in Sweden for Linköpings, scored five goals in qualifying. She is just 22 years old. Annica Sjölund also notched five goals in qualifying matches. Midfielder Anna-Kaisa Rantanen is nearing 100 career caps.
Defensively, the Finns are led by Tiina Salmén, Maija Saari, and Susanna Lehtinen, who can play both defender and midfielder. The goalkeeping duties are shared by Tinja-Riikka Korpela and Minna Meriluoto.
Finland has the misfortune of being place with three World Cup qualified teams in this group, but they can certainly hold their own against any of them.
Japan
Coach: Norio Sasaki
World Rank: #5
World Cup: Qualified by finishing 3rd in the Asian Cup, defeating China by a 2-0 margin.
Latest Results:
Asian Games: Defeated Thailand 4-0, Tied Korea DPR 0-0, Defeated China 1-0, Defeated North Korea 1-0.
Algarve Cup Roster:
Goalkeepers: Nozomi Yamago, Miho Fukumoto, Ayumi Kaihori.
Defenders: Yukari Kinga, Kyoko Yano, Azusa Iwashimizu, Aya Sameshima, Yuki Sakai, Saki Kumagai, Akane Saito.
Midfielders: Homare Sawa, Aya Miyama, Nahomi Kawasumi, Megumi Kamionobe, Mizuho Sakaguchi, Asuna Tanaka, Rumi Utsugi.
Forwards: Eriko Arakawa, Kozue Ando, Shinobu Ohno, Mami Yamaguchi, Yuki Nagasato, Megumi Takase.
Japan, always regarded as one of the best technical teams in the world, is ranked 5th in the world. They survived a mild upset at the hands of Australia and still managed to qualify for the 2011 World Cup.
Several Japanese players have graced the WPS including Homare Sawa, Aya Miyama, Eriko Arakawa, and Mami Yamaguchi. Sawa and Arakawa are the veterans of the squad, along with goalkeeper Nozomi Yamago. Sawa is nearing 80 international goals, quite a record for the former Washington Freedom midfielder. Arakawa, probably unfairly known more for her flamboyant hairstyle, is a very skilled player that can run at defenders or feed teammates.
Meanwhile, Miyama might be one of the best in the world at placing free kicks and corners. She was the WPS assist leader in 2009. Yamaguchi, who has played professionally in both Sweden and the US, has a world of potential. Shinobu Ohno is a top notch forward and has over 30 international goals to her credit. Kozue Ando is another top veteran for the offense.
With many of their top players reaching their prime, will this be the year that Japan breaks through and wins the World Cup? A good tournament at Algarve would be a step in the right direction.
Norway
Coach: Eli Landsem
World Rank: #7
World Cup: Qualified by winning UEFA Group 2 and then defeating Ukraine by 3-0 aggregate.
Latest Results:
UEFA WC Playoff Round: Defeated Ukraine 1-0, Defeated Ukraine 2-0.
UEFA WC Qualifying (since July, 2010): Defeated Slovakia 4-0, Defeated FYROM (Macedonia) 7-0.
Algarve Cup Roster:
Goalkeepers: Ingrid Hjelmseth, Erika Espeseth Skarbø, Caroline Knutsen.
Defenders: Maren Mjelde, Hedda Strand Gardsjord, Runa Vikestad, Nora Holstad Berge.
Midfielders: Lisa-Marie Woods, Lene Mykjåland, Guro Knutsen Mienna, Gry Tofte Ims, Trine Rønning, Lene Storløkken, Madeleine Giske.
Forwards: Leni Larsen Kaurin, Lise Klaveness, Isabell Herlovsen, Elise Thorsnes, Cecilie Pedersen, Lindy Melissa Wiik, Ingrid Ryland.
Norway has made it to at least the quarterfinals in every World Cup played. They are trying to build back to the level of the 1995 Championship team. They had a relatively easy time winning Group 2 of UEFA World Cup qualifying, beating out Holland by five points. They then won both matches against Ukraine to earn their berth in the World Cup.
Absent will be two long-time stars for the team. Solveig Gulbrandsen retired last year after a wonderful career and Ingvild Stensland is nursing a back injury. That leaves midfielder Trine Rønning as the most capped player for Norway at Algarve.
Isabell Herlovsen was Norway's leading scorer in WC qualifying with nine goals. At age 22, she already has 18 in her career for Norway's national team. WPS midfielder Lene Mykjåland is one if the top players in the tournament. Young Cecilie Pedersen could be a player to watch for the future.
The defense is a relatively young group, but there is a veteran at goalkeeper in Ingrid Hjelmseth. Hjelmseth gave up just two goals in qualifying matches, both to Holland. It will be interesting to see how Norway fares at Algarve, especially since they are missing one of their top players.
United States
Coach: Pia Sundhage
World Rank: #1
World Cup: Qualified by finishing 3rd in the CONCACAF region, then defeating Italy in a playoff by 2-0 aggregate.
Latest Results:
Four Nations Tournament: Lost to Sweden 1-2, Defeated Canada 2-1, Defeated China 2-0.
WC Qualifying Playoff: Defeated Italy 1-0, Defeated Italy 1-0.
CONCACAF WC Qualifiers: Defeated Haiti 5-0, Defeated Guatemala 9-0, Defeated Costa Rica 4-0, Lost to Mexico 1-2, Defeated Costa Rica 3-0.
Friendlies: Tied Sweden 1-1, Defeated Sweden 3-0, Defeated China 2-1, Tied China 1-1.
Algarve Cup Roster:
Goalkeepers: Nicole Barnhart, Ashlyn Harris, Alyssa Naeher, Hope Solo (not active).
Defenders: Rachel Buehler, Stephanie Cox, Whitney Engen, Ali Krieger, Amy LePeilbet, Christie Rampone, Becky Sauerbrunn.
Midfielders: Yael Averbuch, Shannon Boxx, Tobin Heath, Lori Lindsey, Carli Lloyd, Kelley O'Hara, Heather O'Reilly, Megan Rapinoe, Lindsay Tarpley.
Forwards: Lauren Cheney, Alex Morgan, Amy Rodriguez, Abby Wambach.
The United States appeared to be in top form last May, easily defeating the world's number two team, Germany, by a 4-0 margin. Since then, there have been some bumps in the road. They nearly lost to China on their home turf, pulling out a 1-1 tie in the final 10 minutes. They then lost to Mexico at CONCACAF. They managed to squeak by Italy twice by 1-0 margins, with the first being a goal well into stoppage. They then lost the opener at the Four Nations Tournament to Sweden. They did manage to rebound with wins over Canada and China.
Judging by her selections for this tournament, Pia Sundhage just about has her mind made up about the 21 players that will head to Germany in June. There are probably only three or four positions up for grabs, with one of them being the third keeper. Speaking of keepers, Hope Solo will be making the trip, but it will be strictly for training purposes as she is still recovering from shoulder surgery. Nicole Barnhart has the number two spot nailed down, leaving it to Ashlyn Harris and Alyssa Naeher to battle for the final spot.
There is very little new with this roster, except Whitney Engen on defense. The young defender who played her rookie season with the Chicago Red Stars, should see some action in this tournament. The rest of the back line is made up of experienced players like Christie Rampone and Amy LePeilbet.
The midfield should see the biggest competition for WC positions. Tobin Heath, just returning from her injury, is looking to make her mark on this team. Lindsay Tarpley has played well since her reemergence on the national scene.
At forward, it's power and speed. Abby Wambach and Lauren Cheney provide the power, while Alex Morgan and Amy Rodriguez provide the speed. Morgan has been especially prominent lately, scoring very big goals against China and Italy.
The US team got a wake-up call at Cancun. We'll see if they can rebound and be a major force at this year's World Cup.
Of course, the importance of this year's competition is that it is a World Cup year, meaning that some roster spots for June may be won or lost based on play at Algarve. This year's field features four World Cup teams, the United States, Sweden, Norway, and Japan. Also in Portugal are four other teams that came close, but fell just short of qualifying. They are Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and China.
On paper, Group A is the toughest, with three of the world's top seven teams, plus a strong side from Finland. Here is a preview of Group A:
Finland
Coach: Andrée Jeglertz
World Rank: #16
World Cup: Failed to qualify after finishing 2nd in UEFA Group 7 behind Italy.
Latest Results:
Friendies: Defeated Russia 5-4.
UEFA WC Qualifying (Since July, 2010): Lost to Italy 1-3, Defeated Slovenia 4-1.
Algarve Cup Roster:
Goalkeepers: Minna Meriluoto, Tinja-Riikka Korpela, Katja Kankaanpää.
Defenders: Tuija Hyyrynen, Susanna Lehtinen, Maija Saari, Tiina Salmén, Petra Vaelma, Katri Nokso-Koivisto, Elina Syrjälä.
Midfielders & Forwards: Laura Österberg Kalmari, Pernilla Nordlund, Essi Sainio, Jaana Lyytikäinen, Emmi Alanen, Annika Kukkonen, Annika Sjölund, Marianna Tolvanen, Linda Sällström, Leena Puranen, Anna-Kaisa Rantanen.
The Finnish team certainly had to be disappointed at missing the World Cup. They were in good position to advance out of the group stage, but lost an important match to Italy at home by a 3-1 margin.
Finland's best play in several top leagues around the world, including Sweden and Germany. One name on the roster will stand out to American soccer fans. Laura Kalmari played the 2010 season with Sky Blue FC, scoring five goals. She was also Finland's leading scorer in World Cup qualifying matches with seven goals. She has 40 career goals as a national team player.
While Kalmari is probably Finland's biggest scoring threat, they have other offensive options. Linda Sällstrom, who plays club soccer in Sweden for Linköpings, scored five goals in qualifying. She is just 22 years old. Annica Sjölund also notched five goals in qualifying matches. Midfielder Anna-Kaisa Rantanen is nearing 100 career caps.
Defensively, the Finns are led by Tiina Salmén, Maija Saari, and Susanna Lehtinen, who can play both defender and midfielder. The goalkeeping duties are shared by Tinja-Riikka Korpela and Minna Meriluoto.
Finland has the misfortune of being place with three World Cup qualified teams in this group, but they can certainly hold their own against any of them.
Japan
Coach: Norio Sasaki
World Rank: #5
World Cup: Qualified by finishing 3rd in the Asian Cup, defeating China by a 2-0 margin.
Latest Results:
Asian Games: Defeated Thailand 4-0, Tied Korea DPR 0-0, Defeated China 1-0, Defeated North Korea 1-0.
Algarve Cup Roster:
Goalkeepers: Nozomi Yamago, Miho Fukumoto, Ayumi Kaihori.
Defenders: Yukari Kinga, Kyoko Yano, Azusa Iwashimizu, Aya Sameshima, Yuki Sakai, Saki Kumagai, Akane Saito.
Midfielders: Homare Sawa, Aya Miyama, Nahomi Kawasumi, Megumi Kamionobe, Mizuho Sakaguchi, Asuna Tanaka, Rumi Utsugi.
Forwards: Eriko Arakawa, Kozue Ando, Shinobu Ohno, Mami Yamaguchi, Yuki Nagasato, Megumi Takase.
Japan, always regarded as one of the best technical teams in the world, is ranked 5th in the world. They survived a mild upset at the hands of Australia and still managed to qualify for the 2011 World Cup.
Several Japanese players have graced the WPS including Homare Sawa, Aya Miyama, Eriko Arakawa, and Mami Yamaguchi. Sawa and Arakawa are the veterans of the squad, along with goalkeeper Nozomi Yamago. Sawa is nearing 80 international goals, quite a record for the former Washington Freedom midfielder. Arakawa, probably unfairly known more for her flamboyant hairstyle, is a very skilled player that can run at defenders or feed teammates.
Meanwhile, Miyama might be one of the best in the world at placing free kicks and corners. She was the WPS assist leader in 2009. Yamaguchi, who has played professionally in both Sweden and the US, has a world of potential. Shinobu Ohno is a top notch forward and has over 30 international goals to her credit. Kozue Ando is another top veteran for the offense.
With many of their top players reaching their prime, will this be the year that Japan breaks through and wins the World Cup? A good tournament at Algarve would be a step in the right direction.
Norway
Coach: Eli Landsem
World Rank: #7
World Cup: Qualified by winning UEFA Group 2 and then defeating Ukraine by 3-0 aggregate.
Latest Results:
UEFA WC Playoff Round: Defeated Ukraine 1-0, Defeated Ukraine 2-0.
UEFA WC Qualifying (since July, 2010): Defeated Slovakia 4-0, Defeated FYROM (Macedonia) 7-0.
Algarve Cup Roster:
Goalkeepers: Ingrid Hjelmseth, Erika Espeseth Skarbø, Caroline Knutsen.
Defenders: Maren Mjelde, Hedda Strand Gardsjord, Runa Vikestad, Nora Holstad Berge.
Midfielders: Lisa-Marie Woods, Lene Mykjåland, Guro Knutsen Mienna, Gry Tofte Ims, Trine Rønning, Lene Storløkken, Madeleine Giske.
Forwards: Leni Larsen Kaurin, Lise Klaveness, Isabell Herlovsen, Elise Thorsnes, Cecilie Pedersen, Lindy Melissa Wiik, Ingrid Ryland.
Norway has made it to at least the quarterfinals in every World Cup played. They are trying to build back to the level of the 1995 Championship team. They had a relatively easy time winning Group 2 of UEFA World Cup qualifying, beating out Holland by five points. They then won both matches against Ukraine to earn their berth in the World Cup.
Absent will be two long-time stars for the team. Solveig Gulbrandsen retired last year after a wonderful career and Ingvild Stensland is nursing a back injury. That leaves midfielder Trine Rønning as the most capped player for Norway at Algarve.
Isabell Herlovsen was Norway's leading scorer in WC qualifying with nine goals. At age 22, she already has 18 in her career for Norway's national team. WPS midfielder Lene Mykjåland is one if the top players in the tournament. Young Cecilie Pedersen could be a player to watch for the future.
The defense is a relatively young group, but there is a veteran at goalkeeper in Ingrid Hjelmseth. Hjelmseth gave up just two goals in qualifying matches, both to Holland. It will be interesting to see how Norway fares at Algarve, especially since they are missing one of their top players.
United States
Coach: Pia Sundhage
World Rank: #1
World Cup: Qualified by finishing 3rd in the CONCACAF region, then defeating Italy in a playoff by 2-0 aggregate.
Latest Results:
Four Nations Tournament: Lost to Sweden 1-2, Defeated Canada 2-1, Defeated China 2-0.
WC Qualifying Playoff: Defeated Italy 1-0, Defeated Italy 1-0.
CONCACAF WC Qualifiers: Defeated Haiti 5-0, Defeated Guatemala 9-0, Defeated Costa Rica 4-0, Lost to Mexico 1-2, Defeated Costa Rica 3-0.
Friendlies: Tied Sweden 1-1, Defeated Sweden 3-0, Defeated China 2-1, Tied China 1-1.
Algarve Cup Roster:
Goalkeepers: Nicole Barnhart, Ashlyn Harris, Alyssa Naeher, Hope Solo (not active).
Defenders: Rachel Buehler, Stephanie Cox, Whitney Engen, Ali Krieger, Amy LePeilbet, Christie Rampone, Becky Sauerbrunn.
Midfielders: Yael Averbuch, Shannon Boxx, Tobin Heath, Lori Lindsey, Carli Lloyd, Kelley O'Hara, Heather O'Reilly, Megan Rapinoe, Lindsay Tarpley.
Forwards: Lauren Cheney, Alex Morgan, Amy Rodriguez, Abby Wambach.
The United States appeared to be in top form last May, easily defeating the world's number two team, Germany, by a 4-0 margin. Since then, there have been some bumps in the road. They nearly lost to China on their home turf, pulling out a 1-1 tie in the final 10 minutes. They then lost to Mexico at CONCACAF. They managed to squeak by Italy twice by 1-0 margins, with the first being a goal well into stoppage. They then lost the opener at the Four Nations Tournament to Sweden. They did manage to rebound with wins over Canada and China.
Judging by her selections for this tournament, Pia Sundhage just about has her mind made up about the 21 players that will head to Germany in June. There are probably only three or four positions up for grabs, with one of them being the third keeper. Speaking of keepers, Hope Solo will be making the trip, but it will be strictly for training purposes as she is still recovering from shoulder surgery. Nicole Barnhart has the number two spot nailed down, leaving it to Ashlyn Harris and Alyssa Naeher to battle for the final spot.
There is very little new with this roster, except Whitney Engen on defense. The young defender who played her rookie season with the Chicago Red Stars, should see some action in this tournament. The rest of the back line is made up of experienced players like Christie Rampone and Amy LePeilbet.
The midfield should see the biggest competition for WC positions. Tobin Heath, just returning from her injury, is looking to make her mark on this team. Lindsay Tarpley has played well since her reemergence on the national scene.
At forward, it's power and speed. Abby Wambach and Lauren Cheney provide the power, while Alex Morgan and Amy Rodriguez provide the speed. Morgan has been especially prominent lately, scoring very big goals against China and Italy.
The US team got a wake-up call at Cancun. We'll see if they can rebound and be a major force at this year's World Cup.
March 3, 2010
US Defeats Germany for Algarve Title 3-2
The United States got goals from Abby Wambach, Carli Lloyd, and Lauren Cheney to defeat Germany 3-2 in the Algarve Cup final. Germany was led by Inka Grings, who scored both of their goals, giving her 7 for the tournament.
In the 3rd place game, Sweden defeated China 2-0. Other finals:
5th: Denmark 2, Norway 1.
7th: Romania 1, Finland 0.
9th: Iceland 3, Portugal 0.
11th: Austria 6, Faroe Islands 0.
In the 3rd place game, Sweden defeated China 2-0. Other finals:
5th: Denmark 2, Norway 1.
7th: Romania 1, Finland 0.
9th: Iceland 3, Portugal 0.
11th: Austria 6, Faroe Islands 0.
March 2, 2010
It's Number 1 vs. Number 2 in Algarve Cup Final
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Labels: Abby Wambach, Algarve Cup, Birgit Prinz, Germany, Inka Grings, Lauren Cheney, USWNT
Labels: Abby Wambach, Algarve Cup, Birgit Prinz, Germany, Inka Grings, Lauren Cheney, USWNT
The two top ranked teams in the world according to FIFA rankings will meet to decide the championship of the 2010 Algarve Cup. The US will meet Germany on Wednesday at 11 am eastern time.
The last time these two teams met was in October at Augsburg, Germany before a huge crowd of over 30,000. The US came out on top in that match by a 1-0 score. Strangely enough, the two teams did not meet in either the 2007 World Cup or 2008 Olympics.
Germany had very little trouble getting out of Group A in the competition at Algarve, winning all three matches by a combined score of 16-0. Ten different players have scored for the Germans. Inka Grings has scored 5 of those goals and has moved into 3rd on Germany's all-time leading scorer list with 55 goals. Teammate and three-time FIFA Player of the Year, Birgit Prinz is at the top of that list with 126 goals.
The US were able to defeat three strong opponents in Group B, including last year's Algarve champion, Sweden. The Americans have been led by Lauren Cheney and Abby Wambach, with 3 and 2 goals respectively. Lori Lindsey has added 3 assists for the US.
The two teams met in both the 2005 and 2006 Algarve Cup finals, splitting the two decisions.
The last time these two teams met was in October at Augsburg, Germany before a huge crowd of over 30,000. The US came out on top in that match by a 1-0 score. Strangely enough, the two teams did not meet in either the 2007 World Cup or 2008 Olympics.
Germany had very little trouble getting out of Group A in the competition at Algarve, winning all three matches by a combined score of 16-0. Ten different players have scored for the Germans. Inka Grings has scored 5 of those goals and has moved into 3rd on Germany's all-time leading scorer list with 55 goals. Teammate and three-time FIFA Player of the Year, Birgit Prinz is at the top of that list with 126 goals.
The US were able to defeat three strong opponents in Group B, including last year's Algarve champion, Sweden. The Americans have been led by Lauren Cheney and Abby Wambach, with 3 and 2 goals respectively. Lori Lindsey has added 3 assists for the US.
The two teams met in both the 2005 and 2006 Algarve Cup finals, splitting the two decisions.
February 28, 2010
US Faces Sweden for a Berth in Algarve Final
The United States Women's National Team will face Sweden on Monday, with a spot in the Algarve Cup final at stake. The US would advance to the final with a win or a tie against Sweden. In Group A, Germany is in virtually the same position, needing only a win or tie over China to make the final.
The schedule organizers did the US no favors by placing them in the same group with Sweden and Norway, coincidentally, the last two teams to defeat the US in international competition. The US lost to Sweden in last year's Algarve Cup final and to Norway in the opening round of the 2008 Olympic Games.
A year ago, Sweden defeated the US in the Algarve Final which was decided on penalty kicks. Sweden had the upper hand for most of that game, with great goalkeeping by Hope Solo keeping the match close, before a late Shannon Boxx goal sent the game into penalties. It then took 7 penalty rounds to decide a winner.
Both Pia Sundhage of the US and Thomas Dennerby of Sweden have experimented with their lineups in their first two matches. Expect both to start their A-listers on Monday. The US has not trailed in either of their matches, although the game against Norway went down to the wire, with Abby Wambach scoring in stoppage time for the victory. By contrast, Sweden has trailed early in both matches, falling behind Norway 2-0 before fighting back for a tie, and trailing Iceland 1-0 at halftime before disposing of them by a 5-1 score.
In last year's meeting, Swedish strikers, most particularly Lotta Schelin, got behind American defenders repeatedly. The US cannot afford a repeat of that performance, although goalkeeper Hope Solo appears to be on top of her game, stopping two penalties against Iceland. One thing that is different from last year's matchup is that Abby Wambach is back and healthy for the US squad. After scoring her 100th career USWNT goal last year and finishing the 2009 WPS season on a scoring spree, she appears to be back in form. Wambach scored both goals in the US victory over Norway on Friday.
In the other Group B match, Norway will face Iceland. Meanwhile in Group A, the mighty Germans have outscored their two opponents by an 11-0 margin and only China stands in their way for a berth in Wednesday's final. Denmark and Finland will meet in the other Group A matchup.
The schedule organizers did the US no favors by placing them in the same group with Sweden and Norway, coincidentally, the last two teams to defeat the US in international competition. The US lost to Sweden in last year's Algarve Cup final and to Norway in the opening round of the 2008 Olympic Games.
A year ago, Sweden defeated the US in the Algarve Final which was decided on penalty kicks. Sweden had the upper hand for most of that game, with great goalkeeping by Hope Solo keeping the match close, before a late Shannon Boxx goal sent the game into penalties. It then took 7 penalty rounds to decide a winner.
Both Pia Sundhage of the US and Thomas Dennerby of Sweden have experimented with their lineups in their first two matches. Expect both to start their A-listers on Monday. The US has not trailed in either of their matches, although the game against Norway went down to the wire, with Abby Wambach scoring in stoppage time for the victory. By contrast, Sweden has trailed early in both matches, falling behind Norway 2-0 before fighting back for a tie, and trailing Iceland 1-0 at halftime before disposing of them by a 5-1 score.
In last year's meeting, Swedish strikers, most particularly Lotta Schelin, got behind American defenders repeatedly. The US cannot afford a repeat of that performance, although goalkeeper Hope Solo appears to be on top of her game, stopping two penalties against Iceland. One thing that is different from last year's matchup is that Abby Wambach is back and healthy for the US squad. After scoring her 100th career USWNT goal last year and finishing the 2009 WPS season on a scoring spree, she appears to be back in form. Wambach scored both goals in the US victory over Norway on Friday.
In the other Group B match, Norway will face Iceland. Meanwhile in Group A, the mighty Germans have outscored their two opponents by an 11-0 margin and only China stands in their way for a berth in Wednesday's final. Denmark and Finland will meet in the other Group A matchup.
February 11, 2010
US Algarve Cup Team Announced; Chalupny Out Indefinitely
Pia Sundhage has named a 19 player roster for the upcoming Algarve Cup to be played in Portugal. The roster includes a nice mixture of young players and veterans. Three recent draftees made the roster, Tobin Heath, Lauren Cheney, and Casey Nogueira. It also includes two players looking for their first cap, goalkeeper Jill Loyden and defender/midfielder Meghan Schnur. Those two players, along with Lori Lindsey and Yael Averbuch, had solid WPS seasons last year which probably influenced Sundhage to give them a look for the national team.
Missing from the team will be Lori Chalupny, who had been the team's captain and co-captain during 2009. Chalupny is suffering concussion symptoms and will be out indefinitely.
The US is in Group B with Norway, Iceland, and Sweden. Norway defeated the US in the group stage of the 2008 Olympics, but US defeated them at the 2009 Algarve Cup. Sweden defeated the US in the 2009 Algarve Championship Game.
GOALKEEPERS (3): Nicole Barnhart (FC Gold Pride), Jill Loyden (Chicago Red Stars), Hope Solo (St. Louis Athletica)
DEFENDERS (6): Rachel Buehler (FC Gold Pride), Stephanie Cox (Boston Breakers), Amy LePeilbet (Boston Breakers), Heather Mitts (Philadelphia Independence), Meghan Schnur (Sky Blue FC), Cat Whitehill (Washington Freedom)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Yael Averbuch (Sky Blue FC), Shannon Boxx (St. Louis Athletica), Tobin Heath (Atlanta Beat), Lori Lindsey (Philadelphia Independence), Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC), Heather O’Reilly (Sky Blue FC)
FORWARDS (4): Lauren Cheney (Boston Breakers), Casey Nogueira (Chicago Red Stars), Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia Independence), Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom)
Missing from the team will be Lori Chalupny, who had been the team's captain and co-captain during 2009. Chalupny is suffering concussion symptoms and will be out indefinitely.
The US is in Group B with Norway, Iceland, and Sweden. Norway defeated the US in the group stage of the 2008 Olympics, but US defeated them at the 2009 Algarve Cup. Sweden defeated the US in the 2009 Algarve Championship Game.
GOALKEEPERS (3): Nicole Barnhart (FC Gold Pride), Jill Loyden (Chicago Red Stars), Hope Solo (St. Louis Athletica)
DEFENDERS (6): Rachel Buehler (FC Gold Pride), Stephanie Cox (Boston Breakers), Amy LePeilbet (Boston Breakers), Heather Mitts (Philadelphia Independence), Meghan Schnur (Sky Blue FC), Cat Whitehill (Washington Freedom)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Yael Averbuch (Sky Blue FC), Shannon Boxx (St. Louis Athletica), Tobin Heath (Atlanta Beat), Lori Lindsey (Philadelphia Independence), Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC), Heather O’Reilly (Sky Blue FC)
FORWARDS (4): Lauren Cheney (Boston Breakers), Casey Nogueira (Chicago Red Stars), Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia Independence), Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom)
January 18, 2010
Portugal's Algarve Cup 2010: 24th February - 3rd March 2010 [Preview 1]
GROUP A
Germany
Denmark
China
Finland
GROUP B
USA
Sweden
Norway
Iceland
GROUP C
Romania
Austria
Portugal
Faroe Islands
All six Nordic nations are competing now with Faroe Islands being the sixth.
February 7, 2009
Roster Named for Algarve Cup
Here is coach Pia Sundhage's roster for the Algarve Cup in Portugal starting March 4. The USWNT will play Denmark, Iceland and Norway in the group stage.
GOALKEEPERS: Nicole Barnhart (FC Gold Pride/Bay Area), Hope Solo (St. Louis Athletica).
DEFENDERS: Rachel Buehler (Gold Pride), Lori Chalupny (St. Louis), Kendall Fletcher (Los Angeles Sol), Heather Mitts (Boston Breakers), Christie Rampone Sky Blue FC/New Jersey).
MIDFIELDERS: Shannon Boxx (Los Angeles), Tina DiMartino (Gold Pride), Carli Lloyd (Chicago Red Stars), Heather O'Reilly (Sky Blue), Lindsay Tarpley (Chicago), Kacey White (Sky Blue), Angie Woznuk (St. Louis).
FORWARDS: Angela Hucles (Boston), Natasha Kai (Sky Blue), Megan Rapinoe (Chicago), Amy Rodriguez (Boston).
GOALKEEPERS: Nicole Barnhart (FC Gold Pride/Bay Area), Hope Solo (St. Louis Athletica).
DEFENDERS: Rachel Buehler (Gold Pride), Lori Chalupny (St. Louis), Kendall Fletcher (Los Angeles Sol), Heather Mitts (Boston Breakers), Christie Rampone Sky Blue FC/New Jersey).
MIDFIELDERS: Shannon Boxx (Los Angeles), Tina DiMartino (Gold Pride), Carli Lloyd (Chicago Red Stars), Heather O'Reilly (Sky Blue), Lindsay Tarpley (Chicago), Kacey White (Sky Blue), Angie Woznuk (St. Louis).
FORWARDS: Angela Hucles (Boston), Natasha Kai (Sky Blue), Megan Rapinoe (Chicago), Amy Rodriguez (Boston).
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