Author: RD Welch

Opponent Watch: England’s Roster for the 2020 SheBelieves Cup

Update (01-Mar-2020):  Lucy Bronze is out due to a calf injury and has been replaced by  Alessia Russo.  (TheFA.com)

First to announce their official roster for this year’s SheBelieves Cup is the United States Women’s National Team’s first opponent:  England.

The rematch of 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup semifinal opponents will be played on Thursday, March 5th at 7:00 p.m Eastern (TV: ESPN2) .  (Full SheBelieves Cup TV/streaming schedule)

Phil Neville’s list has eight players born in 1997 or later, including two uncapped players who recently played collegiately in the United States:  Center back Grace Fisk of South Carolina (profile) and goalkeeper Sandy MacIver of Clemson (profile).  Both graduated after the fall 2019 season and are now playing professionally in the FA WSL. Continue reading “Opponent Watch: England’s Roster for the 2020 SheBelieves Cup”

USWNT: 26 Players Called In Ahead of the 2020 SheBelieves Cup

With Olympic qualification successfully out of the way, the United States Women’s National Team will hold their first post-qualifying camp later this month as Vlatko Andonovski’s squad prepares for the upcoming SheBelieves Cup, and more importantly, the Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Andonovski has called back all twenty players from the USA’s CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship roster, plus six additional players, including uncapped Washington Spirit midfielder Jordan DiBiasi.

The five other additions are goalkeeper Jane Campbell, defender Tierna Davidson (who missed qualifying primarily due to a minor injury), outside back candidate Margaret Purce, outside back Casey Short, and forward Mallory Pugh. Continue reading “USWNT: 26 Players Called In Ahead of the 2020 SheBelieves Cup”

U-20 Neighbor Watch: Guess Who’s Not on Canada’s Roster For the 2020 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship

Update (04-Mar-2020):  Sonia Walk is a Boston College commit for 2020. (Twitter)

Here’s a hint:  All three age-eligible players have a total of 61 senior caps for Canada.

Here’s another hint:  All three players were on Canada’s roster for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Continue reading “U-20 Neighbor Watch: Guess Who’s Not on Canada’s Roster For the 2020 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship”

U-20 Neighbor Watch: Mexico Announces Squad For 2020 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship

While Mexico’s squad for this year’s CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship is younger, on average, then the United States’ roster, they are not inexperienced.  Nine players from the team that finished second at the 2018 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup are on this roster, including Canadian-born Silvana Flores, who plays for Arsenal FC’s Under-21 team.

In addition, the coach of that history-making squad, retired Mexican international Mónica Vergara, now leads this team.  Vergara, who was Mexico’s youngest player at the 1999 Women’s World Cup, was also a member of Mexico’s squad at the 2004 Olympics and their Under-19 team at the 2002 FIFA Under-19 Women’s World Championship.

With Mexico is in Group D and the United States in Group C, a potential knockout round match-up could not happen until… the final. Continue reading “U-20 Neighbor Watch: Mexico Announces Squad For 2020 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship”

USWNT Notes: SheBelieves Cup TV/Streaming Schedule, April Friendlies with Australia and Brazil

In this update:

  • U.S. Soccer Formally Announces TV and Streaming Schedule for the SheBelieves Cup
  • USWNT to Play Australia and Brazil in April
  • Lynn Williams Departs Western Sydney Wanderers to Focus on USWNT Duties

Continue reading “USWNT Notes: SheBelieves Cup TV/Streaming Schedule, April Friendlies with Australia and Brazil”

NWSL News of Note: Ali Riley and Erin McCleod Signed By Orlando Pride

In this update:

  • Ali Riley and Erin McLeod Return
  • 2020 Thorns Spring Invitational Schedule Announced
  • Signings, Re-Signings, and Retirements

Continue reading “NWSL News of Note: Ali Riley and Erin McCleod Signed By Orlando Pride”

U-16 USGNT: Roster For UEFA Development Tournament in England Announced

u16-2020-eng-uefa

On Friday, U.S. Soccer announced the Under-16 United States Girls’ National Team roster for this month’s Under-16 UEFA Development Tournament that will be hosted by England.  During the tournament the USA will also play their counterparts from Spain and Denmark.

All players called up for this trip were on the January’s camp 28-player roster.

Leading the U-16 USGNT will once again be Katie Schoepfer, who oversaw last month’s camp.  Assisting Schoepfer will be USWNT alumna Jen Lalor, who was a member of the USA’s 1995 Women’s World Cup squad and later played in the WUSA. Continue reading “U-16 USGNT: Roster For UEFA Development Tournament in England Announced”

U-20 USWNT: Roster for 2020 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship Announced

Prologue:  This has not been a normal U-20 cycle.

* * *

With Laura Harvey taking the helm of the Under-20 United States Women’s National Team, some change in player selection was to be expected, but… Continue reading “U-20 USWNT: Roster for 2020 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship Announced”

U-17 USWNT: Roster For Final Training Camp Before U-17 WWC Qualifying Announced

u17-uswnt-feb2020camp

Later this month, the Under-17 United States Women’s National Team will hold their second camp of the year and “its final training camp before the 2020 Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship.”  Head coach Tracey Kevins has called in 24 players for this camp, which will run from Saturday, February 15th to Sunday, February 23rd.  During the camp, the U-17 USWNT will play their counterparts from England in a pair of friendlies, giving Kevins two last competitive opportunities to evaluate players for the 20-slot qualifying roster. Continue reading “U-17 USWNT: Roster For Final Training Camp Before U-17 WWC Qualifying Announced”

Opponent Watch: Japan Calls In 25 Players Ahead of the SheBelieves Cup

Update (15-Feb-2020):  Midfielder Hasegawa Yui (age 23, 42 caps) and Hayashi Honoka (age 21, 1 cap) were withdrawn before the camp started due to unspecified injuries. No replacement players will be called in. (jfa.jp)

Update (25-Feb-2020):  Hasegawa’s injury was quite minor, as she has been named to Japan’s SheBelieves Cup squad. All but three players, defender Seike Kiko, midfielder Hayashi Honoka, and forward Ueki Riko, from this original camp roster have been named to Japan’s SheBelieves Cup squad.  As expected, Kumagai Saki, who plays for Olympique Lyonnais in France has also been named to Japan’s roster for the tournament. (jfa.jp)

Update (01-Mar-2020):  Forward Kobayashi Rikako has been withdrawn due to injury.  Ueki Riko has been recalled as Kobayashi’s replacement. (jfa.jp)

(This article follows Japanese name customs:  Family names are listed first, followed by the given name.)

Ahead of next month’s SheBelieves Cup, Japan has called in 25 domestic-based players for a six-day training camp that runs from Friday, February 14th to Wednesday, February 19th.  As this camp is outside of a FIFA window, team captain Kumagai Saki, who plays for Olympique Lyonnais in France, has not been included, but is expected to be on the roster for the SheBelieves Cup.

Continue reading “Opponent Watch: Japan Calls In 25 Players Ahead of the SheBelieves Cup”