At the 2012 Algarve Cup, the USWNT won its first two matches, then lost to Japan 0:1, in the final group match. In its placement match, the USA defeated Sweden 4:0, with Alex Morgan getting her first international hat trick.
(No real analysis this time, this is mostly just bookmarking of links and notes.) Continue reading “USWNT: 2012 Algarve Cup Recap (Catch-Up)”
In the 2012 Algarve Cup, Sweden suffered two straight 0:4 losses, first to Germany, and then to the USA. In its first two matches, Sweden defeated China 1:0 and Iceland 4:1.
Notables: (1) The back-to-back 0:4 losses; (2) Dennerby’s continued experimentation with the 4-2-3-1 formation; (3) Lotta Schelin earned her 100th cap in the China match; and (4) 21 year-old midfielder Antonia Göransson has 4 goals this year, to lead the team.
Continue reading “USWNT Rival Watch: Sweden at the 2012 Algarve Cup (Catch-Up)”
Germany won the 2012 Algarve Cup after winning all its group matches (versus Iceland, China, and Sweden) and then winning the first place match over Japan 4:3. Celia Okoyino da Mbabi had two hat tricks (versus Sweden and Japan). Germany was missing several veterans due to injuries, including Simone Laudeher (meniscus), Kim Kulig (torn ACL in 2011 WWC) as well as two players who were on the squad’s Algarve Cup roster: Nadine Angerer, and Fatmire Bajramaj. Also, veteran strikers Inka Grings and Martina Müller were not available.
Continue reading “USWNT Rival Watch: Germany at the 2012 Algarve Cup (Catch-up)”
At the 2012 Algarve Cup, Japan’s Women’s National Team won all three of its group matches, including its final group match versus the United States. By topping the group, Japan played in the placement match for first place, where they lost 4:3 in a match that saw 3 goals scored in the final few minutes.
Continue reading “USWNT Rival Watch: Japan at the 2012 Algarve Cup (Catch-up)”
The United States Under-20 Women’s National Team returned from Panama on Monday, Champions of CONCACAF, but their journey to Japan and the 2012 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup has only just begun. That tournament begins five months from now, and in the intervening months ahead, the U-20 USWNT will come together for camps, scrimmages, and test matches before departing for Japan. Based on the team’s performance in Panama, the squad has several key areas where they need to work on.
Also, It is very likely that not all the players who earned a gold medal in Panama will make the U-20 WWC roster. Besides current roster players not being available due to possibly getting injured, there are also other players currently recovering from their injuries, who could get a roster spot. Continue reading “U-20 USWNT: Where Do They Go From Here?”
Here is the table of playing time for the U-20 USWNT at the 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship that concluded last Sunday in Panama. Only one player, Kassey Kallman played all possible minutes for the USA. Every player had at least 90 minutes of on-field action.
Continue reading “U-20 USWNT: CONCACAF Championship Playing Time Table”
Adding to my quick recap, here’s a much more detailed look at the 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship final between the USA and Canada. All of the USA’s 28 shots and 15 corner kicks are broken down. Plus, for each USA player, notes are included on the good and not-so-good things that the player did during the match. Continue reading “U-20 USWNT: 2012 CONCACAF Championship Match Analysis”
On Monday, Japan’s Homare Sawa, who recently stepped down as captain, was diagnosed with “benign paroxysmal postural vertigo” on Monday. (Source: Mainichi.jp, English)
In the article, it was stated that recovery time could be as little as a week, or could take over a month. For more on the condition, see its Wikipedia entry.
Japan plays its first match of the Women’s Kirin Challenge Cup in less than three weeks, on Sunday, April 1st, versus the USA.
I will have a couple posts on the U-20 USWNT in the next day or two. In the meantime, here are articles on Brazil’s preliminary roster for the Kirin Challenge Cup in April, plus recaps of what the USWNT’s neighbors have most recently been doing (with minutes played tables).
The Brazil roster page includes links to Wikipedia entries for each player, where available. Although given the CBF.com.br’s (inconsistent) use of player nicknames, finding specific information for some of the players has been impossible so far.
The Canadian Women’s National Team recently participated in the Cyprus Cup, where they won all three of their group matches, but fell to France 0:2 in the final. Notably, during the tournament, Christine Sinclair scored her 130th and 131st international goals, moving her ahead of the USWNT’er Kristine Lilly, who has 130 career international goals.
Continue reading “USWNT Neighbor Watch: Canada at the Cyprus Cup – No Three-Peat”
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