Category: Under-xx Teams

Everything related to the USWNT youth teams (U-23, U-20, U-17, etc.)

U-20 USWNT: USA Falls 0:1 to Japan in Friendly at Nagai Stadium

On Sunday, the United States Under-20 Women’s National Team fell 0:1 to Japan’s Under-20 WNT in a friendly at Nagai Stadium in Osaka. Although Japan dominated possession, probably 60/40, and created more scoring opportunities than the USA, the young American squad was able to hold their own for stretches against Japan’s compact and well-organized defense. The USA’s defense also held up well, forcing the home side to mostly take speculative efforts from outside the box. Weaknesses were exposed, but that is why friendlies are played, especially at this age level. Continue reading “U-20 USWNT: USA Falls 0:1 to Japan in Friendly at Nagai Stadium”

U–17 USWNT: CONCACAF Championship Analysis and More

This post is a compilation of leftover analysis of the United States Under-17 Women’s National Team at teh CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship, along with notes on the team’s upcoming schedule and quotes by the team’s head coach Albertin Montoya, regarding things that need to be improved. Continue reading “U–17 USWNT: CONCACAF Championship Analysis and More”

U-20 WWC: Ghana Fact File (2012, Vol. 1)

When the United States Under-20 Women’s National Team plays its first match in the 2012 U-20 Women’s World Cup at the Hiroshima Big Arch Stadium in Japan, the USA will play the same opening opponent that they faced in 2010: Ghana. In that match, Ghana scored first,on a 7th minute Elizabeth Cudjoe goal. A 70th minute equalizer by Sydney Leroux salvaged a point for the USA, who would go on to win the group.

The bad news for the USA is that eight of Ghana’s starters in that match are age-eligible for this year’s U-20 WWC. And, the good news is… see the bad news. Continue reading “U-20 WWC: Ghana Fact File (2012, Vol. 1)”

U-23 USWNT: Roster For Friendlies Versus Sweden’s and Norway’s U23 WNTs

Under-23 United States Women’s National Team head coach Randy Waldrum has called up seventeen players, plus one to be confirmed, for three friendlies with Sweden’s U-23 WNT and Norway’s U-23 WNT. These matches will be held in Norway from June 15th to the 19th. The roster includes several players who have been in senior USWNT camps, including already capped midfielder Christine Nairn, midfielder Ingrid Wells, forward Melissa Henderson, and goalkeeper Adrianna Franch. Also on the roster is Bayern Munich’s Sarah Hagen, who scored the game-winner in this year’s Women’s German Cup final against FFC Frankfurt. Continue reading “U-23 USWNT: Roster For Friendlies Versus Sweden’s and Norway’s U23 WNTs”

U-20 WWC: Germany Fact File (2012, Vol. 1)

When Germany and the United States meet in their third group match at the 2012 Under-20 Women’s World Cup, it will be the first group stage meeting between the two nations at any FIFA women’s tournament, let alone a U-19/20 Women’s World Cup.  Both Germany (2004, 2010) and the USA (2002, 2008) are the only two-time winners of this age-group tournament.

The rest of this post looks at Germany’s U-20 pool, playing time during qualification and later friendlies, formations used and positions of players, a discussion of key players, and Germany’s  upcoming schedule, including known friendlies. Continue reading “U-20 WWC: Germany Fact File (2012, Vol. 1)”

U-17 USWNT: June Camp Roster – 26 Called In

On Monday, US Soccer released the roster for the U-17 USWNT’s June camp, which runs from June 9th to the 16th. Twenty-six players were called in, including all twenty from CONCACAF qualifying. The only new face is midfielder Jaye Boissiere of the MVLA Lightning ( Los Altos Hills, California). With this camp, the U-17s turn their focus to the Under-17 Women’s World Cup, which they qualified for last month. Continue reading “U-17 USWNT: June Camp Roster – 26 Called In”

U-20 USWNT: Travel Roster For June Trip to Japan

In the USSoccer.com news item for the results of the Under-20 Women’s World Cup draw, US Soccer buried the U-20 USWNT’s roster for the June trip to Japan, where the team will play two friendlies versus Japan’s U-20 WNT, on June 17 and June 20th.

With less than three months to go until the tournament, this roster of 21 players will very likely be the team that travels to Japan in August. There is only one change from the CONCACAF Championship team: U-18 midfielder Ashley Meier got called-up in place of the presumably not-100% Micaela Capelle. As to the third goalkeeper, that appears to be Jami Kranich of Villanova. Continue reading “U-20 USWNT: Travel Roster For June Trip to Japan”

U-20 WWC: The Final Draw – The USA gets China, Ghana, and Germany (Yes, Really!)

The final draw for the Under-20 Women’s World Cup was held in Tokyo earlier today. In a bit of a surprise, reigning and two-time U-20 WWC champion Germany was not seeded as one of the top three teams. Instead, North Korea was placed into the first pot, along with host Japan, Brazil, and the United States. On the positive side for the USA, this meant that they avoided North Korea during the group stage. But, it also opened up the possibility that the USA and Germany could be grouped together. And, guess what happened…

Group A: Japan, Mexico, Switzerland, New Zealand
Group B: Brazil, Italy, Nigeria, South Korea
Group C: North Korea, Norway, Argentina, Canada
Group D: Ghana, United States, Germany, China

Also, the full schedule is available as a PDF file.

Continue reading “U-20 WWC: The Final Draw – The USA gets China, Ghana, and Germany (Yes, Really!)”

U-20 WWC: Updated Thoughts on the Possible Draw Procedures

[Note #2 (4-June-2012): Here is the actual draw results for this year’s U-20 WWC. Germany was not seeded as one of the top three teams. Instead North Korea was placed into the first pot, along with host Japan, Brazil, and the USA.]

[Note: This is an update for an earlier post on the U-20 WWC draw procedure.]

While searching for information on the draw for the Under-20 Women’s World Cup, which will take place on Monday, June 4th, I eventually found my way to the Wikipedia page for the 2010 tournament, which had the four pots listed and a link to video of the 2010 draw (tv.dfb.de, skip to the -23:30 mark), which confirmed that the pot listing is accurate. The draw procedure for 2010 differs significantly from the typical draw procedures for the senior women’s tournament. In fact, it is much more similar to the procedures used on the men’s side.

Although FIFA may go with a procedure similar to the outlined in the earlier post, it is much more likely that they will go with something similar to the procedure used in 2010. (In other words, discount the earlier post.) Continue reading “U-20 WWC: Updated Thoughts on the Possible Draw Procedures”