Category: USWNT

Olympics: Team Previews (Overview)

Below, there are linked posts which provide some final notes on all twelve teams in the women’s soccer tournament at the London Olympics. Each post includes thoughts on the team’s chances of advancing out of the groups, known injury issues, summary of recent matches, and probable line-ups.

If you find any errors or want to share any additional useful information, please note that in a comment on the relevant post. Continue reading “Olympics: Team Previews (Overview)”

Olympics: Preview Notes – United States (Group G)

LIKE AN ACTING COMPANY’S FAVORITE PLAY — Once again, the United States finds itself in USWNT: Olympic Redemption, A Triumph in Two Acts. The first act ends with a disappointing finish in Women’s World Cup. And, the second act is suppose to end a year later with the USWNT wearing Olympic Gold Medals around their necks. At least that’s how the play’s inaugural run ended in 1996, along with its two revivals in 2004 and 2008. But, complicating the matter will be the guest actresses that play the final team of antagonists, who may decide to go off script and ad-lib a different ending.
Continue reading “Olympics: Preview Notes – United States (Group G)”

Olympics: Summary Statistics for the Squads

On Friday, FIFA released the official rosters for the Olympic soccer tournaments (FIFA.com, click on a team’s name and select “Squad List” on the next page; also in PDF format, which has additional data, namely caps and goals). The first part of this post is a table which lists the average and median ages and heights for each squad, along with the team’s rank for those statistics. The second part lists superlative statistics (oldest, youngest; tallest, shortest) for teams  and players. Continue reading “Olympics: Summary Statistics for the Squads”

Olympics: Recent Matches Involving Qualified Teams (Updated, 21-July)

Here is a list of friendlies and other international matches involving Olympics-bound women’s soccer teams, for the two months leading up to the start of the Olympic women’s soccer tournament. This post is intended as an “FYI.” After the final tune-up matches on the 20th, a more proper write-up is planned.

This post will be updated as more matches are completed.

If you know of any international matches that are not listed, whether official, friendly, or closed-door, please post that information in a comment. Matches not involving two senior women’s national teams (e.g., scrimmages against club teams) are beyond the scope of this post. Continue reading “Olympics: Recent Matches Involving Qualified Teams (Updated, 21-July)”

USWNT: Olympic Send-Off Match – Hope Solo’s Save: Goal or No Goal?

In the final home friendly before the Olympics, the United States Women’s National Team defeat Canada 2:1, thanks in part to Hope Solo’s reflex save of a Christine Sinclair shot. That shot deflected off the leg of Amy LePeilbet, forcing Solo to suddenly reverse her dive. Solo was able to get a hand on the ball, however the ball was still bouncing toward the far post. Both Solo and Canada’s #6, Kaylyn Kyle went for the ball, with Solo getting the first touch, but Kyle slide-kicked for the ball while Solo lunged for it. Solo appears to have possession of the ball, but Kyle’s second effort pushed the ball farther across the goal line, and perhaps all the way over the line, but no goal was awarded.

Was a no-goal call correct? Continue reading “USWNT: Olympic Send-Off Match – Hope Solo’s Save: Goal or No Goal?”

USWNT: Olympic Send-Off Match – Rodriguez’s Goal: Offside or Not?

In their send-off friendly versus Canada, the United States Women’s National Team won the match via a late Amy Rodriguez goal, which was scored on a scrappy play at the top of the six-yard box. Rodriguez received the ball after an Abby Wambach effort (not sure it was a shot or a pass), was half-cleared by Canada’s goalkeeper, Erin McLeod.  By the time Rodriguez received the ball, she is only in front of one defender, McLeod.

Thus, there is the appearance of a possible offside call, but on a closer inspection, Rodriguez is clearly not in an offside position at the relevant moment: when the ball is played by Wambach. Therefore, Rodriguez was not in an infringing position, and the goal was good.

Continue reading “USWNT: Olympic Send-Off Match – Rodriguez’s Goal: Offside or Not?”

USWNT: The USA Wins Its Olympic Send-Off Match Versus Canada

On Saturday, the United States Women’s National Team defeated their northern neighbor, Canada, 2:1 in an Olympic send-off match at Rio Tinto Stadium in Utah. The USA’s goals were scored by Carmelina Moscato via an own goal and Amy Rodriguez, who had an 85th minute game-winner after Melissa Tancredi equalized in the 57th minute. Continue reading “USWNT: The USA Wins Its Olympic Send-Off Match Versus Canada”

Olympics: Four USWNT Alumni To Serve As Analysts For NBC

NBC Sports announced on Thursday that four USWNT alumni will be soccer analysts at the 2012 Summer Olympics in Great Britain: Brandi Chastain, Kate Markgraf, Cat Whitehill, and Angela Hucles. Combined, those four players have seven Olympic Gold Medals.

NBC’s press release also contained a list of play-by-play announcers, Continue reading “Olympics: Four USWNT Alumni To Serve As Analysts For NBC”

USWNT: The USA Defeats Sweden 3:1 In Opening Match of the Volvo Winners Cup

The counter-attacking offense of the United States Women’s National Team was in first gear on Saturday in a 3:1 victory over Sweden on that country’s home soil, in Halmstad. Goals by Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan, and Tobin Heath were the difference in a match where neither team earned many style points, especially in the possession category. Continue reading “USWNT: The USA Defeats Sweden 3:1 In Opening Match of the Volvo Winners Cup”